Temporal Lift and Upper Blepharoplasty | 2 month postop

Patient Overview

• Patient: Turkan

• Age: 44

• Gender: Female

• Procedures: Temporal browlift, upper blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), performed under local anaesthesia

• After photos taken at: 2 months post-surgery

• Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Why Some Patients Choose Local Anaesthesia for Eyelid and Browlift Surgery

One of the most common questions patients ask before facial surgery is whether general anaesthesia is truly necessary. For many upper face procedures, the answer is no. Turkan's temporal browlift and upper blepharoplasty were both performed entirely under local anaesthesia in Istanbul, eliminating the need for intubation, a general anaesthetic team, and the groggy recovery period that follows. This is not a compromise. When performed by an experienced surgeon, local anaesthesia for brow and eyelid surgery offers distinct advantages, including a faster procedure, shorter time in the clinic, reduced postoperative nausea, and the ability to walk out of the facility within hours. Dr. Cem Berkay Sinaci, a Fellow of the European Board of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (FEBOPRAS) and member of ISAPS and ASPS, routinely performs upper face procedures under local anaesthesia for suitable candidates, and Turkan's two-month results demonstrate that the outcomes are no different from those achieved under general anaesthesia.

Understanding Upper Eyelid Hooding and How Blepharoplasty Corrects It

The upper eyelid is one of the first areas of the face to show visible signs of ageing. The skin of the eyelid is the thinnest skin on the entire body, measuring less than one millimetre in thickness. Over time, this delicate skin loses its elasticity and begins to fold over the natural eyelid crease, creating a hooded appearance that can make the eyes look heavy, tired, or older than the person actually is. In more advanced cases, the excess skin can drape far enough to partially obstruct peripheral vision.

Upper blepharoplasty removes this redundant skin through an incision placed precisely within the natural eyelid crease. Once healed, the scar sits inside the fold of the lid and becomes essentially invisible, even without makeup. The amount of skin removed must be calculated carefully. Taking too much leaves the eye unable to close comfortably, while taking too little produces an underwhelming result. Dr. Sinaci measures and marks the excess skin with the patient sitting upright before any anaesthesia is administered, ensuring the removal is both safe and aesthetically balanced.

The Role of Temporal Browlift in Upper Face Rejuvenation

While blepharoplasty addresses the eyelid itself, the position of the eyebrow plays an equally important role in how the upper face appears. A brow that has descended even a few millimetres pushes additional skin onto the upper lid, compounding the hooded effect. In many patients, what appears to be purely an eyelid problem is actually a combination of eyelid skin excess and brow descent working together.

This is precisely why Dr. Sinaci combined the temporal browlift with blepharoplasty for Turkan's case. The temporal browlift repositions the outer portion of the brow through small incisions concealed within the hairline at the temples. By elevating the lateral brow back to its youthful position, the procedure removes the gravitational load that was pushing tissue onto the upper lid. The blepharoplasty then addresses the remaining true eyelid excess. Together, these two procedures produce a result that neither could achieve alone, an open, refreshed eye area with a naturally arched brow and clean upper lid.

How Local Anaesthesia Works for Browlift and Eyelid Surgery

Patients unfamiliar with local anaesthesia for facial surgery often imagine they will feel the procedure or find the experience distressing. In practice, the process is far more comfortable than most people expect. A local anaesthetic solution is carefully injected into the surgical area, completely numbing the tissue so that the patient feels no pain during the operation. A mild oral sedative is typically given beforehand to reduce any anxiety and help the patient relax.

The patient remains awake but calm throughout. One significant advantage of this is that the surgeon can ask the patient to open and close their eyes during the procedure, allowing real-time assessment of the skin removal and brow position. This dynamic feedback is not possible under general anaesthesia, where the patient's muscles are relaxed and the natural resting position of the brow and lid may differ from their awake state. For experienced surgeons like Dr. Sinaci, this intraoperative interaction actually enhances the precision of the result.

Recovery from local anaesthesia is also notably smoother. There is no sore throat from intubation, no postoperative nausea, and no prolonged drowsiness. Most patients feel alert within an hour of the procedure ending.

What Happens During the First Two Months of Recovery

Turkan's before and after photographs were captured at two months post-surgery, a meaningful milestone in the healing timeline. In the first week following temporal browlift and upper blepharoplasty, patients can expect bruising and swelling concentrated around the eyes and temples. The bruising typically transitions through shades of purple, blue, and yellow before fading completely within ten to fourteen days. Sutures are removed within the first week, and most patients feel comfortable appearing in public with light makeup by day ten to fourteen.

Between weeks two and six, residual swelling gradually subsides. The eyelid crease becomes more defined as the tissues settle, and the brow position stabilises as the internal fixation matures. By the two-month mark, the swelling has largely resolved and the results represent approximately 85 to 90 percent of the final outcome. The incision lines continue to fade for up to a year, eventually becoming fine, pale lines hidden within the eyelid crease and hairline.

Two-Month Results After Combined Temporal Lift and Eyelid Surgery

Turkan's two-month photographs show the transformation that a well-planned combination of browlift and blepharoplasty can deliver. The upper eyelids appear clean and defined, with the hooded excess completely removed. The eyelid crease is visible and natural, giving the eyes a more open and rested appearance. The temporal browlift has restored a gentle lateral arch to the brow, lifting the outer corner without creating a surprised or overdone expression.

What makes these results particularly noteworthy is that they were achieved without general anaesthesia. Patients considering eyelid or browlift surgery who are hesitant about going under general anaesthetic should understand that local anaesthesia is not a lesser alternative. In the hands of a qualified surgeon with the training and experience to perform these procedures routinely under local conditions, the results are equivalent. The difference lies in a more comfortable recovery, lower risk profile, and a faster return to daily activities.

Board-Certified Temporal Browlift and Blepharoplasty in Istanbul

Istanbul has become a sought-after destination for patients from around the world seeking facial rejuvenation surgery at an international standard. For procedures like temporal browlift and upper blepharoplasty, the combination of board-certified expertise, advanced clinical facilities, and the option to undergo surgery under local anaesthesia makes the city an appealing choice. Dr. Sinaci's extensive training in facial anatomy, including fellowship experience in Brazil and cadaver dissection courses in Bangkok, ensures that every procedure is grounded in a deep understanding of the layered structures that determine how the upper face ages and how it can be safely and beautifully restored.