Lower Eyelid Surgery (Lower Blepharoplasty) in Turkey
Lower blepharoplasty in Turkey: treating under-eye bags by repositioning fat into the tear trough through the inside of the lid or a lash-line incision; 1 hospital night and 1 hotel night included. Bags versus dark circles, technique, recovery, risks.
Anaesthesia
General anaesthesia, or local with sedation for the transconjunctival approach
Operation time
1–1.5 hours
Hospital / hotel
1 night / 1 night
Stay in Turkey
5 nights recommended; 1 hotel night included, more arranged at cost
Back to work
Desk work in 7–10 days
Package price
€1,140
What Lower Eyelid Surgery involves
Lower blepharoplasty treats under-eye bags — the puffiness beneath the eye that is present in the morning and in good light, not just when you are tired. Bags form when the membrane holding the fat behind the eye weakens with age and the fat bulges forward; often there is a hollow groove beneath the bag (the tear trough) that makes the bag look larger and casts a shadow. The modern operation does not simply remove the fat, which hollows the eye: it moves the fat down over the bony rim into the trough, so that the bag and the groove are corrected at once and the lid flows smoothly into the cheek.
The approach depends on the skin. In younger patients with bags but good skin, the fat is reached through an incision on the inside of the lower lid — transconjunctival — leaving no external scar. When there is loose lower-lid skin as well, a lash-line incision allows a conservative strip of skin to be removed. In either case the surgeon checks the tightness of the lower lid before surgery, because a lax lid needs a supporting stitch at the outer corner (canthopexy) to prevent the lid from being pulled down afterwards.
What lower blepharoplasty does not do: it does not treat dark circles caused by pigmentation or thin skin, it does not remove crow’s feet or fine lines, and it does not lift the cheek. An honest assessment separates bags (surgery), dark circles (skin treatment or filler) and cheek descent (mid-face lift or fat grafting) — they look similar to the patient and are treated completely differently.
Scars: None (transconjunctival), or a fine line just below the lashes that fades to nothing visible
Who it suits — and who it does not
Good candidates
- ✓Under-eye bags present in the morning and in good light, with or without a tear-trough hollow
- ✓A lower lid that snaps back briskly when gently pulled — checked at consultation
- ✓Good general health, no active eye disease, dry-eye symptoms absent or mild
- ✓Typically over 35, though hereditary bags are treated earlier
- ✓Realistic that dark circles from pigmentation are a separate issue
Usually advised against
- –Dark circles from pigmentation or thin skin rather than fat — different treatment
- –Significant lower-lid laxity without support — canthopexy is added, and the surgeon will say so
- –Significant dry eye, thyroid eye disease or recent laser eye surgery without an ophthalmologist’s clearance
- –Malar (cheek) bags or festoons, which are a different problem with different treatment
- –Expecting removal of fine lines or crow’s feet
Techniques and options
Transconjunctival fat repositioning
An incision on the inside of the lower lid gives access to the fat pads without any external scar. The fat is released and moved down over the orbital rim into the tear trough and fixed there with fine sutures, filling the hollow and flattening the bag. Skin is not touched; mild laxity is sometimes treated with a laser or peel at the same time.
Subciliary (skin-muscle flap) approach
An incision just below the lashes; the skin and muscle are lifted as a flap, the fat repositioned or conservatively reduced, and a small strip of excess skin removed before closure. The scar lies in the lash line and fades to nothing visible. Chosen when skin laxity is part of the problem.
Canthopexy / canthoplasty
A supporting stitch at the outer corner tightens a lax lower lid so it is not pulled down after surgery. Added whenever the snap test shows laxity — this is the step that prevents the rounded, pulled-down eye of older techniques.
Fat grafting
When the hollow is larger than the bag can fill, or the cheek has lost volume, fat from the abdomen or thigh is grafted to the lid–cheek junction for a smooth transition.
Skin treatment
Fine lines and crepey skin under the eye are treated with a light laser or chemical peel at the time of surgery in suitable patients; pigmentation is treated separately.
What happens on surgery day
- 1
Assessment before travel: close-up photos of the eyes looking straight ahead, looking up (which makes bags prominent), and from the side; a description of whether the problem is puffiness or darkness. The surgeon plans the approach and whether canthal support is needed.
- 2
Admission on the morning of surgery after fasting if general anaesthesia is planned. Blood tests and anaesthetic review. Markings sitting up.
- 3
Under anaesthesia, the chosen approach: fat repositioned into the trough, canthopexy if needed, conservative skin removal if the lash-line approach was chosen. Both sides compared before closure.
- 4
Antibiotic ointment and cold compresses. One night in hospital with the head raised, for comfort and observation of any bleeding.
- 5
Discharge to the hotel the next morning. Clinic visit at day 5–6 for suture removal (if external) and the fit-to-fly confirmation.
Recovery timeline
Days 1–3
Swelling and bruising of the lower lids and upper cheeks, a tight feeling, some blurred vision from ointment. Cold compresses 15 minutes every hour while awake; head raised; limited screens.
Days 5–7
External sutures removed if used. Bruising fading. Fit-to-fly check.
Weeks 2–3
Most bruising gone; concealer over the rest once the skin has sealed. Desk work resumes. Lower lids may look slightly full or uneven in the mornings — expected.
Weeks 4–8
Swelling resolves; the lid–cheek junction smooths. Exercise from week 2–3, swimming from week 4.
Month 3
Final result; any lash-line scar has faded to nothing visible.
Results — and their limits
A smooth lower lid that flows into the cheek, no bag, no shadow from a hollow — a rested look that others notice without being able to say why.
Fat that has been repositioned does not return; the bags are treated permanently. Skin continues to age normally.
Dark circles from pigmentation, fine lines and cheek descent are unchanged and are treated separately if wanted.
Slight asymmetry of swelling in the first weeks is normal; the two sides settle at different rates.
When it is final: Swelling settles over 6–8 weeks; final at 3 months
Risks and how they are managed
Every operation carries risk. These are the ones that matter for this procedure, and what is done to reduce, spot or treat each.
Bleeding behind the eye (retrobulbar haematoma)
Very rare but serious. Blood thinners stopped, blood pressure controlled, first night in hospital, immediate reporting of pain, pressure or vision change.
Lower lid pulled down (ectropion / scleral show)
The classic complication of older, skin-removing techniques. Prevented by fat repositioning rather than removal, conservative skin excision, and canthopexy when the lid is lax. Early cases are treated with massage and taping.
Dry, gritty or watery eyes
Common for a few weeks; lubricating drops and night ointment. Persistent dry eye is rare with screening and conservative technique.
Hollowing
Caused by fat removal; avoided by repositioning.
Asymmetry or residual fullness
Both sides compared on the table; minor adjustment under local anaesthesia after 3–6 months if needed.
Lumps or irregularity at the repositioned fat
Usually early swelling that settles; persistent lumps are rare and can be treated.
Chemosis (swelling of the eye’s surface membrane)
Occasional after lower-lid surgery; resolves with drops and time.
Infection
Uncommon; ointment and clean technique.
Package and cost
€1,140
One fixed price for the operation and a 2-night stay: 1 hospital night and 1 hotel night. No deposit surprises, no add-ons for anaesthesia or medication.
Included
- ✓Consultation with the operating surgeon, including lid-laxity assessment
- ✓Anaesthetic assessment and blood tests where needed
- ✓Lower blepharoplasty for both eyes with fat repositioning and canthal support where indicated, in a hospital operating theatre
- ✓1 night in hospital with nursing care, cold compresses and medication
- ✓1 night in a 4- or 5-star hotel in Kuşadası
- ✓Private transfers between airport, hospital, clinic and hotel
- ✓Antibiotic ointment, lubricating drops, suture removal if external, and fit-to-fly confirmation
- ✓12 months of remote photo follow-up
Not included
- –Additional hotel nights — we recommend 5 nights in total and arrange the extra nights at cost
- –Flights and travel insurance
- –Upper blepharoplasty, fat grafting or skin treatments if combined — quoted as a package
How to compare this with a quote at home
Ask any clinic for the same list: surgeon and anaesthetist fees, hospital nights, tests, medication, garments or splints, follow-up visits. A cheaper headline price usually excludes several of these. Then add your flights and insurance to our price for a like-for-like comparison.
How to prepare
- 1.Send close-up photos of the eyes looking straight ahead, looking up, and from the side, in daylight; say whether the problem is puffiness or darkness.
- 2.Have an eye check if you have glaucoma, thyroid disease or significant dry eye; bring the report.
- 3.Stop aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, vitamin E and ginkgo 14 days before; stop smoking 4 weeks before.
- 4.No eye make-up on the day; remove lash extensions beforehand.
- 5.Bring sunglasses, glasses instead of contact lenses for two weeks, and lubricating drops; arrange 5 nights in Turkey and 7–10 days off desk work.
Aftercare at home
- •Cold compresses for the first 48 hours; head raised for a week; no rubbing the eyes.
- •Ointment and drops as instructed for 2–3 weeks.
- •No eye make-up until cleared, usually 10 days; no contact lenses for 2 weeks.
- •Avoid bending, lifting and exercise for 2 weeks; swimming and saunas for 4 weeks. Sunglasses and SPF for 6 months.
- •Report sudden one-sided swelling, severe pain, pressure or vision change immediately. Photos at 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months.
Frequently asked questions
Bags or dark circles — which do I have?
Will there be a scar?
Why reposition fat instead of removing it?
Will the bags come back?
What is a canthopexy and do I need one?
How long until I look normal?
Can I combine it with upper eyelid surgery?
When can I fly home?
What is included in the price?
Often considered alongside
Free assessment
Send your details; a coordinator replies with a surgeon’s opinion and a written plan.