Morning: arrival and preparation
06:00–07:00 — Wake up. No food or drink from midnight if having general anaesthesia. Sips of water with morning medications are permitted (we tell you which).
08:00 — Arrive at clinic. ID confirmation, consent review, brief pre-op interview with Doç. Dr. Erdal and the anaesthetist.
08:30 — Marking. The most important non-surgical part of the procedure. Dr. Erdal marks the planned incision lines while you are upright and alert — sitting position is essential for accurate marking. Takes 15–20 minutes; you'll be asked to open, close, and move your eyes.
09:00 — Pre-operative photos. Standardised photos in consistent lighting for the medical record.
Operating room
09:30 — Theatre. Walk to the operating room or moved on a gurney depending on anaesthesia type. IV line placed; monitoring (ECG, BP, oxygen saturation) attached.
Anaesthesia:
- Local with sedation: light IV sedation makes you very drowsy/dozing; local injections numb the surgical area. You may have hazy memory of the procedure.
- General: you go fully to sleep; you wake up in recovery.
The operation: 40 minutes (upper only) to 2 hours (quad bleph). You will not remember most or any of it.
After the operation
Recovery room (30–60 minutes). You wake up, are monitored, eat a light snack, drink water. The eyes feel tight and a bit teary but not painful.
Discharge planning. A nurse reviews post-op instructions, eye drops, pain medication (rarely needed beyond paracetamol), and the day-5 follow-up appointment.
Discharge home/hotel. Typically by 14:00–16:00 depending on procedure complexity. A companion must accompany you — you cannot drive or take public transport alone.
First evening
Back at hotel/home: Cold compresses every 20 minutes for the first 6 hours. Sleep elevated. Light dinner; avoid salt. Take lubricating eye drops every 2 hours.
You will check yourself in the mirror multiple times. Try not to overdo this — the appearance on day 0 evening is not what you will see at day 7, day 30, or month 3. Day 0 is the worst it will look.
Frequently asked questions
Will I feel pain during the surgery?
No. Local anaesthesia eliminates pain; sedation eliminates awareness or anxiety; general anaesthesia eliminates everything. Most patients describe the experience afterward as 'like nothing happened.'
Can someone be with me in the clinic?
A companion can wait in our waiting area but does not accompany you into theatre. After discharge, your companion takes you to the hotel/home.
Not sure if you're a candidate?
Blepharoplasty is most successful when patient anatomy, age, and goals align with what surgery can realistically deliver. Send three facial photos (front, profile, eyes-closed) and Doç. Dr. Erdal will give you an honest, no-pressure suitability assessment before you commit to anything.
Ready to discuss your case?
Doç. Dr. Erdal personally reviews every enquiry. Honest assessment of whether blepharoplasty is right for you, with no pressure to book.