Eyelid surgery — medically known as blepharoplasty — is one of the most commonly performed facial plastic surgeries in the United States, with over 300,000 procedures annually according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The cost of eyelid surgery ranges from $3,000 to $7,000 depending on whether you’re having upper lids, lower lids, or both done. When drooping eyelids impair your vision, insurance may cover the procedure — changing the financial equation from thousands out of pocket to potentially just a few hundred dollars.
Understanding what drives surgical pricing helps you budget and negotiate effectively. Our complete healthcare costs guide explains the broader system, while this article focuses specifically on blepharoplasty expenses and how to minimize them.
Average Eyelid Surgery Costs
The ASPS reports the average surgeon’s fee for blepharoplasty at approximately $4,100. However, the surgeon’s fee represents only about 50% to 60% of the total cost — a common reality in surgical pricing that catches many patients off guard. Add facility fees ($1,000 to $2,500 depending on the setting), anesthesia ($500 to $1,500 based on type and duration), pre-operative testing ($100 to $300 for blood work and eye measurements), and post-operative care ($200 to $400 for follow-up visits and supplies), and the full picture comes into focus.
Upper blepharoplasty alone typically runs $3,000 to $5,000 total. The procedure takes 45 minutes to an hour and removes excess skin, muscle, and sometimes fat from the upper eyelid. Lower blepharoplasty — a more complex procedure involving fat repositioning, removal, or redistribution to address under-eye bags and puffiness — costs $3,500 to $6,000. Having both upper and lower lids done together ranges from $5,000 to $9,000, often with a combined discount of $500 to $1,500 since facility and anesthesia fees are shared across both procedures.
Asian blepharoplasty (double eyelid surgery), a specialized technique that creates or enhances the supratarsal crease, falls in a similar range at $3,000 to $6,000. This procedure requires specific surgical expertise, and outcomes depend heavily on the surgeon’s experience with this particular technique.
Geographic pricing variation is significant. Procedures in major coastal cities cost 25% to 50% more than in the Midwest or South. A surgeon in Manhattan may charge $7,000 for the same upper blepharoplasty that costs $3,500 in Indianapolis or $4,000 in Dallas. This variation reflects differences in real estate costs, staff wages, malpractice insurance rates, and general cost of living rather than differences in surgical quality.
When Insurance Covers Eyelid Surgery
Upper blepharoplasty is covered by most insurance plans — including Medicare — when it’s performed to correct ptosis (drooping eyelids) that obstructs vision. This makes it one of the few “cosmetic-looking” procedures that insurance routinely approves. The threshold for coverage typically requires a visual field test showing that the drooping lids reduce your peripheral vision by a specific amount, usually 20% to 30% or more in the superior visual field.
To qualify, your ophthalmologist or oculoplastic surgeon will perform a visual field test (Humphrey visual field or equivalent) with and without the eyelid taped up. If the test demonstrates significant visual field improvement with the lid elevated — usually a 12-degree or greater improvement in the superior field — your insurer is likely to approve the procedure as medically necessary. Photographs documenting the degree of ptosis, including measurement of the margin-to-reflex distance (MRD1), are also required for prior authorization submissions.
Some insurers impose additional criteria. You may need documentation that the ptosis interferes with specific daily activities — driving, reading, working at a computer — or that conservative measures (like using tape to hold the lid up) have been tried and failed. The prior authorization process typically takes two to four weeks, and approval rates for well-documented cases exceed 80%.
Lower blepharoplasty is almost never covered by insurance, as it’s considered cosmetic. Exceptions exist for lower lid conditions causing chronic eye irritation, ectropion (outward-turning eyelid), or entropion (inward-turning eyelid), but these are relatively rare and represent different procedures from cosmetic lower blepharoplasty. If you’re having a covered upper procedure and an uncovered lower procedure simultaneously, costs are typically split — insurance pays its share of the upper lid work, and you pay the full cost of the lower lid work out of pocket.
Out-of-Pocket Costs With Insurance
When approved as medically necessary, upper blepharoplasty follows your standard plan benefits. Your cost depends on your deductible status, coinsurance rate, and out-of-pocket maximum. On a typical plan with a $1,500 deductible and 20% coinsurance, a $4,000 approved procedure might cost you $1,500 (deductible, if not yet met) plus 20% of $2,500 ($500), totaling $2,000. If you’ve already met your deductible from earlier medical expenses, your share drops to just $800.
Medicare Part B covers functional upper blepharoplasty at 80% after the Part B deductible ($240 in 2024). With the deductible met, your coinsurance on a $3,000 procedure would be approximately $600. With a Medigap supplement like Plan G, your cost could be as low as $0 after the annual Part B deductible is satisfied. Medicare Advantage plans may have flat copays for outpatient surgery — check your specific plan’s benefits for the ambulatory surgery or outpatient procedure category.
Strategic timing can reduce costs significantly. If you’ve had other medical expenses earlier in the plan year that have eaten into your deductible or moved you closer to your MOOP, scheduling blepharoplasty later in the year means more of the cost is covered. Some patients coordinate blepharoplasty with other planned procedures — such as cataract surgery, which is also performed by ophthalmologists — in the same plan year to maximize insurance benefit and potentially reach their MOOP, making subsequent care free for the remainder of the year.
Factors That Affect Pricing
Surgeon Specialization
Oculoplastic surgeons — ophthalmologists with additional fellowship training in eyelid and facial surgery — tend to charge more than general plastic surgeons for blepharoplasty, often $500 to $1,500 more. However, they bring deep expertise in the delicate structures around the eye, including the lacrimal system, orbital anatomy, and the precise relationship between eyelid position and visual function. Board-certified plastic surgeons with significant blepharoplasty experience are also excellent choices, particularly for combined upper and lower procedures. General surgeons performing eyelid surgery may charge less but typically have less specialized training in this specific anatomy.
Anesthesia Type
Upper blepharoplasty can often be performed under local anesthesia with oral or IV sedation, which costs $500 to $1,000 and allows for faster recovery. General anesthesia — more common for combined upper and lower procedures or when patients are particularly anxious — runs $1,000 to $2,000. Choosing local anesthesia when clinically appropriate reduces both cost and recovery time while maintaining patient comfort throughout the procedure.
Surgical Facility
Many blepharoplasty procedures can be performed in an office-based surgical suite, which eliminates the facility fee entirely and can save $1,000 to $2,500 compared to a hospital outpatient department. Ambulatory surgery centers are the next most affordable option, with facility fees of $800 to $1,500. Hospital outpatient departments are the most expensive setting at $1,500 to $3,000 in facility fees. Ask your surgeon which setting they recommend for your specific procedure and how the total costs compare at each option.
How to Reduce Your Eyelid Surgery Costs
If your drooping eyelids affect your vision, pursue the insurance coverage route first — even if you also want cosmetic improvement. Getting a medically necessary upper procedure covered saves you $3,000 to $5,000 off the total cost of having both upper and lower work done. Schedule a visual field test with an ophthalmologist to document any functional impairment, and start the prior authorization process before booking your surgery date.
For purely cosmetic procedures, get detailed quotes from at least three qualified surgeons. Ask each for an all-inclusive estimate covering the surgeon fee, facility, anesthesia, and all follow-up visits included in the surgical fee. Some practices offer financing through CareCredit or similar services, often with 0% interest promotional periods of 12 to 24 months — just be cautious about retroactive interest if the balance isn’t paid in full before the promotional period ends.
Timing can also help with cost reduction. If you’re planning both a medically necessary upper procedure and a cosmetic lower procedure, having them done simultaneously reduces combined facility and anesthesia fees by $1,000 to $2,000 since you’re only occupying the operating room and using anesthesia services once. This combined approach also means only one recovery period instead of two.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does eyelid surgery recovery take?
Most patients return to normal social activities within 7 to 10 days after upper blepharoplasty. Bruising peaks at day 2 to 3 and resolves over 10 to 14 days. Lower blepharoplasty recovery takes slightly longer — about 10 to 14 days for most patients to feel comfortable in public. Stitches are typically removed at 5 to 7 days. Final results may not be fully apparent for two to three months as residual swelling completely resolves and the tissues settle into their final position.
Is eyelid surgery permanent?
Upper blepharoplasty results typically last 7 to 15 years, sometimes longer depending on skin quality and aging factors. Lower blepharoplasty results are generally longer-lasting because the lower lid skin is less affected by gravity and the repeated motion of blinking over time. Natural aging continues after surgery, so some patients eventually consider a revision procedure — though this is less common than with many other cosmetic surgeries, and most patients are satisfied with a single procedure.
Can I get both upper and lower eyelid surgery at the same time?
Yes, and combining procedures is very common. Performing upper and lower blepharoplasty in a single session reduces total facility and anesthesia costs by $1,000 to $2,000 compared to two separate procedures. Recovery time is modestly longer than upper-only surgery — typically 10 to 14 days versus 7 to 10 days — but considerably shorter than having two separate recovery periods weeks or months apart.
What are the risks of eyelid surgery?
Complications are uncommon with an experienced surgeon but can include dry eyes (temporary or, rarely, persistent), difficulty closing the eyes completely (lagophthalmos), asymmetry, visible scarring, and very rarely, vision changes. The risk of serious complications is lower with experienced oculoplastic surgeons and plastic surgeons who perform high volumes of blepharoplasty. Discuss specific risks with your surgeon during consultation, particularly if you have pre-existing dry eye or prior eye surgery.
The Bottom Line
Eyelid surgery costs $3,000 to $7,000 per eyelid pair without insurance. If drooping upper lids impair your vision, insurance coverage can reduce your cost to your standard plan’s deductible and coinsurance — potentially saving thousands of dollars. Start with a visual field test to determine whether you qualify for medical coverage, choose between office-based, ASC, and hospital settings based on both safety and cost, and compare surgeon quotes based on experience, facility costs, and all-inclusive pricing. For related procedures, see our guides on cataract surgery costs and breast reduction surgery costs.