Eyelid & Oculoplastic Surgery · Aesthetic & Wellness

Blepharoplasty &
Eyelid Surgery

Eyelid surgery for a more rested, open eye.

Eyelid surgery to refresh a tired-looking eye area — or to clear vision blocked by heavy upper lids — performed by oculoplastic surgeons who specialize in the delicate anatomy around the eye.

Specialist Eye-Area Surgery

The eye area is all
we do.

Oculoplastic surgery is plastic and reconstructive surgery of the eyelids and the structures around the eye, performed by ophthalmologists with dedicated training in this region. Because the eyelids protect and frame the eye itself, even a small adjustment demands a surgeon who understands how the lid, the tear film, and vision work together — not just how it looks. That’s the difference between an aesthetic result and a safe, lasting one.

Procedures

Refined, restored,
re-opened.

Blepharoplasty Upper Eyelid Surgery

Removes or repositions excess skin (and sometimes fat) on the upper lids that creates a hooded, heavy, or tired look — and which, when severe, can crowd your field of vision. The result is a more open, alert eye.

Blepharoplasty Lower Eyelid Surgery

Addresses under-eye bags, puffiness, and loose lower-lid skin that can make you look tired regardless of how you feel. Approaches are chosen to minimize visible scarring and protect lid position.

Functional Ptosis Repair

Corrects a drooping upper eyelid (ptosis), where the lid sits low and can shadow the eye or obstruct vision. Surgery lifts the lid to a natural, symmetric position — restoring both look and function.

Functional or Cosmetic

Is eyelid surgery covered
by OHIP?

It depends on why you need it. The distinction is medical, not a matter of opinion — and we’ll assess it honestly.

Functional · OHIP prior approval required

When excess lid blocks your vision

If heavy upper-eyelid skin measurably obstructs your peripheral vision — confirmed with a visual field test — we can apply to OHIP for prior approval of the functional component. OHIP’s criteria are strict and most requests are declined, so most blepharoplasty is paid privately. We document the findings and explain your realistic options at your consultation.

Cosmetic · Elective

When the goal is rejuvenation

If there’s no vision obstruction and the aim is to refresh the appearance of the eye area, the procedure is elective and not covered by OHIP. Some extended health plans offer partial reimbursement; we provide itemized receipts for any claim.

Many patients have both a functional and a cosmetic component — we’ll explain exactly what applies to you, with no surprises.

Honest Candidacy

Are you a candidate?

A thorough assessment — including a look at your tear film and eyelid position — is the only way to know for certain.

You may be a good candidate if
✓Heavy or excess upper-lid skin makes you look tired — or crowds your vision
✓Under-eye bags or puffiness bother you
✓One or both upper lids droop (ptosis)
✓You’re in good general health with realistic expectations
We’ll take extra care — or wait — if
×You have significant dry eye (we’ll assess and stabilize it first)
×Certain eye-surface, thyroid, or bleeding conditions are involved
×You smoke (healing is affected — we’ll advise)
×Expectations don’t match what surgery can safely achieve
Why We Check Your Tear Film First

Healthy eyes heal better — and stay comfortable.

Eyelid surgery can temporarily affect how well your eyes stay lubricated, so every candidate’s ocular surface is evaluated before we proceed — with support from the U Dry Eye Institute when needed. Addressing dry eye up front protects your comfort and your result.

About Dry Eye Care →
What Recovery Looks Like

Back to yourself,
step by step.

Eyelid surgery is well tolerated, with most of the visible recovery happening in the first couple of weeks. Here’s the typical arc.

First daysRest & cool

Mild tightness or discomfort, eased with cold compresses and simple pain relief. Keep your head elevated and take it easy.

Week 1Settling

Bruising and swelling peak in the first few days, then ease. Any skin sutures are typically removed around 5–7 days.

Weeks 2–3Back out

Most visible bruising and swelling have resolved — many people feel comfortable returning to social and work life, then to fuller activity.

1–3 moFinal result

Residual swelling continues to settle and fine scars soften and fade, with your final, natural result emerging over the following weeks.

Exact timelines vary with the procedure and the person — your surgeon will give you a plan specific to you.

What We’ll Tell You Candidly

A clear-eyed look
at the risks.

Eyelid surgery is safe and routinely performed — and, like any surgery, carries risks we’ll discuss openly before you decide.

Book a Free Consultation
Bruising and swelling are expected, peak early, and settle over one to two weeks.
Temporary dryness or irritation is common — we screen for it beforehand and manage it with the U Dry Eye Institute.
Minor asymmetry can occur, as the two sides heal slightly differently; small adjustments are sometimes possible.
Rare complications — such as infection, a change in lid position, or incomplete lid closure — are uncommon and addressed promptly if they arise.
Where It Happens

Performed in an accredited surgical facility.

Your procedure takes place at U Surgical Centre, our accredited, purpose-built surgical facility — with your UELC oculoplastic surgeon and team beside you, and your follow-up care coordinated across the U Vision Group. Eyelid surgery at UELC is performed by surgeons from the oculoplastics service of Uptown Eye Specialists, UVG’s medical ophthalmology practice, including Dr. Sangsu Han, MD, FRCSC, a fellowship-trained oculoplastic surgeon, and Dr. Raj Maini, MD, FRCSC.

Common Questions

Good to know.

Usually not — most blepharoplasty is paid privately. If excess upper-eyelid skin measurably obstructs your peripheral vision — documented with a visual field test — we can apply to OHIP for prior approval of the functional portion, but OHIP’s criteria are strict and most requests are declined. Purely cosmetic eyelid surgery, done to refresh appearance without a vision concern, is elective and not covered; it is worth checking whether your extended health plan reimburses any part of it. We assess and explain exactly what applies to you. For a fuller explanation of how the functional-versus-cosmetic line is drawn, read our plain-language guide: Is eyelid surgery covered by OHIP?

Functional blepharoplasty is medically indicated — excess eyelid skin is interfering with your vision, confirmed by testing. Cosmetic blepharoplasty is elective, performed to rejuvenate the eye area when there’s no vision concern. Many patients have both components, and we’ll clarify which is which during your assessment.

Most people are through the visible part of recovery within about two weeks. Bruising and swelling peak in the first few days and then ease; skin sutures usually come out around 5–7 days; and many return to social and work life by weeks two to three. The final, settled result emerges over the following one to three months.

Natural is the goal. Because our surgeons specialize in the eye and its surrounding anatomy, the aim is to refresh and open the eye while keeping it unmistakably yours — never a startled or “operated” look. We’ll set honest expectations for what surgery can achieve for your eyes.

Ptosis is a drooping upper eyelid that sits lower than it should — it can make you look tired and, when significant, shadow or obstruct your vision. It’s corrected surgically by tightening or repositioning the muscle that lifts the lid, restoring a natural, symmetric position. It may have a functional (OHIP-eligible) component when vision is affected.

Yes — protecting eye comfort and closure is central to how oculoplastic surgeons plan eyelid surgery. Temporary dryness is common early on and is managed with drops and, when needed, support from the U Dry Eye Institute. We screen your tear film beforehand precisely to keep you comfortable.

There isn’t one number, because eyelid surgery isn’t one procedure. The cost depends on what your eyelids need: upper lids, lower lids or both; whether a drooping lid (ptosis) is repaired at the same time; and whether part of the surgery is functional. When excess upper-lid skin measurably obstructs your vision, we can apply to OHIP for prior approval of that functional component, but most requests are declined, so plan on paying privately unless approval comes through. Purely cosmetic eyelid surgery is paid privately; it is worth checking whether your extended health plan offers any reimbursement, and we provide itemized receipts. We don’t publish prices because an honest figure only exists after your assessment — you’ll receive a written quote for your specific plan at your consultation, with no obligation and time to decide. For how coverage is decided, see Is eyelid surgery covered by OHIP?

Medical & Functional Eyelid Care

Need more than cosmetic eyelid surgery?

Some eyelid concerns are medical rather than aesthetic — a turned-in or turned-out lid (entropion / ectropion), tear-duct (lacrimal) blockage, or eyelid lesions. These are treated by the oculoplastic team at Uptown Eye Specialists, our sister clinic within U Vision Group, and are often OHIP-covered. We’ll point you to the right place.

Medical Eyelid & Tear Duct Care →
One Coordinated Team

Eyelid surgery is one part of our Aesthetic & Wellness care — explore non-surgical options like skin rejuvenation and injectables, or, if dry eye is part of your picture, the U Dry Eye Institute. Within U Vision Group, your care is connected end to end.

All Aesthetic & Wellness →
Free Consultation

Open up
your eyes.

Bring us what bothers you — a tired look, heavy lids, a droop — and we’ll give you an honest, specialist view of your options, surgical or otherwise. No pressure, just a clear plan.