Oculoplastic surgeons across the United Kingdom have raised concerns about rising complications linked to inexpensive eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty procedures, performed at clinics in continental Europe, Africa, and Asia. The procedures, which typically cost thousands of pounds when performed domestically, are increasingly marketed through social media platforms at significantly reduced prices. Analysis by the BBC found that videos about blepharoplasties posted on four leading platforms received nearly 150 million views in a three-year period, representing a fivefold increase compared to the previous three years.
One major provider, Faceland, reports having performed more than 2,950 bleph procedures on UK patients at its clinics in the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland since October 2024. The company states that less than 1% of procedures resulted in complaints and emphasizes that treatments are performed by accredited medical doctors receiving internal training in surgical techniques. Faceland’s website promotes its offerings as providing “affordable, accessible and high quality care.”
However, multiple patients have reported severe complications following treatment at these facilities. Documented issues include wounds that reopen after stitches are removed, infections, inability to fully close the eyes, and cases where excessive skin removal required patients to tape their eyes shut while sleeping. Some patients have expressed concerns about vision loss. UK surgeons note that such wound complications should rarely occur with properly trained practitioners.
The complications have created additional burden on the National Health Service, as patients seek corrective treatment domestically. Medical experts advise that upper eyelid surgery typically requires approximately three hours including preparation, surgery, and post-operative care. However, patients treated at foreign clinics report spending less than an hour at facilities. The lack of adequate aftercare following procedures performed abroad has been identified as a significant concern, with some patients reporting difficulty reaching emergency support services when complications developed.
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