Oculoplastic surgeons in the UK are raising concerns about a rising number of patients experiencing complications from low-cost blepharoplasty procedures performed at clinics across Europe, Africa, and Asia. The eyelid surgery, which typically costs thousands of pounds domestically, has become increasingly popular following social media promotion, with videos on major platforms receiving nearly 150 million views over the past three years—five times more than the previous three-year period. When complications occur, the resulting aftercare burden falls on the NHS.
One major provider, Dutch company Faceland, reports performing more than 2,950 bleph procedures on UK patients at clinics in the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland since October 2024. The company charges significantly less than UK providers, with prices starting at €750 (£650) compared to over €4,000 (£3,400) in Ireland. Faceland states that less than 1% of procedures have resulted in complaints, though this figure does not account for patients requiring revision surgery.
Patients interviewed by the BBC reported severe pain during procedures, despite receiving local anesthetic, and some experienced significant post-operative complications. One patient described extreme discomfort when the doctor began cutting eyelid skin and felt pain during stitching. Several patients reported wound reopening after removing stitches at home in the UK, leading to infection and multiple emergency room visits. Another patient had to tape her eyes shut to sleep due to excessive skin removal, while others reported difficulty closing their eyes properly after treatment.
UK surgeons note that proper eyelid surgery typically requires approximately three hours including preparation and post-operative care. However, patients treated at Faceland clinics reported spending less than an hour at the facilities. The company attributes lower costs to allowing practitioners to perform higher volumes of procedures. Faceland maintains that all patients receive consultations and sign consent forms, and that treatment is provided by accredited medical doctors receiving internal training in surgical procedures.
Complicating recovery, many patients fly home on the same day of surgery despite medical advice against this practice, following examples seen on social media. This timing has contributed to post-operative bleeding and other complications.
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