Lower blepharoplasty

Excess skin may develop under the eyes, commonly referred to as under-eye bags. This skin laxity often goes hand in hand with fluid retention and sagging of the subcutaneous fat tissue in the eye sockets. A decline in the strength of the circular muscle around the eye further exacerbates this process.

Removing the sagging skin under the eyes, possibly combined with the partial removal and/or repositioning of the underlying muscle and fat tissue, is known as a lower blepharoplasty. After a lower blepharoplasty, you will appear more rested and often look years younger.

What does a lower blepharoplasty cost?

The costs of a lower blepharoplasty at the VandenBroecke Kliniek are:

Consultation	Free
Lower blepharoplasty	€2.250
Upper and lower blepharoplasty	€3.150

All our prices are “all-inclusive”—covering both eyes, including the consultation, suture removal, follow-up appointments, and any necessary after-treatment. You can find a complete overview of our rates on our price list.

Why choose the VandenBroecke Kliniek?

VandenBroecke Kliniek is fully specialized in eyelid surgery. We were the first clinic in the country to focus exclusively on eyelid surgery. This specialization has led us to perform the most blepharoplasties in the Netherlands for many years, making us the leading clinic in eyelid surgery.

All treatments at our clinic are carried out by experienced plastic surgeons who are members of the NVPC (Dutch Society for Plastic Surgery) and all have many years of experience in eyelid surgery. In addition, at VandenBroecke Kliniek, the entire support team—from receptionists to surgical assistants—is fully specialized in care related to eyelid surgery.

Besides being the largest clinic, our extensive experience, personal attention, and excellent results have also made us the eyelid surgery clinic with the highest ratings in the Netherlands for many years: currently 9,7 at Zorgkaart Nederland and 9,5 at Feedback Company.

For a successful lower blepharoplasty, the experience of the treating plastic surgeon is crucial. Each procedure requires a customized approach, as no two faces are the same.

Before the procedure, our plastic surgeon will carefully mark the excess skin. After adhering local anesthesia, an incision is then made along the lower lash line. A small piece of skin is removed, and if necessary, some of the underlying fat is taken out or redistributed to remove the bags under your eyes. The incision is then closed with a small suture. Because our plastic surgeon uses diathermy equipment, there is hardly any bleeding. The entire procedure takes about 90 minutes.

After the procedure, you will wear a cooling mask on your eyes to reduce swelling. You can take this cooling mask home to continue using it. One week later, the stitches will be removed at our clinic.

If needed, both the upper and lower eyelids can be treated at the same time.

Curious about what VandenBroecke Kliniek can do for you?
Schedule a no-obligation consultation with one of our experienced plastic surgeons!

Our before-and-after videos give you a clear impression of the final results of previously performed treatments.

Click to see more before and after results.

Recovery lower blepharoplasty

During the procedure, we use diathermy equipment instead of a scalpel. This greatly reduces the chance of tiny bleedings under the skin (which causes bruising). Still, the area around your eyelids may be slightly swollen and bruised during the first week after treatment.

One week after the procedure, the stitches will be removed at our clinic. By then, the improvement is often already quite noticeable. Most people return to work after the stitches are removed.

In the following weeks, the healing process continues. On average, the final result is achieved after 12 to 16 weeks. This is also when your final check-up takes place and your “after” photo is taken.

Aftercare lower blepharoplasty

Cooling

We recommend cooling your eyelids at home for the first three days, 10 minutes every hour, using the cooling mask we provide or a bag of frozen peas. From day four to day seven, continue cooling a few times per day. Cooling helps reduce swelling and bruising and also relieves any itching. It’s important to place gauze between your eyes and the cooling mask (or frozen peas) to prevent your skin from freezing to the mask and to offer some protection. In between cooling sessions, put the cooling mask back in the freezer for optimal results.

Resting

It is advisable to take it easy for the first few days. This helps limit any pain and swelling, speeding up the healing process.

Sleep on your back

We recommend sleeping on your back after the procedure and not on your side or stomach. This prevents damage to the stitches/wounds while you sleep. A (travel) neck pillow may help. Sleeping on your stomach can endanger wound healing and is therefore strongly discouraged for the first two weeks after your procedure!

Avoid pressure increasing activities

Eyelids can easily swell due to fluid accumulation, especially in the early period after an lower blepharoplasty. Therefore, it’s important to avoid placing any pressure on your head for the first two weeks. Do not bend over, lift heavy objects, or exercise, and try to rest as much as possible.

Do not rub your eyes

If you experience itching or slight bleeding, do not rub your eyes! This could reopen the wounds. The cooling mask provided can help relieve itching.

Showering

After the operation, adhesive strips are placed over your stitches. It’s important to keep the wounds—and thus the strips—dry. You can shower, but avoid placing your face directly under the shower. We advise against taking baths or going to a sauna due to sweating, which can loosen the strips.

Make-up and skincare

You should not apply makeup on or around your eyes after the procedure. You may do so again two weeks after surgery.

Exercising

We advise against exercising or performing heavy physical activities during the first two weeks after the procedure.

Scars

After your stitches are removed, you will receive VandenBroecke Kliniek scar cream, specially developed by us to care for your scars at home. This cream softens and moisturizes the skin, promoting the skin’s natural healing process. This speeds up recovery and helps you achieve the final result of your lower blepharoplasty more quickly. You can start applying it once all scabs have disappeared (usually about two weeks after your treatment).

Sunlight

You must not expose your scars to direct sunlight and/or tanning beds for the first six weeks after the procedure. Since direct sunlight cannot always be avoided, we recommend wearing sunglasses outdoors. It’s also wise to use a sun protection cream (Sun Protection Factor). Our scar cream has an SPF of 20 and can offer some protection from the sun. However, we still advise you to avoid the sun as much as possible during your recovery process.

Contact lenses

We advise against wearing contact lenses for up to two weeks after the procedure, mainly to avoid pulling on or around the eyelids. Wearing glasses, however, is allowed.

Aspirine, Ibuprofen and Paracetamol

Paracetamol may be used. We recommend not using aspirin-containing medication or ibuprofen between 10 days before and 7 days after the procedure to prevent heavy bleeding during or after the procedure. Exceptions are only allowed following consultation with your treating plastic surgeon.

Arnica

We advise against using Arnica drops or tablets around the time of surgery. You may apply Arnica cream to the lower eyelids or cheeks after the procedure, but avoid the treated area.

Cleaning the wounds

It is beneficial to keep the area around your eyes clean, but try not to get the bandages wet. We recommend using a cotton swab. Moisten it lightly under the tap, then carefully clean the eyelash line.

Work

In the first few days after the treatment, you may have some bruising and swelling around your eyes. After 7 days, the sutures will be removed, and you may still experience some discoloration. That’s often when people go back to work. Heavy physical labor is strongly discouraged during the first few weeks after the procedure.

Risks and complications

As with any surgery, complications can occur. A wound may start bleeding or become infected, though this rarely happens. You may not be able to fully open or close your eyes during the initial period after surgery due to swelling of the eyelids. Additionally, your vision may be slightly blurry for the first few days following the procedure.

The result

You will enjoy the results of your treatment for many years. It’s important to note, however, that the result is not permanent, and the natural aging of the face may lead to recurring issues over time. How long this takes varies from person to person and is strongly influenced by factors such as sun exposure, smoking, diet, alcohol, stress, and lack of sleep.

If you have any further questions you can always contact us via email info@vandenbroeckekliniek.nl or by phone during office hours on 088-0042700.