Cosmetic eyelid surgery can be performed on either the upper or lower eyelids, and patients often choose to have both operated at the same time. Upper eyelid surgery involves the removal of excess skin and fat from the upper eyelids. My goal is to create an aesthetically pleasing eye with the avoidance of any result that looks unnatural or “surgical.”

Lower eyelid surgery can be performed in a variety of ways, and only a complete medical examination can determine which technique is right for you. Puffy bags in the lower eyelids can be greatly reduced and excess wrinkled skin can be improved.

To fully understand the costs of cosmetic surgery, you must understand the guiding principles of my medical practice: Safety, Quality and a Respect for Cost. I have not designed the surgical experience to be lowest bid; rather, I want you to have an exceptionally high-quality medical experience. If this interests you, please read on.

There are three main components that contribute to your final cosmetic surgery fee. The first component is the surgeon's fee. As this is a medical experience, your final surgeon's fee can only determined after a full consultation with me. I will perform a complete history and physical exam and we will carefully discuss your concerns.

As a reference point, a recent survey of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery showed the average professional fee of blepharoplasty to be $3736. Dr. Mobley's professional fee will tend to be closer to $2650 for just upper or lower lids. When combining both upper and lower lids, fees tend to be closer to $4200. The average facility and anesthesia fees range from $1285 to $1785.

The second cost component is the facility in which your operation is performed. I operate only in a state of the art surgical enter - not in a in-office surgical room. This surgical center is JCAHO certified, which means it has passed the highest level of federal inspection. Cosmetic surgery is real surgery, and I strongly believe that having it performed in a JCAHO certified center is in your best medical interest. The average surgical center fee for this operation is $950.

The final cost component is the anesthesia fee. The training background of the person ultimately responsible for your sedation should be carefully considered. Nurse anesthetists are members of the surgical team; however, in every cosmetic operation I perform, an anesthesiologist who has completed medical school, residency, and board certification is responsible for your sedation. This is the level of care I would insist on for my own family members. Anesthesia fees for this operation average $460.

After your consultation you will leave the office with an easy to understand written quote in which we will list the cost of these three components for your individualized surgical plan. Keep in mind that the facility and anesthesia fees are time-based and so may be increased, or decreased, based on the actual final length of your surgery.

Dr. Mobley wants to make cosmetic surgery available to as many people as possible. For that reason we have hand picked lending services exclusively for Dr. Mobley's patients. When you come in for your consultation we will be more than happy to go over all your financial options with you. We have provided web links to our financial lenders so that you may research them on your own if you so desire.www.mlendfinancial.com

Patients are encouraged to rest at home for approximately one week following eyelid surgery. After the first week, I will remove any stitches that were placed. Eyelid skin is the most delicate on the human body, and eyelids tend to swell and bruise after surgery. This is most noticeable for the first week (click here to see an example) but quickly resolves completely after 10-14 days. Within seven to ten days after surgery patients can usually return to daily activities.

For patients who have an excessive amount of upper eyelid skin and have undergone a Visual Field test to confirm that the excess skin is affecting the peripheral vision, the insurance company (and Medicare) may pay for this type of surgery. Only a complete medical evaluation can determine if you might fall into this category.

In my experience, many of my patients are pleasantly surprised by the minimal amount of discomfort they have in the postoperative period. Upper eyelid surgery is not considered painful by most of my patients but they typically experience some bruising and swelling for the week following surgery. Lower eyelid surgery can cause a sensation of dry, scratchy eyes for the week following surgery. We help alleviate this discomfort through prescription eyedrops and pain medications.

Based on your individual recovery, you should be ready to go back to work approximately one week after your surgery.

Every type of surgery has risks. It’s my ethical responsibility to educate you on these risks so you can make the best possible decision for yourself while weighing these risks against the benefits of surgery. My training helps me to minimize these risks to the best of my ability, but I cannot eliminate them entirely. Common risks include change in lower eyelid position, residual skin wrinkles or fat bags, and persistent dryness of eyes. Let me know if you have chronic dry eyes, are seeing a doctor for this problem, or are taking prescription medication for dry eyes. The risks above are the most common ones that I think you should be aware of, but they are not a complete list of all possible risks. When I see you in consultation and we begin to formulate your surgical treatment plan, I’ll review with you not only these common risks but also the less likely complications that may occur.

 

Dr. Mobley performs many eyelid surgeries each year. Often, these are combined with other procedures such as face lift, fat injections, and laser skin resurfacing. Some patients need only the upper or lower eyes improved, but many have problems in both areas. In other cases, patients think that their concerns about the eye area can be corrected with an eyelid tuck only to learn from Dr. Mobley that, in fact, their problems would be better addressed with a brow lift, fat injection to restore lost volume to the lower eyelid area, or focused chemical peel or laser resurfacing to tighten lax skin. The explanations given by Dr. Mobley help patients make the most effective and appropriate decisions regarding their surgical options

Click to view medical article. Warning, these are real patient photos and may be medically graphic.

• Most SP, Mobley SR, Larrabee WF Jr. (2005). Anatomy of the eyelids. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am, 13(4), 487-92, v.

• University Teaching Hospital Embraces the Private Practice Setting

• Surgical Tissue Adhesives