Medical specialists have raised concerns about complications arising from discounted eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty procedures, performed at clinics across mainland Europe, Africa, and Asia. The procedures, which remove skin from above the eyes to achieve a defined appearance, typically cost thousands of pounds when performed in the UK but are being offered at significantly reduced rates internationally. Oculoplastic surgeons indicate that patients experiencing surgical complications from these procedures place additional strain on the National Health Service during recovery and treatment of problems.
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 approximately £650 for the procedure compared to higher UK prices, and states that less than 1% of procedures have resulted in complaints, though this figure does not account for revision surgeries. Recent BBC analysis found that videos about blephs posted by UK social media accounts across four leading platforms received nearly 150 million views in the past three years, more than five times the viewership from the preceding three years.
Patients who experienced complications reported serious issues including reopened wounds, infections, excessive eyelid skin removal preventing eye closure, and vision concerns. One patient required four emergency room visits after her surgical wounds reopened following at-home stitch removal. UK surgeons noted that typical upper eyelid surgery requires approximately three hours including preparation and aftercare, while Faceland patients reported spending less than one hour at clinics. Faceland attributes lower costs to higher procedure volume and states that practitioners receive internal training in surgical techniques.
The company maintains that all patients undergo consultations and sign informed consent forms before procedures. However, patients described inadequate aftercare support, difficulty reaching emergency helplines, and recommendations to seek local medical treatment rather than revision care at the original clinic location. Medical experts advise against flying on the same day as eyelid surgery due to bleeding and vision complications that can result from the procedure.
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