Blepharoplasty in Islamabad with Dr. Umbreen Munir Minhas removes the extra eyelid skin and fat that make your eyes look heavy, tired or puffy, while your eyes keep their own shape.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Umbreen Munir Minhas, MBBS, FCPS (Plastic Surgery). Last updated October 2026.
Blepharoplasty, better known as eyelid surgery, removes or repositions loose skin, muscle and fat around the eyes. It can treat the upper lids, the lower lids, or all four lids in one operation.
The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) ranked it the most performed cosmetic operation in the world in 2024, with about 2.1 million procedures.
Upper lid skin stretches with age and folds over the natural crease, a condition called dermatochalasis. More than half of adults over 60 have some degree of it, and it often runs in families.
When the fold hangs over the lashes, it cuts off the upper part of your field of vision. You may tilt your head back or raise your eyebrows to see, which leaves your forehead aching by evening.
The fat pads that cushion your eyeball can bulge forward as the thin membrane holding them back weakens. In some families, these bags appear as early as the 20s and do not respond to creams.
A deep groove between the lower lid and cheek, called the tear trough, casts a shadow that sleep cannot fix. Because the cause is structural, the tired look stays even after a full night.
Upper eyelid surgery follows your natural crease, removing a measured strip of skin and a little fat. When your eyes are open, the scar sits inside the fold.
A fine incision just below the lower lashes lets the surgeon remove bulging fat and tighten loose, crepey skin. The line usually blends into the natural creases under the eye.
The bags are treated through the pink inner lining of the lower lid, so no scar shows on the skin. It suits puffy lower lids where the skin itself is still firm.
Instead of removing all the under-eye fat, part of it is moved down into the tear trough. This smooths the step between lid and cheek and avoids a hollow look later.
Most patients look more rested and alert rather than different. How much changes depends on your skin quality, brow position and healing. The photos below are shared with patient consent.
Dr. Umbreen measures the skin and fat on each lid and checks your brow height. She also looks for ptosis, a drooping lid edge that needs muscle repair, not skin removal.
Tell her about dry eyes, glaucoma, thyroid eye disease and any eye drops you use. Stop smoking 4 to 6 weeks before surgery, and stop aspirin and herbal supplements 2 weeks before.
Blepharoplasty is done under local anesthesia, with or without sedation, or under general anesthesia. Depending on how many lids are treated, it takes about 45 minutes to 2.5 hours.
Most patients go home the same day with ointment on the stitches. The ointment blurs your vision, so arrange a driver and avoid driving yourself for several days.
| Time After Surgery | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| First 48 hours | Swelling and bruising are at their highest. Cold compresses every hour while awake keep them down. |
| Days 5 to 7 | Stitches are removed in clinic and the lids feel less tight. |
| Week 2 | Most bruising has faded and you can usually return to work. |
| Months 2 to 3 | Scar lines turn pale and soft, and the final lid shape shows. |
Sleep with your head on 2 pillows for the first week and use lubricating drops as prescribed. Wear dark glasses outdoors to protect healing lids from sun and dust.
Dr. Umbreen explains every risk before you sign consent. Surgery is postponed if thyroid eye disease is active or if diabetes or blood pressure is not controlled.
It does not lift low eyebrows or smooth crow’s feet at the outer corners. Dark circles caused by pigment, common in South Asian skin, also stay because the colour sits in the deeper skin layer.
Your fee is confirmed after consultation, once you know which lids need treatment. Ask for one written estimate that covers the surgeon, anesthesia and facility.
| Factor | How It Affects Your Fee |
|---|---|
| Number of lids | Upper lids alone cost less than all four lids together. |
| Approach | Fat repositioning takes longer than simple fat removal. |
| Anesthesia | Local anesthesia costs less than general anesthesia. |
| Combined procedures | Adding a brow lift or facelift changes the total fee. |
Eyelid surgery in Islamabad is often priced per pair of lids, so check whether a quote covers upper, lower or both.
Eyelid skin is the thinnest skin on your body, so a few millimetres decide the result. As a female plastic surgeon, Dr. Umbreen plans conservative skin removal that keeps your eyes looking like yours.
Hooding can come from loose lid skin, from low eyebrows, or from both, and each needs a different operation.
| Feature | Blepharoplasty | Brow Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Main problem treated | Excess lid skin and under-eye bags | Low, heavy brows |
| Mirror check | Skin still hangs when you lift your brows with a finger | Hooding disappears once the brows are raised |
| Treats lower lids? | Yes | No |
| Scar position | Upper lid crease | Hairline or scalp |
| Effect on forehead | None | Softens horizontal forehead lines |
Removing lid skin while ignoring a low brow can pull the brow down further, so both are checked before any plan is made.
You can see Dr. Umbreen privately at Omer Diagnostic & Specialist Clinics (ODC), 12-A, LG Floor, CBC Plaza, G-8 Markaz, Islamabad, Monday to Friday, 3:00 to 5:00 PM.
Bring your glasses prescription, a list of your eye drops and an old photo from 10 years ago to show how your lids have changed.
Most patients feel tightness and mild soreness rather than real pain. Simple painkillers usually control it, and the eyes feel noticeably more comfortable after the first 2 or 3 days.
Lower lid results rarely need repeating, because the removed fat does not return. Upper lid skin keeps ageing, so some patients choose a small second procedure many years later.
There is no fixed age. Most patients are over 35, but inherited under-eye bags can be treated earlier once you are an adult and your eyes are healthy.
Usually after about 2 weeks, once the stitch lines have healed. Dr. Umbreen confirms the exact day at your follow-up visit, depending on how your lids are settling.
No. Double eyelid surgery creates a crease in a lid that has none, a request common in East Asia. Upper blepharoplasty removes excess skin above an existing crease.
Yes. ISAPS data show it was the most popular cosmetic operation among men in 2024. For men, the crease is usually kept lower and flatter so the result stays masculine.
Patient guides on eyelid surgery from Dr. Umbreen’s blog.
Upper eyelid surgery, clinically known as upper blepharoplasty, is needed by people whose upper eyelids carry excess skin that creates a hooded, heavy, or tired appearance, or that droops far enough to interfere with vision. The procedure is suitable for
Most patients recover from eyelid surgery within 10 to 14 days, when visible bruising and swelling have cleared enough to return to work and social activities. Full healing of the deeper tissue and scar fading continues over three to six
Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin, fat, and sometimes muscle from the upper and lower eyelids to correct drooping, puffiness, and under eye bags while restoring a more alert, youthful appearance. It is performed for cosmetic reasons
