Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)

Upper and lower blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) performed by FRACS plastic surgeon Dr Tony Tonks at Canberra's Barton Private Hospital. Removes excess upper eyelid skin causing visual field impairment or cosmetic heaviness, and addresses lower eyelid bags, fat herniation, and skin laxity. Medicare item numbers available for functional upper lid ptosis cases. From $6,000 AUD.

Canberra Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery offers blepharoplasty — surgical correction of the upper and lower eyelids — performed by Dr Tony Tonks (FRACS) at Barton Private Hospital in Barton, ACT. Blepharoplasty is one of the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedures in Australia and addresses the eyelid changes associated with ageing, genetic predisposition, and, in the upper lid, functional visual impairment caused by excess dermatochalasis (loose upper eyelid skin) that encroaches on the superior visual field. Upper blepharoplasty involves removal of redundant eyelid skin and, where indicated, excision of herniated orbital fat contributing to eyelid fullness or heaviness, through an incision placed precisely within the natural eyelid crease to ensure concealment of the scar. Lower blepharoplasty addresses the lower eyelid bags (fat pad prolapse creating the characteristic 'under-eye bags' of ageing), lower lid skin laxity and fine wrinkling, and in some cases tear trough hollowing, through either a subciliary (skin surface) or transconjunctival (inner eyelid, scarless) approach selected according to the patient's anatomy and goals. Medicare rebates and item numbers (including Medicare item number 45617 for functional ptosis) are available for upper blepharoplasty cases where the excess lid skin meets the visual field criteria, allowing eligible ACT and NSW patients to claim a Medicare rebate that partially offsets the overall cost. This functional-cosmetic dual pathway is available through the Canberra practice following a pre-operative consultation with Dr Tonks to document visual field impairment. The procedure fee starts from $6,000 AUD exclusive of anaesthetic and hospital costs. Recovery involves bruising and swelling that typically resolves over seven to fourteen days, with sutures removed at seven days. Canberra patients seeking eyelid surgery from a specialist FRACS surgeon choose the Barton practice for the combination of surgical expertise, hospital-based safety standards, and functional Medicare eligibility assessment.