Condition
Drooping eyelids
Eyelids that feel heavy, tired or interfere with your sight — and eyelids that only bother you in the mirror.
Why do eyelids droop?
The skin of the eyelids is the thinnest skin on the body and loses elasticity with age. Excess skin on the upper eyelid falls over the lashes, and on the lower one bags appear — fatty tissue that moves forward with age. In some people the eyelids are heavy even when young — this is inherited. Tiredness and lack of sleep only emphasise it, but are not the cause.
Three things that look similar
Excess eyelid skin — skin hangs over the edge of the eyelid; underneath it the eyelid itself is in its place.
A drooping eyelid (ptosis) — the edge of the eyelid is lowered and covers part of the pupil; the muscle that lifts the eyelid has weakened.
A low brow — the brow is lower than before, so it pushes the eyelid skin down; the eyelid itself is fine.
Each of these is treated differently, and they are often combined. At the examination we decide which of them applies in your case.
Is it my sight that bothers me, or my looks?
The same procedure can be functional and aesthetic. If the skin or the eyelid covers part of the field of vision, the procedure solves the sight problem. If it is about looks, the same procedure is done with the same aim — a clean edge of the eyelid.
What do we look at during the examination?
At the examination we separate three things that look similar: excess skin on the upper eyelid, a low brow that pushes skin onto the eyelid and a lowered edge of the eyelid that covers the pupil (ptosis). For this we measure the position of the brow at rest, how much the eyelid covers the pupil and the strength of the muscle that lifts the eyelid. With the lower eyelids we look at whether it is bags of fatty tissue, loose skin or an eyelid that has given way and does not sit against the eye.
We ask you about dry eye, contact lenses, thyroid disease and earlier eye operations, because all of this affects the choice of technique. If an eye specialist's examination is needed before the procedure, we tell you at the examination.
What can be done?
| Problem | Procedure | Also, in the same visit |
|---|---|---|
| Upper eyelid skin falls over the lashes; bags under the eyes | Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) | A brow lift or facial fat transfer in the same procedure; xanthelasmas are removed in the same procedure; often combined with Botox. |
| The edge of the eyelid covers part of the pupil; the lower eyelid does not sit against the eye; the outer corner of the eye has given way | Correction of a drooping eyelid (ptosis) and ectropion | — |
| The brow is lower than before and pushes skin onto the eyelid | Brow lift | Upper eyelid surgery in the same procedure, after the brow lift. |
| Yellowish deposits on the eyelids | Xanthelasma removal | With eyelid surgery in the same procedure; several eyelids in the same visit. |
Specialist and team
Specialty: plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
When the procedure is done under sedation or general anaesthesia, the anaesthesia is led by a specialist in anaesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care who works full time at the clinic.
In the operating theatre, the surgeon is assisted by head nurse Martina Šereg, with the help of nurses Kristina Jurešić and Mateja Tomorad, and in recovery the care assistant Mirjana Kovačić is with you. Martina also looks after preparation, scheduling and contact after the procedure.
Who will operate is decided at the examination, based on the findings and the type of procedure. You know the name of the surgeon before the procedure and meet them at the examination.
→ Doctors and team at Poliklinika Barbel
Frequently asked questions
How do I know whether I need eyelid or brow surgery? If the eyelid skin lifts when you lift your brow with a finger, part of the problem is in the brow. This is checked at the examination.
Is eyelid surgery covered by HZZO (the Croatian health insurance fund)? In hospitals, upper eyelid surgery is approved when the skin interferes with the field of vision, which is proved by a visual field test with an eye specialist. At Poliklinika Barbel the procedure is paid for privately; if your reason is sight, ask an eye specialist about the options in the public system.
How long does eyelid surgery take? Eyelid surgery takes 45 to 90 minutes. It is done under local anaesthesia, and under general anaesthesia when it is combined with a larger procedure; you go home straight away.
How long is the recovery after eyelid surgery? The stitches are removed after 5 to 7 days, you can go out in public after 5 to 7 days, and sick leave is 7 to 10 days. You can return to training after 2 to 3 weeks.
When is the final result of eyelid surgery seen? After 2 to 3 months.
How much does eyelid surgery cost? The price depends on which eyelids are operated on: upper eyelids under local anaesthesia cost €1,400–1,600, lower €1,600–2,000, and upper and lower together €2,600–3,300.
Medical review: doctors of Poliklinika Barbel · October 2026.