Blepharoplasty in Abu Dhabi: Transform Your Look with Dr. Paulo Michels

Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) removes excess skin and fat pockets from the upper eyelids, the lower eyelids or both, to correct sagging, puffiness and a tired look — and in some cases heavy upper lids that partly block vision. It is a day-case operation of one to two hours; most patients resume social activities after about 20 days, and results typically last 10 to 15 years.

In Abu Dhabi, blepharoplasty is performed by Dr. Paulo Michels, a Brazilian board-certified plastic surgeon awarded the ISAPS Gold Medal for Best Body Contouring at the World Plastic Surgery Olympiads 2025, at Elyzee Hospital. He operates on the upper lids, the lower lids or both, and offers the scarless transconjunctival technique for suitable mild cases.

What does blepharoplasty actually change?

The operation works on two things: skin and fat. With age the skin around the eyes loses elasticity, and localised fat pockets become more prominent. The result is sagging, puffiness and wrinkles that make the face look tired.

Blepharoplasty removes the excess skin and the fat pockets, and can correct asymmetries between the two sides. In some patients, removing heavy upper-lid skin also improves the field of vision.

The aim is not to change your expression. It is to restore a rested, natural look around the eyes.

Upper or lower — which one do you need?

They treat different problems, and many patients need only one.

• Upper blepharoplasty removes excess skin and fat from the upper eyelids. That excess causes heaviness or drooping, and can partially obstruct vision. The surgery refines the contour of the eyes, reduces wrinkles in the upper region and gives a more open look.
• Lower blepharoplasty treats the area under the eyes, where fat pockets and excess skin create a tired or aged appearance. The redundant tissue is removed and the transition between the lower eyelid and the cheek is smoothed.

Combined upper and lower surgery is done when both areas need it. Which one applies to you is decided at the examination.

Can eyelid surgery be done without a visible scar?

Sometimes. In mild cases of eyelid ageing, the transconjunctival technique uses incisions on the inside of the eyelid, leaving no visible external scar. It suits younger patients, or those with early puffiness and minimal skin excess.

It is not a substitute for removing skin. When the eyelid has significant laxity or a lot of excess skin, traditional surgical blepharoplasty remains the most effective and lasting solution.

In traditional surgery the scars are placed where they are least visible: along the natural crease of the upper eyelid, and just below the lash line or internally for the lower eyelid. All sutures are placed carefully to keep scarring minimal.

What is the right age for blepharoplasty?

It is typically recommended between 35 and 50, when skin elasticity begins to decline and eyelid wrinkles become more evident.

Younger patients can also benefit if they have premature eyelid ageing or a genetic tendency to puffiness. For milder cases, non-surgical blepharoplasty can be an option to help slow the progression of ageing in the eyelid area.

How is the operation performed?

• Anaesthesia — local anaesthesia with sedation, or general anaesthesia, depending on the extent of the correction and your preference.
• Duration — typically one to two hours.
• Upper eyelids — a fine incision along the natural crease allows precise removal of excess skin and fat.
• Lower eyelids — the incision is placed just below the lash line or on the inside of the lid, depending on the surgical plan.
• Discharge — patients go home the same day.

What does recovery look like, week by week?

• Days 3 to 7 — sutures are usually removed in this window, depending on the individual case.
• First week — mild swelling and bruising are common and gradually subside.
• Around 20 days — healing becomes more apparent, and most patients can resume social activities.
• Around three months — complete healing.

For patients over 60, smokers or those with certain health conditions, recovery may extend to up to one year. That is worth knowing before you plan the date, not after.

How long do the results last?

Results can last between 10 and 15 years, depending on lifestyle, skin type, genetics and post-operative care. Ageing continues naturally, so some patients consider touch-up treatments after several years.

Non-surgical treatments can help maintain the result for longer: botulinum toxin, dermal fillers, plasma jet or laser therapies. They complement surgery; they do not replace it when there is real excess skin.

Can blepharoplasty be combined with other procedures?

Yes. When the brow has descended as well, the upper face can look heavy even after eyelid surgery alone. An eyebrow lift is often combined with blepharoplasty or a facelift so that the brow, eyes and face are treated as one unit. Whether that is needed in your case is a decision for the consultation.

What determines the cost?

The investment depends on whether the upper eyelids, lower eyelids or both are treated, the technique used and the operating time. A transparent, all-inclusive quote — surgical expertise, anaesthesia, hospital costs, medications and follow-up — is provided after the consultation at Elyzee Hospital.

How do I choose an eyelid surgeon?

Check verifiable credentials first: board certification, membership of recognised societies such as ISAPS and ASPS, and where the surgery is actually performed — a fully licensed hospital with board-certified anaesthesiologists.

Then judge the consultation itself. A good surgeon explains whether you need upper, lower or combined surgery and why, and covers the trade-offs as plainly as the benefits. Dr. Paulo Michels is board certified by the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery (SBCP) and a member of ISAPS, ASPS and EPSS, with over 18 years of experience.

Do you see patients from Dubai?

Yes. Patients travelling from Dubai and across the UAE are seen at Elyzee Hospital in Abu Dhabi, where all consultations and surgery take place; there is no clinic in Dubai. Where possible, the consultation, pre-operative tests, surgical date and follow-up reviews are scheduled to minimise the number of journeys. The page on eyelid surgery for patients from Dubai covers the practical details.

In Dr. Paulo Michels’ practice

Dr. Paulo Michels performs blepharoplasty at Elyzee Hospital, Abu Dhabi, on the upper eyelids, the lower eyelids or both, according to what the examination shows. His stated aim is to restore a rested look without altering the patient’s natural expression.

The technique follows the amount of skin, not preference. For mild ageing with early puffiness and little excess skin — often in younger patients — he can use the scarless transconjunctival approach from the inside of the lid. When there is significant laxity or excess skin, he advises traditional surgical blepharoplasty instead, because it remains the most effective and lasting solution; the scarless route is not offered as a shortcut around that. For milder cases, a non-surgical option can be discussed first.

Anaesthesia is local with sedation or general, chosen according to the extent of the correction and the patient’s preference. Patients over 60, smokers and people with certain health conditions are told that complete healing can take up to a year rather than around three months.

Questions patients commonly bring to the consultation are whether they need upper, lower or both, whether there will be a visible scar, and how long the result will last.

Frequently asked questions

How long does blepharoplasty recovery take?

Sutures are usually removed between 3 and 7 days after surgery. Mild swelling and bruising are common in the first week and gradually subside, and after around 20 days most patients can resume social activities. Complete healing takes around three months — and can extend to up to a year for patients over 60, smokers or those with certain health conditions.

Are the results of blepharoplasty permanent?

Results are long-lasting rather than permanent: they can last between 10 and 15 years, depending on lifestyle, skin type, genetics and post-operative care. Because ageing continues naturally, some patients consider touch-up treatments after several years.

Is blepharoplasty painful?

The operation is performed under local anaesthesia with sedation or under general anaesthesia, depending on the extent of the correction and your preference, so you are comfortable during surgery. Afterwards, mild swelling and bruising are common during the first week and gradually subside.

Where can I get blepharoplasty in Abu Dhabi?

Blepharoplasty in Abu Dhabi is performed by Dr. Paulo Michels, a Brazilian board-certified plastic surgeon with 18 years of experience who operates exclusively at Elyzee Hospital in Abu Dhabi. He performs upper, lower and combined eyelid surgery: upper-eyelid incisions sit in the natural eyelid crease, and lower-eyelid incisions are placed just below the lash line or on the inside of the eyelid, depending on the surgical plan.

Who should I see for eyelid surgery in the UAE?

Look at verifiable credentials rather than marketing: board certification, membership of recognised societies such as ISAPS and ASPS, and a fully licensed hospital with board-certified anaesthesiologists. Then judge the consultation itself — a good surgeon explains whether you need upper, lower or combined blepharoplasty and why. Dr. Paulo Michels is board certified by the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery, a member of ISAPS, ASPS and EPSS, and operates exclusively at Elyzee Hospital in Abu Dhabi.

Can I travel from Dubai for eyelid surgery in Abu Dhabi?

Yes. Dr. Paulo Michels operates exclusively at Elyzee Hospital in Abu Dhabi and has no clinic in Dubai. Patients are discharged the same day; where possible the consultation, pre-operative tests, surgical date and follow-up reviews are scheduled to minimise the number of journeys. Most patients resume social activities after around 20 days.

Can blepharoplasty be done without visible scars?

In mild cases, yes. Scarless blepharoplasty uses the transconjunctival technique — incisions on the inside of the eyelid, with no visible external scar. It suits younger patients or early puffiness with minimal skin excess. When there is significant laxity or excess skin, traditional surgical blepharoplasty remains the most effective and lasting solution.