Upper Eyelid Surgery in Pune: Droopy Lid Correction Explained

Your upper eyelids are heavier than they used to be. The crease has disappeared under a fold of skin. In photographs, your eyes look smaller, more closed, more tired — even when you feel completely alert. You find yourself raising your brows to compensate, which is creating forehead lines you did not have before. Eye makeup no longer sits the way it used to because there is no platform left to apply it on. If any of this sounds familiar, you are describing dermatochalasis: excess upper eyelid skin that accumulates with age or genetics. Upper blepharoplasty, the surgical correction of this condition, is one of the most consistently satisfying procedures in facial plastic surgery. This guide explains what the surgery involves, who it is right for, what recovery looks like, and what patients in Pune can realistically expect.

Upper blepharoplasty removes excess skin and where present, excess fat from the upper eyelid, restoring the eyelid crease and opening the eye. It is performed under local anaesthesia in 45 to 75 minutes. Recovery involves bruising and swelling for 7 to 10 days. Results are long-lasting, typically 10 to 15 years. Cost in Pune starts from Rs. 45,000 for both upper lids.

What Upper Blepharoplasty Corrects?

Upper eyelid surgery addresses several distinct concerns that patients describe in different ways:

• Excess upper eyelid skin (dermatochalasis): Redundant skin that folds over the eyelid crease, obscuring the eyelid platform and making the eye appear smaller, heavier, and more closed. This is the most common indication for upper blepharoplasty.
• Hooded eyes: The term patients most often use when upper eyelid skin descends and covers the eyelid, reducing the visible eye opening and making eye makeup application difficult.
• Heavy, tired-looking eyes: The constant sensation of eyelid weight, and the appearance of fatigue or sadness that excess eyelid skin creates even in patients who are well-rested and alert.
• Upper eyelid fat herniation: In some patients, fat pads in the upper eyelid herniate forward alongside the excess skin, contributing to a puffy, heavy appearance. This fat can be addressed at the same time as skin removal.
• Functional visual impairment: In significant cases, overhanging upper eyelid skin covers the upper visual field, reducing peripheral vision. This is called functional blepharoplasty and may have insurance implications in some policies.

What upper blepharoplasty does not correct: a descended brow pushing skin down over the eye (this requires brow lift surgery) and true eyelid ptosis a condition where the lid margin itself sits too low due to levator muscle weakness (this requires ptosis repair, a different procedure). Distinguishing between these is part of what the pre-operative assessment establishes.

Why the Assessment by a Plastic Surgeon Matters?

Upper eyelid surgery appears straightforward from the outside. It is not. The amount of skin removed, the position of the excision relative to the eyelid crease, the management of the underlying fat, and the relationship between the eyelid and the brow position all affect whether the result looks natural and lasts well — or looks operated, creates difficulty closing the eye, or needs early revision.

Across Pune, upper blepharoplasty is offered in a range of settings by practitioners with varying levels of training. A plastic surgeon with MCh or DNB Plastic Surgery qualification has the anatomical training and surgical skill to plan and perform the procedure correctly, including recognising when a brow lift should be part of the plan rather than a blepharoplasty alone.

Dr. Dhruv Chavan, plastic surgeon at Dr. DC Plastic Surgery in Pune, holds an MCh in Plastic Surgery and is a member of the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India (APSI). He performs upper blepharoplasty for patients from across Pune, including Kharadi, Baner, Koregaon Park, Hinjewadi, NIBM, Viman Nagar, and Pimple Saudagar, assessing each patient’s brow position, skin laxity, fat distribution, and functional visual field before recommending a surgical plan.

The One Risk Most Patients Do Not Know About

The most common planning error in upper blepharoplasty is operating on the eyelid when the real problem is a descended brow.

When the brow descends with age, it pushes skin down over the upper eyelid. The patient looks in the mirror and sees excess eyelid skin. A surgeon who removes eyelid skin without addressing the brow position achieves an improvement but one that diminishes faster than expected as the brow continues to descend.

Worse: a surgeon who removes too much upper eyelid skin without accounting for brow position creates lagophthalmos, inability to close the eye fully. This causes chronic dry eye, corneal exposure, and significant discomfort, and requires corrective surgery.

This is not a rare complication. It is a direct consequence of inadequate pre-operative planning. The brow test lifting the brow manually to assess how much improvement comes from brow elevation versus skin removal, is a standard part of every upper blepharoplasty assessment at Dr. DC Plastic Surgery.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Upper Blepharoplasty?

Good candidates for upper eyelid surgery in Pune include patients who:

• Have visible excess upper eyelid skin that folds over or obscures the eyelid crease
• Feel their eyes look persistently tired, heavy, or older than they feel
• Have difficulty applying eye makeup because the eyelid platform is covered
• Notice they are raising their brows to compensate for heavy eyelids, causing forehead lines
• Have had a stable concern for at least 6 months (not a recent change)
• Are in generally good health and are realistic about what the procedure achieves

Upper blepharoplasty is appropriate from the late twenties onward for patients with genetic excess skin, and is commonly performed in patients in their forties, fifties, and sixties. There is no upper age limit.

What the Surgery Involves?

Upper blepharoplasty is performed under local anaesthesia with light sedation at Dr. DC Plastic Surgery. General anaesthesia is available for patients who prefer it or for combined procedures.

The incision is placed in the natural upper eyelid crease. This crease is the most concealed position on the upper eyelid — when the eyes are open and looking forward, the scar sits within the crease and is not visible. The surgeon removes the precisely measured amount of excess skin and any fat that is addressed. Sutures are fine and placed within the crease.

The procedure takes 45 to 75 minutes for both upper lids. For combined upper and lower blepharoplasty, the operating time is longer.

Heavy Eyelids, Hooded Eyes, or Functional Vision Impairment in Pune? A Consultation Tells You What Is Possible.

Dr. Dhruv Chavan at Dr. DC Plastic Surgery assesses your upper eyelid anatomy, brow position, and whether surgery, brow lift, or a combination is the right plan. You leave the consultation with a clear recommendation and an honest cost estimate.

Book Your Upper Blepharoplasty Consultation | View Eyelid Surgery Results

Cost of Upper Eyelid Surgery in Pune

At Dr. DC Plastic Surgery:

A personalised quote is provided at consultation based on the extent of the procedure. See the treatment pricing for general guidance and the financing for payment options.

Recovery After Upper Blepharoplasty

Recovery from upper eyelid surgery is well tolerated by most patients:

Days 1 to 3: Bruising and swelling around the upper eyelids. Most significant in the first 72 hours. Cold compresses and head elevation help. Mild discomfort managed with prescribed pain relief.

Days 5 to 7: Suture removal at the clinic. The eyelid crease scar is pink and slightly raised at this stage — this is normal healing and will settle over weeks.

Days 10 to 14: Most patients are comfortable returning to work and social settings. Residual bruising may still be present but is coverable with makeup from week two.

Month 1 to 3: The crease scar softens and fades. Residual swelling continues to resolve. The eyelid looks progressively more open and natural.

Final result at 3 to 4 months: All swelling resolved. The eyelid crease is well defined. The result looks natural and settled.

Most patients describe upper blepharoplasty as one of the highest-impact, easiest-recovery procedures they have undergone. The combination of meaningful visible improvement and a relatively straightforward recovery period makes it consistently among the highest patient satisfaction procedures in facial plastic surgery.

What to Expect at Your First Consultation?

Patients who hesitate to book are often unsure what a surgical consultation involves. At Dr. DC Plastic Surgery, the first appointment is an assessment, not a commitment.

Dr. Dhruv Chavan examines the upper eyelid, assesses the degree of skin excess, checks the brow position, reviews the eyelid crease, and determines whether any fat component needs to be addressed. He discusses what the procedure involves, what recovery looks like, and what the realistic result will be for your specific anatomy.

If brow lift is indicated rather than or alongside blepharoplasty, this is explained with the reasoning. If no surgery is needed, that is also communicated.

The consultation takes 30 to 45 minutes. You leave with a clear plan and cost estimate. There is no obligation to proceed.

Upper Eyelid Surgery Consultations Across All Six Pune Locations, Kharadi, Baner, NIBM, Pimple Saudagar, Prabhat Road, Pune Station

Dr. DC Plastic Surgery has six clinic locations across Pune. Patients from East Pune, West Pune, and central Pune each have a clinic within easy reach for consultations and all follow-up appointments after upper blepharoplasty.

Find Your Nearest Dr. DC Clinic in Pune | Book a Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

Will people know I had upper eyelid surgery?

No, if the surgery is well planned and the result is natural. Good upper blepharoplasty makes your eyes look more open, rested, and alert. It does not make them look different in character. Observers who did not know you before surgery would not identify the change as surgical. They would simply notice you look less tired.

Is upper blepharoplasty worth it?

For patients whose primary concern is heavy, hooded, or tired-looking upper eyelids, it is consistently rated among the highest satisfaction procedures in facial plastic surgery. The improvement is meaningful, the recovery is manageable, and the results last a decade or more. Most patients who have it say they wish they had done it sooner.

What is the difference between blepharoplasty and ptosis repair?

Blepharoplasty removes excess skin. Ptosis repair corrects a low eyelid margin caused by weakness or detachment of the levator muscle, the muscle that lifts the lid. They address different anatomical problems. Some patients need both. The pre-operative assessment determines which is indicated.

Does upper blepharoplasty hurt?

Recovery is not significantly painful. Most patients describe mild tightness, swelling, and discomfort, not pain. The first 48 to 72 hours are the least comfortable and are well managed with prescribed medication.

How long do upper blepharoplasty results last?

Typically 10 to 15 years. The skin that is removed does not return. Over time, new skin laxity will gradually develop, but meaningful recurrence of the pre-surgical appearance typically takes a decade or more.

What if I have both heavy eyelids and a low brow?

This is common and is assessed at consultation. In some patients, a brow lift alone addresses the hooded appearance. In others, blepharoplasty alone is sufficient. In many patients, a combined upper blepharoplasty and brow lift produces the best result. The assessment determines which applies to your anatomy. See the brow lift page for information on brow lift options.

Stop Compensating for Heavy Eyelids Book a Consultation with a Plastic Surgeon in Pune

Upper blepharoplasty is one of the most consistently satisfying procedures in facial plastic surgery. Book a consultation with Dr. Dhruv Chavan at Dr. DC Plastic Surgery and find out exactly what is possible for your upper eyelids.

Book Your Consultation or call +91 99604 341 11