Dr Scott J Turner | Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS) | Sydney
For Canberra patients researching eyelid surgery, “what does it cost?” is usually the question that decides whether the conversation goes any further. This guide gives you the indicative 2026 pricing for upper blepharoplasty, lower blepharoplasty, and combined surgery, plus the Medicare eligibility detail, the private health insurance reality, and the budget items that tend to catch patients out.
This is a cost-focused guide. If you’re still working out whether eyelid surgery is the right procedure for your concerns, or whether brow position is part of the picture, the procedure overview lives elsewhere. Start with the Brow Lift & Blepharoplasty Canberra page for surgical detail. For upper, lower, and brow position assessment context, read the Blepharoplasty in Canberra guide.
Dr Scott J Turner is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS) consulting at the Campbell clinic in Canberra and at Sydney clinics in Bondi Junction and Manly. The pricing below reflects 2026 fee structures and is indicative only. Actual quotes are confirmed in writing after consultation.
Considering eyelid surgery in Canberra? The Brow Lift & Blepharoplasty Canberra page is the right starting point if you haven’t yet had individual assessment. Cost is determined after consultation, not before, because the surgical plan depends on what’s actually being addressed.
What does eyelid surgery cost in Canberra in 2026?
Indicative 2026 pricing:
| Procedure | Indicative 2026 cost | Medicare / insurance note |
|---|---|---|
| Upper blepharoplasty, cosmetic | Approximately $6,000 to $9,000 | Usually no Medicare rebate where the procedure is cosmetic only |
| Upper blepharoplasty, functional | Quote varies; Medicare may contribute if criteria are met | MBS item 45617 may apply where clinical criteria and documentation requirements are met |
| Lower blepharoplasty | Approximately $9,000 to $14,000 | Usually cosmetic. Different MBS pathway (item 45620) applies only for specific medical indications |
| Combined upper and lower blepharoplasty | Approximately $12,000 to $18,000 | Cost varies by anaesthesia, facility, and case complexity |
| Brow lift with blepharoplasty | Individually quoted | Combined planning addressed at consultation. See below |
| Canberra consultation fee | $450 | A GP referral is required before the consultation |
These figures are indicative ranges, not fixed prices. The final quote depends on operating time, anaesthetist fee, facility fee, and the specific surgical plan agreed at the second consultation.
Why blepharoplasty costs vary
Cost variation isn’t pricing inconsistency. It’s procedure complexity. The factors that move the number:
Upper vs lower eyelid surgery. Different anatomy. Different surgical access. Different anaesthesia and facility requirements in some cases.
Functional vs cosmetic indication. MBS item 45617 may apply to upper blepharoplasty where clinical need is documented. Cosmetic-only surgery doesn’t attract the same pathway. Lower blepharoplasty has its own item (45620) for limited medical indications only.
Lower eyelid complexity. Transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty (incision inside the eyelid for fat prolapse alone) is technically different from skin-pinch or skin-flap lower blepharoplasty (where skin laxity is part of the picture). Fat repositioning and lower eyelid support procedures (canthopexy, canthoplasty) add operating time.
Combined surgery. Upper and lower blepharoplasty performed together generally costs less than two separate operations spaced apart. One anaesthetic. One facility booking. One recovery period.
Anaesthesia type. Upper blepharoplasty alone may be performed under local anaesthetic with light sedation. Combined upper and lower blepharoplasty, or surgery combined with brow lift, may require general anaesthesia. The anaesthetist fee structure differs between local-with-sedation and general anaesthesia, and so does the facility billing. This is one of the underappreciated reasons why combined surgery quotes aren’t simply the sum of individual quotes.
Brow contribution. Some patients asking about eyelid surgery actually need brow position assessed. If brow descent contributes to upper eyelid heaviness, the surgical plan may include endoscopic brow lift, which changes operating time and cost. This is assessed at consultation, not from photos.
Canberra-to-Sydney pathway. Consultation typically occurs in Canberra at the Campbell clinic. Surgery typically occurs in Sydney. Travel and accommodation should be budgeted alongside surgical fees.
What’s included in the quote
A complete written quote should make clear which of the following are included:
- Surgeon’s fee
- Anaesthetist’s fee where applicable
- Hospital or facility fee
- Standard dressings and post-operative care
- Scheduled post-operative appointments
- Written fee estimate provided after consultation
If a quoted figure doesn’t make these inclusions clear, that’s worth asking about explicitly before booking.
What’s not included in the quote
Costs that typically sit outside the surgical fee:
- Initial consultation fee, where separate from surgical fee
- GP appointment or referral costs
- Visual field testing or ophthalmic / optometric assessment, where required
- Travel and accommodation for Sydney surgery
- Time off work
- Additional treatment for unexpected complications
- Revision surgery, if required
- Non-standard extra reviews
Patients sometimes assume the surgical quote covers everything end-to-end. It generally doesn’t. Budget for the surrounding pathway, not just the operation.
Medicare and upper eyelid surgery
This section needs careful wording. The rules have changed.
MBS item 45617 applies to upper eyelid reduction where the reduction is for specific clinical indications. These include a history of demonstrated visual impairment, intertriginous eyelid inflammation, orbital fat herniation in exophthalmos, facial nerve palsy, post-traumatic scarring, or symmetry restoration related to one of those conditions. Photographic and/or diagnostic imaging evidence demonstrating clinical need must be documented in the patient notes.
Medicare benefits aren’t payable for non-therapeutic cosmetic services.
Worth knowing: the 2022 MBS amendment removed the previous explicit requirement that visual field testing be confirmed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. The current item descriptor refers to a history of demonstrated visual impairment and documented photographic and/or diagnostic imaging evidence, rather than making formal visual field testing the only pathway. Visual field testing may still be useful in many patients. The wording is now broader.
What this means in practice: eligibility under item 45617 isn’t assumed before clinical assessment. The consultation determines whether the clinical indications and documentation requirements are met for an individual patient.
Lower blepharoplasty and Medicare
Lower blepharoplasty performed for cosmetic under-eye bags, puffiness, or ageing-related lower eyelid appearance is generally not Medicare-rebatable.
A different MBS pathway exists under item 45620 for specific medical indications such as orbital fat herniation in exophthalmos, facial nerve palsy, post-traumatic scarring, or symmetry restoration related to those conditions, with evidence of clinical need documented. This isn’t the usual pathway for cosmetic lower eyelid surgery.
Most patients seeking lower blepharoplasty for under-eye bags fall outside both MBS pathways. The cost is privately paid in those cases.
Private health insurance
Private health insurance may contribute to some costs in specific circumstances:
- If an MBS item applies: private hospital cover may contribute to some hospital or facility costs depending on the patient’s policy
- If the procedure is cosmetic only: private health insurance generally does not contribute
Worth asking your fund directly:
- Clinical category covered by your policy
- Waiting periods that may apply
- Specific exclusions for cosmetic or elective surgery
- Known gaps and out-of-pocket expectations
The fund can give you a definitive answer based on your specific policy. Generic insurance information online is rarely accurate for an individual patient’s situation.
What if I need a brow lift as well as eyelid surgery?
Some patients asking about upper eyelid surgery have heaviness caused partly by brow descent. If brow position is contributing to eyelid hooding, the surgical plan may involve combined endoscopic brow lift and blepharoplasty rather than isolated upper eyelid surgery.
Cost differs from isolated upper blepharoplasty. The combined procedure adds operating time. Different anaesthesia considerations. Different recovery profile. The combined approach is generally still more cost-effective than two separate operations performed months apart, but the headline number is higher than upper blepharoplasty alone.
This is assessed during consultation, not from photos. For procedure detail, see the Brow Lift & Blepharoplasty Canberra page.
AHPRA cosmetic surgery pathway costs
Patients should also budget time and potentially small additional costs for the AHPRA-regulated consultation pathway.
The Medical Board and AHPRA cosmetic surgery guidelines that came into effect in July 2023 apply to cosmetic blepharoplasty. The requirements: a GP referral before the cosmetic surgery consultation. At least two pre-operative consultations with the operating surgeon. Psychological screening for body dysmorphic disorder and other relevant factors. Informed consent obtained by the surgeon performing the procedure. A cooling-off period of at least seven days after the second consultation and informed consent, before surgery can be booked or a deposit paid.
This means patients should budget for a GP appointment, two consultations (each with its own fee in some practices), and the time between consultations. The minimum seven-day cooling-off period after the second consultation is a regulated minimum, not a recommendation. Some patients use that time to compare quotes from multiple Specialist Plastic Surgeons or to discuss the proposed plan with their GP. The pathway is designed to support that kind of considered decision-making, not to rush it.
Where to go from here
For an overview of brow lift and blepharoplasty options for Canberra patients, including upper eyelid surgery, lower eyelid surgery, endoscopic brow lift, and combined planning, visit the Brow Lift & Blepharoplasty Canberra page.
For a deeper guide on what eyelid surgery actually involves, including upper blepharoplasty, lower blepharoplasty, and brow position assessment, read the Blepharoplasty in Canberra guide.
For travel and accommodation guidance for Canberra patients having surgery in Sydney, see Travelling from Canberra for Plastic Surgery.
For surgeon credentials context and the FRACS qualification, read FRACS Plastic Surgeon in Canberra.
To arrange a consultation, contact the practice online or call 1300 437 758. A GP referral is required before any cosmetic surgery consultation. Consultations at the Campbell clinic are held on Fridays by appointment.
Canberra Clinic: G24/6 Provan Street, Campbell ACT 2612 Email: [email protected] Consultations: Fridays by appointment
The practice doesn’t endorse, partner with, or recommend any specific loan providers or BNPL services. Patients evaluating payment options should research independently and discuss any payment arrangements directly with their preferred provider.
Frequently asked questions
How much does eyelid surgery cost in Canberra in 2026?
Indicative 2026 pricing: upper blepharoplasty for cosmetic indications approximately $6,000 to $9,000. Lower blepharoplasty approximately $9,000 to $14,000. Combined upper and lower blepharoplasty approximately $12,000 to $18,000. Canberra consultation fee $450. These figures are indicative ranges. Individual quotes are confirmed in writing after consultation, based on operating time, anaesthetist fee, facility fee, and the specific surgical plan agreed at the second consultation.
Does Medicare cover blepharoplasty in Canberra?
Medicare may contribute to upper eyelid reduction only when the relevant MBS criteria are met and clinical need is documented. MBS item 45617 covers specific clinical indications including a history of demonstrated visual impairment and other listed medical indications, with photographic and/or diagnostic imaging evidence documenting clinical need in the patient notes. The 2022 MBS amendment removed the previous explicit visual field testing requirement, so the current pathway refers more broadly to demonstrated visual impairment with documentation. Medicare benefits aren’t payable for non-therapeutic cosmetic services.
Is lower blepharoplasty covered by Medicare?
Lower blepharoplasty for cosmetic under-eye bags, puffiness, or ageing-related lower eyelid appearance is generally not Medicare-rebatable. A different MBS pathway exists under item 45620 for specific medical indications such as exophthalmos-related orbital fat herniation, facial nerve palsy, or post-traumatic scarring, with evidence of clinical need documented. This isn’t the usual pathway for cosmetic lower eyelid surgery.
Why might my eyelid surgery quote be higher than another quote?
Quotes can vary because upper eyelid surgery, lower eyelid surgery, combined surgery, anaesthesia, facility fees, Medicare eligibility, private health insurance, and brow lift involvement all affect the final cost. A lower headline price may not include all surgeon, anaesthetist, facility, and follow-up components. A complete written quote should specify what’s included. Headline pricing without itemisation isn’t a like-for-like comparison.
What if I need a brow lift as well as blepharoplasty?
If brow descent contributes to upper eyelid heaviness, the surgical plan may involve brow lift assessment alongside eyelid surgery. The procedure and cost are assessed individually because combined endoscopic brow lift and blepharoplasty differs from isolated upper blepharoplasty in operating time, anaesthesia considerations, and recovery profile. Procedure information lives on the Brow Lift and Blepharoplasty Canberra page.
