The eyelid lift at the Kuzbari Centre
Whether we look awake or tired is decided by our eyelids. They frame the eyes and shape their expression. This page sets out what an eyelid lift can change, how the day at the Kuzbari Centre runs, how long healing takes, what the procedure costs and who performs it.
- Upper lid from €2,600
- Lower lid from €2,600
- Day case, no overnight stay
- Three specialists
- 2,000+eyelid operations at the Kuzbari Centre
- 3specialists for eyelid surgery
- 11times in a row: Patients’ Choice Award
- 38DocFinder awards in total
Why the lids age first
Slack upper lids — hooded lids in everyday speech — and bulging fat or excess skin on the lower lid, the so-called eye bags, make the eyes and therefore the whole person look older and more tired. This optical illusion is reinforced by the particularly thin skin around the eyes: the natural ageing process begins noticeably earlier and faster in thin layers of skin than elsewhere. That is why the lids, along with the hands, often give away our real age.
Over a lifetime the elasticity of the lid tissue declines. The lid skin, the muscle and the connective tissue beneath slacken, and the fat of the eye socket bulges forward increasingly. At the upper lid the excess skin folds over the lashes; at the lower lid the typical bulges appear. These changes arrive earlier in some people than in others; most of those affected are over forty.
This is not only about appearance. Hooded lids and eye bags have an effect — on those affected and on the people around them. Faces are sorted at first glance: tired, grumpy, unfriendly. And the way we perceive a stranger’s face is the way we meet the person behind it. Anyone addressed under that heading responds to it, and the circle starts again.
A sense of well-being comes with it
The correction often brings more than a fresh appearance: the eyes open more comfortably afterwards. In addition the horizontal forehead lines frequently ease, because the forehead muscle no longer has to help open the eye.
That is the point at which many people realise it was not only a question of the mirror.
Our range at the lid region
Not every heavy lid needs the same operation. Only the examination shows which part creates the impression that bothers you — the skin, the muscle, the fatty tissue, the levator muscle or the brow. The procedure follows from that.
| Feature | Upper lid | Lower lid |
|---|---|---|
| What is noticeable | Excess skin folding over the lashes; a feeling of pressure on the lid. | Bulges under the eye, excess skin, a tired expression even after a long sleep. |
| The incision | In the natural lid crease, extending a few millimetres beyond the outer canthus if needed. | Often on the inside of the lid, leaving no visible scar; otherwise just below the lash line. |
| What is worked on | Skin, parts of the lid muscle and protruding fatty tissue. | Fatty tissue is moved towards the cheek; skin, muscle and usually the lid ligament are tightened. |
| Anaesthesia | Local, with twilight sedation on request. | Usually with twilight sedation, the region additionally numbed locally. |
| Back among people | After about two to three weeks; only a fine scar in the lid crease remains, which usually becomes invisible. | Usually after about three weeks, because the swelling under the eye takes longer. |
| Price | from €2,600, all inclusive. | from €2,600, all inclusive; combined from €4,400. |
At a glance
- First consultationAbout an hour
- ProcedureDay case, no overnight stay
- AnaesthesiaLocal or twilight sedation
- Length of the operation1 to 4.5 hours
- Suture removalAfter about a week
- Back at workFrom 3 days (desk work)
- Back among peopleAfter 1 to 3 weeks
- SportAfter 2 to 3 weeks
- Final resultAfter 2 to 3 months
- CostFrom €2,600
Guide figures for eyelid surgery at the Kuzbari Centre. What applies to you depends on the extent of your procedure and is settled after the examination.
The course of treatment, step by step
Consultation, safety check, surgery and aftercare all happen in the same building. From the first question to the last check-up you stay with the same people. The route is described in full on the page how your eyelid lift works.
- Booking a consultation
Round the clock through the online booking, through the contact form or by telephone on 01 358 28 01. You book directly in the diary of the specialist of your choice.
- The first consultation
To begin with, professional photographs of your face are taken and we look at them together on a large screen. Features often emerge that are invisible in a mirror. We examine the eye region and compare it with photographs of you as a young adult.
We then discuss the treatment options, the course of the procedure, the risks and the downtime, look at before-and-after cases with a similar starting point and settle the cost including instalments. You get all the time you need. Nobody is pushed towards an operation.
- The Kuzbari Safety Check
We make sure you are prepared for the procedure and draw up your surgical plan, so that nothing is left to chance. You also receive the notes that let you organise the first days at home well.
- Marking up while seated
The procedure begins before the operation: with the marking up. It is done seated, because gravity then acts as it does in everyday life — which makes the result better. We use those ten to fifteen minutes to explain the sequence precisely once more, so that you know what happens when.
- The operation
The operation is a day case in our own theatres, under local anaesthesia and, if you wish, with twilight sedation. Because the theatres are ours, the work is done without time pressure. Afterwards you recover in peace; most people go home two to three hours later.
- Swelling, cooling, suture removal
After the lift the eyes are swollen and discoloured. From the third day the swelling starts to go down; cool packs help. We remove the sutures after about a week. Feeling low in the first days after surgery on the face is normal — we are reachable during that time.
- Back to normal life
Medically most people are fit for desk work again after three days. You are ready to be seen after one to three weeks, and sport is possible after two to three weeks.
- The final result
The result is a fresher, younger appearance and it appears after two to three months. With the right technique the natural shape of the eye is preserved — people notice the brighter gaze but no change of type. Every follow-up appointment until then is included.
Step 1At the first consultation the lid region is examined and discussed point by point. 
Step 2On screen, what is hard to see in the mirror becomes visible. 
Step 3The operation is a day case in the centre’s own theatres.
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This is how we give you beautiful eyes
DDr. Jessica Wittmann follows the whole course of an eyelid lift — from the first consultation through the operation to the check-up.
The upper eyelid lift in detail
In an upper eyelid lift, excess skin, protruding fat and, where present, slack muscle are removed. The region is numbed locally, then a precisely placed incision follows in the natural lid crease and — depending on how far the slack skin extends — a few millimetres beyond the outer canthus as well. The work is done through this approach to a precisely defined extent.
After the procedure physical exertion should be avoided; cooling eases the swelling. After about two to three weeks you are ready to be seen again, and only a fine scar remains in the natural lid crease, which usually becomes invisible over time.
The lower eyelid lift in detail
In a lower eyelid lift, slack skin, slack muscle and protruding fatty tissue are returned to their original position. The aim is not only to remove the so-called eye bags — in fact protruding fat — but to restore the harmonious transition between lower lid and cheek. To counteract the age-related loss of tissue, the fat is repositioned towards the cheek where appropriate; if necessary we additionally graft the patient’s own fat from the thighs or the lower abdomen to the lid-cheek transition.
The procedure usually takes place under twilight sedation, with the region additionally numbed locally. A precisely placed incision then follows just below the lashes of the lower lid and — depending on how far the slackening extends — a few millimetres beyond the outer canthus. Usually the lid ligament has to be tightened as well, to stabilise the position of the lower lid. In some cases an adequate correction can be achieved through an approach on the inside of the lid — then no skin incision is needed and no visible scar remains. After about three weeks most people are ready to be seen again.
Bespoke work, not mass production
Since, apart from identical twins, no two people look exactly alike and aesthetic wishes differ, there can be and should be no routine operations. We plan every procedure individually and set the technique and the operating time by what the findings call for. The patient does not fit the method; the method fits the patient.
That is exactly why eyelid surgery takes us between one and four and a half hours. Because the theatres are ours, the work is done without time pressure — in the preparation as much as in the execution.
The importance of experience shows in the fatty tissue: remove too much and the eyes look hollow and tired. Remove too little and the result is barely perceptible. The best possible result is a precise landing, and behind it lie experience, precision and respect for the task.
What can be combined with eyelid surgery
The lid region does not stand alone. It often emerges at the examination that something else is contributing to the tired impression — and that both can be treated under one anaesthetic and with one recovery period. That is not a sales argument but arithmetic: two separate procedures mean two recovery times.
| What is added | When it makes sense | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Upper and lower lid together | When both lids shape the impression — the most common case in patients over fifty. | One anaesthetic, one recovery period, one harmonious overall result. From €4,400 instead of twice from €2,600. |
| A brow lift | When the descended brow weighs the lid down and an eyelid lift alone would not change that. | Additional module: brow fixation €790, brow lift €1,390. |
| Fat grafting at the eye region | When volume is missing in the socket or at the transition to the cheek and a lift would emphasise the hollow. | Additional module: upper lid €540, lower lid €1,080. The fat is harvested in the same session. |
| Correction of a drooping lid | When the examination additionally shows a weakness of the levator muscle. | Done through the same approach. More about ptosis |
We build on safety
Consultation, diagnostics, surgery and aftercare are all under one roof. As a hospital we are inspected several times a year, we have our own hygiene team and a quality management team working on our processes.
Results from the Kuzbari Centre
The first case shows a combined treatment: upper eyelid blepharoplasty, transconjunctival lower eyelid blepharoplasty for the eye bags and fat grafting — all in one session.
Drag the slider to compare before and after.
- Case
- 14793
- Age
- 42 years
- View
- Looking straight ahead
- Anaesthesia
- Local or twilight sedation
Photographs of patients who have consented to publication. Every lid heals differently; a result shown here cannot be transferred to anyone else.
Drag the slider to compare before and after.
- Case
- 19430
- Age
- 52 years
- View
- Looking straight ahead
- Anaesthesia
- Local or twilight sedation
Photographs of patients who have consented to publication. Every lid heals differently; a result shown here cannot be transferred to anyone else.
More cases from the Kuzbari Centre
Every case comes from a patient of this centre. The findings and the procedure are given below each pair, so you can judge what was done and what was not.
- Case 13359
before 
after 
Findings: Increasing excess skin and a feeling of heaviness in the lids, which the patient had long taken to be normal. Procedure: Upper eyelid blepharoplasty and temporal brow lift.
- Case 19717
before 
after 
Findings: Pressure on the upper lids and a permanently raised forehead; when relaxed, people told her she looked stern. Procedure: Upper eyelid blepharoplasty.
- Case 19502
before 
after 
Findings: Increasing excess skin on both upper lids, more pronounced in the evening and when tired. Procedure: Upper eyelid blepharoplasty and internal brow pexy.
- Case 17658
before 
after 
Findings: Eye bags for five to six years, swelling each morning and worsening again in the afternoon. Procedure: Transconjunctival lower eyelid blepharoplasty without visible scars, plus fat grafting.
- Case 19445
before 
after 
Findings: Age-related changes to the lower lids increasing over several years. Procedure: Transcutaneous lower eyelid blepharoplasty and fat grafting.
- Case 22671
before 
after 
Findings: Eye bags with an occasional tendency to swell. Procedure: Transconjunctival lower eyelid blepharoplasty without visible scars, plus fat grafting from the abdomen.
Photographs of patients who have consented to publication. Every lid heals differently; a result shown here cannot be transferred to anyone else.
The combined upper and lower eyelid correction went perfectly. Dr Grill looked after me from the first consultation to the follow-ups with great understanding and complete competence.
Who operates on eyelids at the Kuzbari Centre
Three specialists at the centre operate on eyelids. Whoever advises you also operates on you — and sees you again at every check-up. You choose who you feel most comfortable with.
Focus on facial surgery, several times an award winner of the Austrian Society for Aesthetic Surgery. He operates on both upper and lower lids and measures his work by a result nobody recognises as surgery.
View profile
She works on the face only, combining surgical precision with a fine sense of what a single millimetre at the lid changes.
View profile
He combines international training with a treatment plan drawn up for each patient. Alongside eyelid surgery, facelifting and wrinkle treatment are his focus.
View profile The best aesthetic medicine is the kind that makes you glow without anyone recognising that you had a procedure.
- Bring photographs of yourself from about the age of 18 — they show how your lid region once looked.
- Allow about an hour for the first consultation.
- Which medicines you stop beforehand is settled at the consent consultation; blood-thinning drugs are among them.
- Come on the day of surgery without make-up, without contact lenses and without jewellery.
- Arrange someone to accompany you home, particularly if you choose twilight sedation.
- Have cool packs ready and set aside one to three weeks in which you can take things easy.
The first two weeks, day by day
The most common question after the operation is not whether it hurts but when you will look like yourself again. So here is the course it takes for most patients — as a guide, not a promise.
| When | What you notice | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 3 | The swelling increases and the lids are discoloured. A feeling of tightness is normal; severe pain is not. | Cool consistently, keep the head raised, avoid physical exertion. Painkillers as needed — most people need them only on the first day. |
| Days 4 to 7 | The swelling recedes, the discolouration moves downwards and turns yellowish. The eyes may be dry or watery. | Keep cooling if it feels good. Lubricating eye drops if we have recommended them. Medically, desk work is possible from day three. |
| About a week | At the appointment for suture removal we look at the wound and discuss what comes next. | Suture removal and advice on scar care. The appointment is included. |
| Week 2 | The discolouration can usually be covered up and the swelling has clearly receded. | Make-up only once the wound is closed — we say exactly when at suture removal. Avoid the sun or cover up. |
| Weeks 2 to 3 | Most people are ready to be seen again; slight residual swelling may remain. | Sport is possible after two to three weeks — which sport you start with we discuss at the check-up. |
| Months 2 to 3 | The fine shape has settled and the scar goes on fading. | The final result is there. Until then every follow-up appointment is included. |
When we advise against it
Honest advice also says when a procedure does not make sense. We raise these points explicitly at the first consultation — and if one of them applies, you hear it from us before any dates are discussed.
- If the eyes already tend strongly to dryness. A lift can worsen that in the first weeks; then the dryness is treated first.
- If there is an acute disease of the eye or lids. Clarify first, operate later.
- If the expectation does not match the findings — that is, if a result is expected that the anatomy cannot deliver.
- If an event is coming up a few days later. The downtime of one to three weeks cannot be shortened, and time pressure is a poor adviser.
- If the cause of your complaint is not at the lid at all but at the brow, in the pigmentation of the skin or in a muscle weakness. Then a different route is the right one.
- First consultation with photo analysisincluded
- Diagnostics and surgical planningincluded
- Operation in our own theatresincluded
- Local anaesthesiaincluded
- Suture removal and scar adviceincluded
- Every follow-up appointmentincluded
Through Kuzbari Finance over up to five years, 9.99% annual percentage rate. The binding terms are set out in your application.
The consultation The theatre 
After healing
Frequently asked questions about the eyelid lift
How long does an eyelid lift take?
Between one and four and a half hours, depending on the extent. We take the time the findings call for — because the theatres are ours, the work is done without time pressure. We will tell you how long your procedure will take after the examination.
Is the procedure a day case?
Yes. Eyelid surgery is carried out as a day case, with no overnight stay. Most patients go home two to three hours after the operation. If you would rather stay, or the procedure turns out to be more extensive, a single or twin room is available.
Local anaesthesia or twilight sedation?
Eyelid surgery works well under local anaesthesia; with the correction of a drooping lid that is even an advantage, because the lid height can be fine-tuned with the eye open. Twilight sedation is available on request and is an additional module.
Are scars left behind?
At the upper lid the incision lies in the natural crease; the fine scar usually becomes invisible over time. At the lower lid the correction can in some cases be achieved through an approach inside the lid — then no visible scar remains. Otherwise the incision runs just below the lash line and fades over months.
When am I ready to be seen again?
After one to three weeks. After the lift the eyes are swollen and discoloured; the swelling starts to recede from the third day. Medically most people are fit for desk work again after three days.
When can I do sport again?
After two to three weeks. Exactly when we discuss at the check-up — it depends on how the lids are healing and on which sport it is.
When does the final result appear?
After two to three months. With the right surgical technique the natural shape of the eye is preserved; afterwards people notice the fresher gaze but no change of type. Every follow-up appointment until then is included.
What does the eyelid lift cost?
An upper eyelid lift costs from €2,600, a lower eyelid lift from €2,600, a brow lift likewise from €2,600 and the combination of upper and lower lid from €4,400. The figure covers the consultation, the operation, local anaesthesia, suture removal and every follow-up appointment.
Can the upper and lower lid be operated on together?
Yes, and it often makes sense: one anaesthetic, one recovery period, one harmonious overall result. Whether it makes sense in your case is decided by the findings. The price then starts from €4,400.
Is there a way without surgery?
For the upper lid region, an Ultherapy soft lift is an option for patients who need the brows raised but do not want surgery. It is performed without a scalpel and you are usually presentable straight afterwards. It does not remove excess skin.
Read on
Upper eyelid lift · Lower eyelid lift · Correcting hooded lids · Removing eye bags · Eyelid ptosis · Cat eye and fox eye lift · How your eyelid lift works · Cost · Private or public · Experiences · Videos
Your eyelid check-up
About an hour of time, professional photographs, an examination of your lid region, a look at photographs of you as a young adult and a written quotation — without obligation and without pressure.
Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 18:00 · Seitzergasse 2-4, 1010 Vienna
01 358 28 01
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