Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Upper and lower eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) by specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Warwick Nettle FRACS at Silkwood Medical, Bondi Junction Sydney. Procedures address excess upper eyelid skin and hooding, lower eyelid bags, and puffiness due to herniated orbital fat, restoring a rested and alert appearance. Medicare rebates may apply to functional upper blepharoplasty cases.

Dr Warwick Nettle offered upper and lower eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) at his Silkwood Medical practice in Bondi Junction, Sydney, as standalone procedures and as part of comprehensive facial rejuvenation plans combining facelift, brow lift, or fat grafting. Upper blepharoplasty addresses the most common complaint — excess skin and soft tissue hooding over the upper eyelid that creates a heavy, tired, or aged appearance. In functionally significant cases where the excess skin impairs the superior visual field, a Medicare rebate and private health insurance benefit may be applicable, reducing out-of-pocket cost considerably. Dr Nettle's approach to upper blepharoplasty preserved the natural upper eyelid crease and avoided over-resection of skin or fat — a common cause of hollowed, surgically altered-looking upper eyelids — by conservatively addressing only the true excess while maintaining periorbital volume. Lower blepharoplasty addressed pseudoherniation of the three orbital fat compartments (medial, central, and lateral) that produce the classic under-eye bags associated with ageing and genetic predisposition. Dr Nettle favoured a trans-conjunctival (scarless, inside the lower eyelid) approach in patients with adequate lower eyelid tone and without significant skin excess, avoiding an external incision and the associated scleral show risk. Where significant lower eyelid skin laxity or festooning was present, a subciliary approach with skin resection was utilised instead. Combined upper and lower blepharoplasty in a single session was the most common request, offering a comprehensive periorbital rejuvenation with one recovery period. Blepharoplasty was frequently combined with facelift, brow lift, or fat grafting to the tear trough for patients seeking a total facial refresh. Procedures were performed at accredited Sydney private hospitals under sedation or general anaesthesia. Pricing ranged from approximately $5,000 for isolated upper blepharoplasty to $11,000+ for combined bilateral upper and lower procedures including anaesthetist and hospital costs.