Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) Quotes: Upper, Lower or Both

Eyelid surgery quotes from Colombia tend to be one of the shortest documents you will receive: a procedure name, a total, maybe a line about anesthesia. That brevity hides the real decision, which is what exactly is being done to which lids, by whom, and how many days you need to stay in the city afterward.

This note walks through the lines an eyelid quote should contain, the history you should disclose before anyone prices it, and the questions that separate a quote you can compare from a number you cannot.

Nothing here assesses whether you are a candidate. That call belongs to a licensed surgeon who has examined your eyes in person.

Upper, lower or both: name the procedure precisely

"Blepharoplasty" covers several different operations. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Academy of Ophthalmology both publish patient pages that explain the difference between upper and lower eyelid surgery. Read both before your consultation so you can follow the surgeon's plan.

In plain terms, upper and lower lid surgery address different concerns and are often done with different incisions and techniques. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, eyelid surgery can be done on the upper lids, the lower lids or both: on the upper lid it addresses loose or sagging skin that forms folds or disturbs the lid's natural contour, and on the lower lid it addresses excess skin, fine wrinkles and drooping that shows white below the iris. The American Academy of Ophthalmology describes blepharoplasty as removing excess eyelid skin, sometimes along with some nearby fat or tightening of muscle and tissue, and notes that stretched lower lid skin can produce what people call "bags" under the eyes. Your quote should say which lids are included and what the surgeon intends to do to each.

• Upper lids only. Ask what the surgeon plans to remove or reposition, and where the incision will sit.
• Lower lids only. Ask which approach the surgeon plans (some lower lid techniques use an incision inside the lid, others an external one) and why that approach fits your eyes.
• Both. Ask whether both are done in one session, and whether the combined price is a true package or simply two prices added together.

A drooping upper lid is not always excess skin. A low lid margin or a low brow can look similar, and those are usually different procedures. The American Academy of Ophthalmology describes drooping of the lid itself (ptosis) as being corrected by strengthening the eyelid muscle, separately from removing excess skin. If a quote arrives without an exam or a detailed photo review, ask how the surgeon ruled those out. If a brow procedure or facelift is being suggested alongside, read our note on facelift quotes in Colombia and ask whether staging the surgeries makes sense.

Oculoplastic surgeon or plastic surgeon

Two kinds of specialists commonly perform eyelid surgery. A plastic surgeon operates across the face and body. An oculoplastic surgeon is an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) with additional training focused on the eyelids, tear system and orbit.

Neither title guarantees a good result, and plenty of plastic surgeons do eyelid work routinely. The point is to know which one you have, and to ask a few follow-up questions:

1. What is your specialty, and how much of your practice is eyelid surgery?
2. Who examines the eye itself before surgery: you, or a separate ophthalmologist?
3. If something affects my vision or eye surface afterward, who handles it, and is that visit included?
4. May I see your registration so I can verify it independently?

In Colombia, professionals appear in ReTHUS and facilities in REPS. Our guide on checking ReTHUS and REPS before a deposit shows how to confirm both, including whether the facility is habilitated for the service it is selling you.

Functional or cosmetic: check insurance before you book abroad

Some people seek upper lid surgery because heavy lids block part of their vision, not only for appearance. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, excess upper eyelid skin can limit your side vision, and before surgery an ophthalmologist may photograph your eyes and test your side vision. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons likewise notes that sagging upper lid skin sometimes impairs vision, and says people seek eyelid surgery both to improve their appearance and for functional problems with their eyelids. In the US, that difference can matter to insurance. Some US insurers ask for documentation, which may include visual field testing and photographs, before they treat upper lid surgery as medically necessary.

Rules differ by insurer and by plan, so call yours and ask directly:

• Does my plan ever cover upper eyelid surgery, and under what criteria?
• What testing or documentation do you require, and who must perform it?
• Would any coverage apply to surgery performed outside the US, or only in network at home?
• Do I need prior authorization?

If there is a real chance your upper lids would be covered at home, find that out before you compare Colombian quotes. Canadian readers should ask their provincial plan the same questions. A Colombian quote is almost always a self-pay quote, and it will not include insurance paperwork unless you ask for it in writing.

Eye history and dry eye: what to disclose before anyone prices it

Eyelid surgery is surgery on the structures that protect your eye. Surgeons generally want a full eye history before they plan it, and a quote built without that history may change after you arrive.

Tell the surgeon, in writing, about:

• Dry eye symptoms or a dry eye diagnosis, and any drops you use
• Contact lens wear
• Previous eye or eyelid surgery, including laser vision correction
• Glaucoma, thyroid eye disease or other eye conditions
• Blood thinners, supplements and any medication you take (list them; do not stop anything without your own doctor's advice)
• Recent eye exams and your current glasses prescription

Then ask: Will you screen me for dry eye before surgery? Does my history change the plan, the technique or the risk you would discuss with me? Who does that screening, and is it on the quote? If the answer to "do you need my eye history" is no, treat that as information about the provider.

Anesthesia type is a quote line, not a footnote

Eyelid surgery may be done under local anesthesia, local with sedation, or general anesthesia, depending on the procedure, the patient and the surgeon's practice. Each one implies different staff, different monitoring and often a different facility.

Your quote should say which type is planned and who provides it. Ask whether an anesthesiologist is present or whether the surgeon manages sedation. Ask whether the price changes if the plan moves from local to sedation or general on the day. Our note on hospital operating rooms vs ambulatory clinics explains why the setting affects the total.

Stitches, follow-up visits and your flight home

The most common budgeting mistake on eyelid quotes is booking the return flight before you know the follow-up schedule. Ask the surgeon three things and get the answers in writing:

1. When do the stitches come out, and is removal included?
2. How many in-person follow-up visits do you want, and on which days after surgery?
3. What is the earliest day you are comfortable with me flying, and what should I avoid on the flight?

Recovery times vary by person and procedure, so do not rely on a number from a forum or another patient. Build your trip around the surgeon's stated last in-person check, then add a buffer you can afford. Keep travel logistics separate from clinical pricing so a cheaper flight never decides your follow-up.

The lines an eyelid quote should list

Use this table to read a quote line by line. If a line is missing, ask for it. If the provider will not put it in writing, note that when you compare quotes side by side.

If you already hold a quote, paste it into our Quote Breakdown tool to flag which of these lines are absent. For context on totals, see our public price ranges rather than relying on a single number from a message thread.

Questions to send before you pay a deposit

Send these together in one message so the answers come back in one document:

• Which lids are included, and what will you do to each?
• Why that technique for my lids specifically?
• What is your specialty, and where can I verify your registration?
• Will you or an ophthalmologist examine my eyes and screen for dry eye before surgery?
• What anesthesia is planned, and who provides it?
• Where is the surgery performed, and is that facility habilitated for it?
• What does the price include, and what will I pay separately?
• When are stitches removed, and when is my last in-person visit?
• What is your revision policy, in writing?
• What happens to my deposit if you change the plan after examining me?

Our list of 15 questions to send a Colombian surgery provider covers the general questions; the list above adds the eyelid-specific ones. File the replies with your photos and eye history in a case file so every provider answers from the same information.