Eyelid Surgery for Pretoria Patients | Dr Deon Weyers
Heavy, hooded upper lids are one of the most common reasons Pretoria patients ask about blepharoplasty. Dr Deon Weyers assesses and treats them at his single practice in Fourways.
Blepharoplasty, also called eyelid surgery, tightens the upper or lower eyelids by removing or repositioning skin and fat. For some people the concern is appearance; for others, drooping skin starts to sit in the line of sight.
The practice sees patients from Pretoria at its single location at Life Fourways Hospital in Johannesburg, about 50 km from the Pretoria CBD. There is no Pretoria branch and no separate phone number.
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Blepharoplasty Pretoria: Upper Eyelid Hooding and Your Options
Upper-lid hooding can make the eyes look tired, make eye make-up hard to apply and, when more advanced, interfere with vision. The first step is working out what is causing it.
Excess upper-lid skin is often only part of the picture. Fat bulging in the inner corner, a descending brow, or a weak muscle that lifts the lid can all contribute. Dr Deon Weyers examines each of these before recommending upper blepharoplasty, a brow procedure, or both. Measurements of the lid crease and the distance between the lid margin and the pupil help decide how much skin, if any, should come away.
- Hooded upper lids
- Functional assessment
- Upper and lower lids
- Day procedure
- Single surgeon
Most Pretoria patients drive through for consultation and return for surgery on a planned date. Because eyelid surgery is usually a day procedure, you will need someone to drive you home and help for the first evening.
If lower-lid bags are also a concern, they are assessed at the same visit. Lower-lid surgery is planned differently, and is explained on the lower blepharoplasty page.
What Upper Blepharoplasty Involves
An incision is made in the natural crease of the upper lid. A measured strip of skin, and where needed a little muscle and fat, is removed before the incision is closed with fine sutures.
Taking too much skin can stop the eyes closing comfortably, so the amount removed is planned carefully. The aim is a natural crease, not a surprised look.
Hooding caused by a low brow is not fixed by removing eyelid skin alone. The cause decides the operation.
Cosmetic vs Vision-Related Eyelid Surgery
Cosmetic Blepharoplasty
Performed to improve a tired or aged appearance of the eyes.
Self-funded. The plan is guided by how you want your eyes to look and what is safely achievable.
Vision-Related (Functional) Blepharoplasty
Performed when drooping upper-lid skin obstructs part of your field of vision.
A medical aid may consider funding after a motivation, sometimes supported by a formal visual field test. Cover is never guaranteed.
| Aspect | Cosmetic | Vision-Related |
|---|---|---|
| Main reason | Appearance | Obstructed upper field of vision |
| Typical evidence | Consultation findings | Consultation findings, sometimes a visual field test |
| Funding | Self-funded | Medical aid may consider a motivation |
| Operation | Upper and or lower lids | Usually upper lids |
| Decided by | You and the surgeon | Clinical findings and the scheme |
The Eyelid Surgery Process
The steps below are typical. Dr Deon Weyers carries out each one personally.
Consultation in Fourways
Assessment of the lids, brows, eye closure and dryness, with a written plan and quote.
Functional paperwork if relevant
If vision is affected, the practice advises on any test and motivation your scheme requires. Documentation is prepared before surgery, since schemes usually want it before they approve any funding.
Day of surgery
Performed in theatre or, for suitable cases, in the rooms under conscious sedation. You go home the same day with a companion.
First week
Cold compresses, head elevation and prescribed pain relief. Sutures are removed at a review.
Healing
Most bruising settles within about two weeks; the final result continues to refine over the following weeks.
Who is Suited to Blepharoplasty
Good candidates are healthy adults with excess upper-lid skin, lower-lid bags or both, and without untreated eye conditions.
- Upper lids touching the lashes – Or a crease that has disappeared under folded skin
- Fatigue at the end of the day – From skin weighing on the lashes
- Stable eye health – Dry eye and thyroid eye problems are assessed first
- Non-smoker or able to stop – To help the incisions heal
Whether you need eyelid surgery, brow surgery or both is decided at the consultation.
Before Your Consultation
Bringing the right information makes the visit more useful.
- List your eye history.Including dry eye, laser eye surgery, glaucoma and contact lens use.
- Bring older photographs.They help show how your lids and brows have changed over time.
- Check your medical aid rules.If vision is affected, ask your scheme what it needs for a motivation.
- Plan transport.You cannot drive yourself home on the day of surgery.
- Note when symptoms are worst.Heaviness that worsens by evening or when reading is useful information for the assessment.
What Blepharoplasty Costs for Pretoria Patients
The practice publishes a range of R45,000 to R60,000 for upper and lower eyelid surgery and R41,000 to R45,000 for upper blepharoplasty alone. See the eyelid surgery prices page for detail.
A written quote follows your consultation. It reflects the lids treated, the setting and any combined procedures.
Where drooping lids genuinely affect vision, a medical aid may consider part of the cost after a motivation. Cosmetic surgery is self-funded.
Common Misunderstandings
These come up often when patients first ask about hooded lids.
Risks and Possible Complications
Recognised Risks of Eyelid Surgery
Bleeding, infection, slow wound healing and scars that thicken are general surgical risks.
Dry, gritty or watery eyes and difficulty closing the eyes fully may occur, usually temporarily.
Asymmetry between the two sides can occur and may need refinement.
Bleeding behind the eye is rare but is an emergency.
Sedation and anaesthetic risks are explained beforehand.
What Helps Recovery
- Rest with your head up – for the first nights.
- Use cold compresses – as instructed to reduce swelling.
- Avoid strenuous exercise – for about two weeks.
- Protect from sun – with sunglasses and sunscreen on healed skin.
Seek urgent help for severe or worsening pain around the eye, sudden swelling that makes the eye hard, any loss of vision, or persistent bleeding.
Medical disclaimer. This page is general information and does not replace a face-to-face consultation. Surgical decisions require an in-person assessment, a full consent discussion and the individual medical advice of your surgeon and anaesthetist.
Blepharoplasty Pretoria: Frequently Asked Questions
Where will I be seen if I live in Pretoria?
At the practice in Life Fourways Hospital, Johannesburg. There is no Pretoria rooms or branch.
Can I drive home after eyelid surgery?
No. Plan for someone to drive you back to Pretoria and stay with you the first evening.
Will my medical aid cover blepharoplasty?
Only where drooping lids genuinely obstruct vision and the scheme accepts the motivation. Cosmetic eyelid surgery is self-funded.
Is the surgery done under general anaesthetic?
It may be done in theatre under general anaesthetic or, for suitable patients, in the rooms under conscious sedation. This is agreed at consultation.
How long until I look presentable?
Most bruising fades within about two weeks. Many patients return to desk work within five to seven days.
Could I need a brow lift instead?
Possibly. If a low brow is pushing skin onto the lids, a brow lift may be advised. This is checked at your assessment.
How many visits to Fourways will I need?
Usually a consultation, the surgery day and an early review for suture removal, with further reviews only if needed. Most visits are short, which keeps the drive from Pretoria manageable.
Will my eyes look different afterwards?
The aim is the same eyes looking more open and rested. The shape of the eye itself is not changed, and the crease is placed where your natural crease sits.
What about the lower lids?
If under-eye bags also bother you, they can be assessed at the same consultation. Lower-lid surgery is planned separately and explained on the lower blepharoplasty page.
Speak to Dr Deon Weyers About Blepharoplasty
Dr Deon Weyers is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa and a member of APRASSA. Every consultation, procedure and follow-up is with him personally, at the practice’s single location at Life Fourways Hospital in Johannesburg.
Call 011 875 1694
Office hours: Monday to Thursday 08:00 – 17:00, Friday 08:00 – 14:00 · send a message
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