Upper eyelid, lower eyelid, or both? See what blepharoplasty costs and how to know which one you actually need.
TLDR: Upper and lower blepharoplasty are priced separately because they are different operations with different anesthesia needs. Upper eyelid surgery is usually the more affordable of the two, lower eyelid surgery typically costs more because it is more technically complex, and combining both in one session shares facility and anesthesia costs. In some cases where drooping upper lids block your vision, insurance may help. Your exact quote comes from a complimentary consultation at our St. Paul office.
We will be transparent with you from the first sentence. We wrote this article to be found when Twin Cities patients search for blepharoplasty cost, and we are glad you found it, because most of what ranks for this search is national filler that never answers the real question. Here is the real answer. Blepharoplasty cost depends on which eyelids you treat. Upper blepharoplasty removes excess skin that hoods over the lash line, is commonly performed under local anesthesia, and is generally the more affordable procedure. Lower blepharoplasty addresses under-eye bags and requires more intricate work around the fat pads and lower lid support, so it typically costs more. Treating both upper and lower eyelids together costs more than either alone but less than doing them separately, because you pay for the operating room and anesthesia once.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons publishes a national average surgeon's fee for cosmetic eyelid surgery, and it is a useful reference point as long as you remember that it excludes anesthesia and facility fees. A complete quote is always higher than the ASPS average for that reason, and any practice quoting below it is probably leaving something out.
The difference between upper and lower blepharoplasty is the problem each one solves. Upper blepharoplasty treats hooded, heavy, or drooping upper lids by removing excess skin and sometimes a small amount of fat through an incision hidden in the natural eyelid crease. Lower blepharoplasty treats puffiness, bags, and the tired hollow beneath the eye by repositioning or removing fat, often through an incision inside the lid that leaves no visible scar at all. Many people who feel they look tired actually need both, and some discover at consultation that a heavy brow is contributing, which is why we sometimes discuss a brow lift as an alternative or companion. If you are still figuring out which problem you have, our guide to hooded and droopy eyelids walks through the causes in plain language.
Eyelid skin is the thinnest on the human body and sits millimeters from your eye. Dr. Daniel Schneider is board certified in head and neck surgery with subcertification from the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, which means the delicate anatomy around the eye is his specialty, not a side offering. Precision here is not a luxury. It is the difference between refreshed and overdone.
Upper blepharoplasty alone can be done under local anesthesia in our accredited St. Paul surgical suite, which keeps costs down. Combined upper and lower surgery typically calls for sedation, which adds cost but keeps you comfortable through the longer procedure.
Significant fat herniation, asymmetry, or prior surgery adds surgical time. Your quote reflects your eyes, not an average.
Insurance may cover upper blepharoplasty when drooping lids measurably block your peripheral vision, a condition documented with a visual field test. The American Academy of Ophthalmology explains the distinction well. Purely cosmetic eyelid surgery is not covered, and lower blepharoplasty is almost never covered because under-eye bags do not affect vision. If your upper lids feel heavy by evening or you find yourself raising your brows to see, mention it at your consultation and we will talk honestly about whether the functional pathway applies to you.
Lower blepharoplasty is usually more expensive than upper because the surgery is more complex and takes longer. Combining both in one session is the most cost-efficient way to treat both.
Your quote includes the surgeon's fee, anesthesia, our facility, and every follow-up appointment. We quote all-in numbers so you are never surprised.
Upper blepharoplasty results commonly last a decade or more, and lower blepharoplasty results are often effectively permanent, since the repositioned fat does not return.
Yes. We offer healthcare financing that converts your quote into predictable monthly payments, and we will go through the options with you at your visit.
Just as we said at the top, we wrote this to earn your trust and, we hope, your business. If you are anywhere in the Minneapolis and St. Paul metro and want a real number from a facial specialist who does this work every week, schedule your complimentary consultation, browse our before and after results, and get to know Dr. Schneider before you ever commit to anything.
