Service
Xanthelasma removal
Xanthelasmas are yellowish, slightly raised fatty deposits on the skin of the eyelids, most often near the inner corner of the eye. They are not dangerous, but they are visible.
What concerns does it address?
How are they removed?
Smaller xanthelasmas are removed by electrocoagulation or shallow excision; larger ones are cut out and the wound is stitched in the crease of the eyelid. When there are xanthelasmas on more than one eyelid, they are removed in the same visit.
When is the procedure not suitable?
Xanthelasmas are cholesterol deposits in the skin of the eyelids, so blood fats are checked before removal — for some people this is the first sign of raised cholesterol and your doctor should know about it. Removal does not treat the cause, so they can come back. They are not removed during an eyelid infection.
General reasons for postponing a procedure (pregnancy, breastfeeding, inflammation, a clotting disorder, smoking): When is a procedure postponed?
Anaesthesia
Before a procedure under general or regional anaesthesia, you are seen by the anaesthetist, who works full time at the clinic; the same doctor is also present during the procedure. The anaesthetic assessment and the anaesthesia for larger operations are included in the price of the procedure. What happens before, during and after anaesthesia is described on the Anaesthesia page.
Risks
Occasional — lighter skin at the removal site, return of the xanthelasma.
Expected, and rare but serious → Risks and complications: what is the course of healing, and what is a complication?
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.
What happens at the examination?
The first examination lasts 30 to 45 minutes on average. The surgeon examines the area you are concerned about, asks about illnesses, medicines, allergies and previous operations, and talks with you about what you expect. If the procedure is appropriate and likely to help, you receive a plan: which procedure is proposed, under which anaesthesia, what recovery looks like and what is included in the price. If the procedure is not needed or would not give you what you expect, you will hear that at the examination too.
What if the result is not as agreed?
The result of a procedure is assessed at a follow-up visit, once the swelling has gone down and the scar has matured, not in the first weeks. If it differs from what was agreed at the examination, the same surgeon carries out the correction.
→ Poliklinika Barbel's correction policy
In the same visit
- Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) — when there is also excess eyelid skin, the xanthelasmas are removed in the same procedure.
Frequently asked questions
Will there be a mark? A flat scar in the crease of the eyelid or a pale patch, which fades over time. For the first weeks the area is reddish.
Do they come back? They can, especially when blood fats are raised and untreated — which is why laboratory tests are done before removal. With controlled blood fats they come back less often.
How much does the result depend on care after the procedure? The larger the procedure, the more it depends on it, but it always does. Healing takes weeks and months and happens almost entirely at home, so the instructions you receive when you go home, about the wound, physical activity and the scar, are part of the procedure, not a recommendation.
Medical review: doctors of Poliklinika Barbel · October 2026.