Can double eyelid surgery be performed without general anaesthesia?

Yes, double eyelid surgery is usually performed WITHOUT general anaesthesia. Typically, it is common for double eyelid surgery to be performed under local anaesthesia with oral sedation or intravenous sedation.

For local anaesthesia, patients are given 1-2 injections after the skin is marked and the surgery can be performed without pain. Occasionally, patients are given a tablet such as valium to sedate them to help them feel more comfortable. You will be awake during the surgery but will not feel any of the pain.

Intravenous sedation can be an option for patients who are anxious or do not want to be awake during the operation. With intravenous sedation, medication is given to put you into a light sleep and patients will usually. have little recollection of the procedure. Recovery after sedation is typically quick with little anesthesia “hangover”. Ensure that you are having your procedure in an accredited facility with a doctor that is certified to perform the intravenous sedation.

Double eyelid surgery is rarely done under general anaesthesia unless the patient is already having a separate procedure requiring general anaesthesia.

I hope this answers your questions! Have a great weekend ahead!

Dr. Terence Goh

Thank you for your question.

It's actually preferable that double eyelid surgery be performed without general anaesthesia.

Any eye surgery involves very fine work and millimetre differences make a big difference. The eyelid is a dynamic structure and balancing one eye with the other is difficult if the patient is asleep and unable to open their eyes.

I perform both upper and lower blepharoplasties under local anaesthesia.

Hope this helps!