Patients who underwent blepharoplasty procedures at low-cost clinics abroad have reported numerous complications, according to accounts gathered by the BBC. The procedures, which remove skin from above the eyes, typically cost thousands of pounds when performed in the UK but significantly less at international clinics. Oculoplastic surgeons specializing in eye surgery have expressed concern about the rising number of patients experiencing problems following treatment at facilities across mainland Europe, Africa and Asia.
Social media has played a significant role in driving demand for the procedures. BBC analysis found that videos about blephs posted by UK accounts on four major platforms received nearly 150 million views over the past three years, a figure five times higher than the previous three-year period. Many patients decided to pursue treatment abroad after viewing promotional content, often underestimating the invasiveness of the surgery and the importance of proper recovery time.
One major provider, Faceland, reports having performed more than 2,950 procedures on UK patients at clinics in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland since October 2024. The company states that less than 1% of procedures resulted in complaints, though this figure excludes patients who underwent revision surgery. However, multiple patients interviewed by the BBC experienced serious issues including reopened wounds, infections, inability to properly close their eyes, and complications requiring emergency care in the UK.
UK surgeons indicate that typical upper eyelid procedures take approximately three hours including preparation and aftercare, but patients at low-cost clinics report spending less than an hour in facilities. Medical experts note that complications and inadequate aftercare from procedures performed abroad place additional burdens on the NHS. Surgeons stressed that certain complications, such as wounds reopening after suture removal, should rarely occur if practitioners receive proper training in surgical techniques.
Patients have also reported difficulty accessing adequate follow-up care from foreign clinics following their procedures, with some experiencing repeated emergency department visits for infection management and wound care in their home country.
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