All You Need To Know About Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery – FAQ – Dr Peter Kim

If you are unhappy about your eyelid shape and would like to rejuvenate the eyelids, with an eye lift or blepharoplasty, you have come to the right place.

Dr Peter Kim has a significant experience and expertise in this field and we will try to answer some of the frequently asked questions.

The following questions are from the Department of Health’s guidelines on questions to ask before your cosmetic surgery.

Is Dr Peter Kim a plastic surgeon?

Dr. Kim is a cosmetic doctor who specialises in blepharoplasties, but he is not a plastic surgeon.

Although plastic surgeons may perform cosmetic blepharoplasties, their primary expertise lies in reconstructive surgery, particularly in treating skin cancers, burns patients and trauma laceratinos. Dr Kim does not offer plastic surgery services.

He knows how to do a blepharoplaty, with the experience of over a thousand successful blepharoplasty procedures, and having published numerous papers on the topic, he is recognised as an authority in his field.

 

What are your qualifications?

Dr. Kim is a graduate of the University of Sydney, where he obtained his MBBS degree. He is also a Fellow of the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery & Medicine. In 2009, he graduated with a Gold medal. Dr. Kim is widely recognized for his expertise in the field of cosmetic surgery, particularly in the area of blepharoplasty.

He is one of the very few doctors in Sydney who has received specific cosmetic training and research on cosmetic eyelid surgery, and his papers have been published in Journals regularly read by specialist plastic surgeons: American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery, Australasian Journal of Cosmetic Surgery & Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. If you would like to learn more about Dr Kim’s academic work, please click here.

To read more about the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery, click here.

To read more about Endoserment model on who are qualified to perform Cosmetic Surgery in Australia <Click Here)>.

What procedures do you regularly perform?

We are a dedicated blepharoplasty clinic located in Sydney, and we exclusively perform blepharoplasty procedures.

How many times have you performed this procedure, and how often do you do it?

We have regularly performed blepharoplasty since 2009, and we have successfully carried out over 1000 cases.

Can I see photos of your work?

All of the before and after photographs displayed on this page are the results of blepharoplasties performed by Dr. Peter Kim.

Will anyone help you perform my procedure? What are their qualifications?

Surgical assistance is not required, with the exception of occasional assistance from the registered nurse.

Who will give my anaesthetic? What qualifications do they have? What kind of anaesthetic will I receive?

We perform blepharoplasty under local anesthesia. To help patients feel relaxed, we provide them with oral sleeping medication. There is no use of intravenous sedation.

Where will the procedure be performed? Is it licensed for my procedure?

Blepharoplasty is performed under local anesthesia in our Chatswood Clinic procedure room.

It is considered a minor operation and there is no need for it to be performed in an accredited day surgery or hospital setting.

AHPRA guideline permits blepharoplasty to be performed in a doctor’s clinic.

Below is the extract from the AHPRA website (accessed 30 June 2023).<LINK>

The Medical Board’s Guidelines for registered medical practitioners who perform cosmetic surgery and procedures require all cosmetic surgery (except certain types of blepharoplasty) to be performed in a facility that is accredited by an Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) approved agency, to the ACSQHC National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.

 

What are the risks of this procedure? And are there any risks unique to my health history?

Major complications following blepharoplasty are uncommon, but possible complications may include prolonged swelling, bruising, blurred vision, dry eyes, visible scarring, asymmetry, and hematoma. 

Typically, swelling will take three months to fully settle, while bruising usually disappears within one to two weeks.

Blurred vision occurs in one in 20 patients, and it typically resolves within a few days. However, patients who had dry eyes prior to the surgery may take longer to recover. 

Scars usually heal well and are hidden in the crease, making them not visible when the eyes are open, but may be visible when the eyes are closed. Sometimes, scar treatment may be necessary. 

Hematoma is a condition where there is a large bleed under the skin, which can occur when a patient is discharged home and in response to valsalva episodes, such as coughing or bending over to pick up things. If this occurs, please contact Dr. Peter Kim at the provided mobile number.

It is important to emphasize that asymmetry is a possible outcome of blepharoplasty. It is important to note that no two eyes are perfectly symmetrical, and preexisting asymmetry cannot be corrected through blepharoplasty. If you are seeking perfect symmetry, blepharoplasty may not be the right procedure for you.

The following list are potential risks of the procedure, and you should ask the doctor if any of these risks are material to you:

  • Infection and bleeding.
    Dry, irritated eyes.
    Difficulty closing the eyes or other eyelid problems.
    Noticeable scarring.
    Injury to eye muscles.
    Skin discoloration.
    Temporarily blurred vision or, rarely, loss of eyesight.
    The need for follow-up surgery.
    Death from anaesthesia.
    Acne – after the stitches are removed, tiny whiteheads may appear.
    Suture granuloma.
    Ingrown eyelashes or hair.
How many people have experienced complications when you have performed this procedure and what were they?

The risk of complications following blepharoplasty is not common, however, they can occur as listed above.

Are there any alternative options to this procedure?

The aging feature of the upper eyelid is primarily caused by sagging excess skin. Blepharoplasty is the most effective and only way to remove the excess skin.

Will it cost extra to have further treatment if something goes wrong?
In the event that a corrective procedure is deemed necessary within the first three months following the initial surgery, an additional charge of $500 will be incurred for the use of the procedure room.
 
Subsequent to the initial three-month period, the full cost of the corrective procedure, in addition to the consultation fee, will apply.
How long do the results last? Will I need further procedures?

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure and it is expected to last for over 10 years.

What will the scarring be like?

All surgical procedures will result in a scar.

In the short term, typically during the first six to twelve months following the procedure, the scar may be more noticeable due to its reddish or brownish discoloration.

Once the scar is mature, the scar from blepharoplasty is typically hidden in the eyelid crease, making it not visible when the eyes are open. However, the scar may be visible when the eyes are closed.

What if I'm not pleased with the result?

If you are not satisfied with the outcome, please bring it to Dr. Kim’s attention. We will identify the cause of the problem and work to resolve it. Many issues we encounter are the result of not meeting expectations and asymmetry. It is important to note that some asymmetry is normal (10%). To ensure clear communication, it is helpful to bring a photo of the eyelids that meets your expectation during the consultation. We may decline patients when we feel that we cannot meet their expectations or if the result is deemed acceptable.

If we are unable to resolve the dispute and if you wish to have your complaint assessed independently, we have an external dispute resolution mechanism in place. At no cost to you, we can refer you to the Credential Committee of the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery for an independent review of the complaint. This would be the contractural obkigation on your to adhere to. We woud like to resolve disputes in a professional way using independent assessments.

If this was to fail, then we will provide you with the inedepent report, and you can ldoge complaint/appeal to AHPRA or other regulatory agencies.

It is our firm belief that these disputes are managed in an appropriate forum. We believe, and we expect our patients to agree, that websites, online forums, or media are not appropriate forums to settle these disputes.

What care will I need and receive after the procedure and who will give it?

On the day of consultation, and again on the day of the surgery, we will provide you with comprehensive aftercare instructions. We will also provide you with Dr. Kim’s personal mobile phone number to contact in case of an emergency or any queries you may have. You will need to return to see Dr. Kim in 7 days to have the sutures removed.

What kind of discomfort or pain should I expect following the procedure and how will it be managed?

Discomfort following blepharoplasty is uncommon. Although we provide paracetamol, over 50% of patients do not even take them. If you experience discomfort, we advise taking paracetamol regularly for 2-3 days after the surgery.

How long will I need to be home/off work for recovery?

Most patients take 2 weeks off work, although some patients have found that 1 week of rest is sufficient when working from home.

When can I start showering, exercising, driving, grocery shopping, etc.?

You are able to shower from the 2nd day after blepharoplasty, and you can drive as long as your vision is no longer blurry. You can resume daily activities after 2 days, but it is important to avoid heavy exercise for 2 weeks to prevent hematoma.

What do I do if something goes wrong? Who should I call?

If something goes wrong, please contact Dr. Kim first. If he is not reachable, please proceed to the nearest emergency department.

What are the benefits of laser-assisted blepharoplasty?

We use the Laser to assist the blepharoplasty to reduce the downtime and to produce extra tightening result.

There are many benefits to using a laser during your upper blepharoplasty procedure. Laser is a cutting-edge medical technology that is increasingly used in medicine. A laser may be utilized to the following degree in conjunction with traditional eyelid surgery:

  • A laser can assist with bloodless skin incision in the upper eyelid, which aids in quicker healing after blepharoplasty surgery;
  • A laser may also be used to remove excess eyelid skin and tighten the loose skin during blepharoplasty surgery for a “tighter” result; and
  • A laser can melt the fat accurately without causing bleeding, resulting in less downtime. After one week, most patients resume regular activities.

In cosmetic blepharoplasty surgery, Lasers were shown to tighten the skin and muscles around the eye, resulting in a more youthful appearance. In addition, lasers can help to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as improve the overall tone and texture of the skin. This is why we routinely use laser to perform blepharoplasties.

Upper Blepharoplasty

Please follow this link to the upper blepharoplasty webpage for more specific information about this procedure.

Cosmetic Upper Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Lower Blepharoplasty

Please follow this link to the upper blepharoplasty webpage for more specific information about this procedure.

Cosmetic Lower Blepharoplasty

Asian Double Eyelid Surgery

Please follow this link to the upper blepharoplasty webpage for more specific information about this procedure.

Cosmetic Lower Blepharoplasty

Your consultation

If you are considering upper or lower blepharoplasty, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with Dr Peter Kim. During your consultation, Dr Kim will evaluate your objectives and concerns to see if laser-assisted upper blepharoplasty is appropriate for you and, if so, which technique is best for you.

Bring a picture of your desired eyelid shape so that Dr Peter Kim may create a personalized strategy to meet your objectives. Bring any questions you want Dr Kim to answer, as well. 

The consultation fee for a normal consultation is $250, whereas the cost for a long consultation is $350. There is medicare rebate of $80. If you do proceed with the blepharoplasty with Dr Kim, the consultation fee is reimbursed.

Consultations are complementary until the end of 2023. 

Dr Peter Kim is available at these locations:

  • Chatswood
  • Cabramatta
  • Eastwood.
Privacy

Privacy Policy

Our privacy commitment to you.

Privacy protection and confidentiality of health information is essential for quality health care. We protect the privacy and confidentiality of the information we collect from patients, visitors to our website, people who contact us and from our suppliers and partners. This information is only released with your expressed written consent or where it is required by law.

In addition to this professional and ethical commitment, we are required to comply with the relevant Commonwealth, State and Territory privacy laws that outline a set of privacy principles. The core principles are in the Privacy Act 1988. More information about these principles and Australian privacy law can be found on the Australian Information Commissioner’s website www.oaic.gov.au

When visiting our website our internet service provider will track your visit for statistical purposes but personal information is not collected.

Consent for the collection of your personal details:

When you register as a patient or client of our practice, you are providing consent for our health care practitioners and practice staff to access and your personal information so they can provide you with the best possible healthcare. Only staff who need to access your personal details will do so, where appropriate for their role in your care, to answer your enquiries and manage your clinical file, payments or product purchases. We will ask for additional consent from you if we need to use your details for anything else.

Dr Peter Kim will only collect information that is relevant to provide you with effective medical or customer care, and for Practice management purposes. All staff members sign a confidentiality agreement and privacy procedures agreement. Administrative staff will access your health data only if required, for example:

What personal information do we collect, store and use and how do we collect this?

Dr Peter Kim collects personal details from clients, patients, people enquiring, brand partners and other organisations seeking information or comment, visitors to our website, people purchasing products and services from us and from our suppliers.

Most of this information is collected directly from the person concerned, including through emails, telephone calls, our website and social media channels.

Website usage and collection of data:

Our website www.cosmeticeyelidsurgery.com.au uses Google Analytics for business development purposes such as tracking website usage. For more information see the Google Analytics information pages. You can control the age, gender, and interests information, or opt out of having this information collected through Google. Google Analytics does not collect information about sensitive interests such as race, religion, sexual orientation, health, or financial status. The types of information collected are below.

De-identified details:

When you access our website, there is a record of your visit made in the web server logs of the following information for statistical purposes:

  • Your source IP address
    • Your domain or top level domain name (for example practice.com, .gov, .au etc)
    • The date and time of your visit to the site
    • The pages you accessed and documents downloaded
    • The previous site you visited
    • The type of browser you are using
    • Your age, gender, and interests based on other websites you have visited.

This de-identified information is used by us to monitor usage patterns on our site in order to improve navigation and design features. We do not provide any of this data to third parties.

Identified details:

Dr Peter Kim only collects personal information that you have opted to send to us via our enquiry form, email, newsletter sign-up form, text messages, phone calls or social media accounts. This data will never be passed on to a third party without your consent.

Cookies:

Cookies can either be persistent or session based. Persistent cookies are stored on your computer, contain an expiry date, and may only be used to track your browsing behaviour upon return to the issuing web site. Session cookies are short lived, are used only during a browsing session, and expire when you quit your browser. Dr Peter Kim’s websites uses persistent cookies to provide users with the most convenient way of remembering preferences and do this in a way that prevents other sites from using these cookies. The web site statistics for this site are generated from the web logs as outlined above.

Why do we collect this information and what do we use it for?

Dr Peter Kim collects, stores and uses this information to provide services and process orders for our clients.
We only provide others with details that would identify you if it is necessary to provide you with any service or information that you have requested and you have agreed to us sharing the data.

What about use of personal details for direct marketing?

Australian privacy law limits the use of personal data collected for direct marketing of goods and services.
We use your personal data to keep you informed about health education, products, services and exclusive offers.
When you are added to our newsletter mailing list or we send you direct marketing material, you are provided with an opportunity to directly unsubscribe or contact us to decline receiving further material.

If you have a concern about direct marketing material you have received from us, or you wish to change your preferences, please contact us via [email protected]

How can clients update their personal details?

At the time of booking an appointment online, via phone, email or our enquiry form.

How do we store and protect the information we hold about you?

We store your information at our premises, in electronic systems under our control and with highly secure, cloud-based clinical data storage and software providers. We take appropriate steps to protect the security of the details we hold about you, including protections against unauthorised access, virus or other electronic Our staff are bound by strict requirements regarding the protection of the privacy of the information we collect and hold about you.
We or our contracted data storage providers may use servers, systems and cloud computing providers outside of Australia. Our contracts with them require them to protect the privacy of your information when held on these servers and/or using cloud computing. Our contractors are required to comply with the Australian Privacy laws.

Can clients access their private file?

Under Australian privacy law, you have the right to access any personal information we hold about you. These rights also include correction of any errors in this record. To access this information please contact us. Unless the access you request will require special resources, there will be no charge for providing you with this record.

Does the data we collect stay in Australia?

In addition to the use from time to time of data storage and cloud providers, we may provide data to overseas bodies. For example, we may license use of information on our databases to overseas based companies and organisations for direct marketing. All entities to whom we license use of this information are required to comply with Australia Privacy laws and can only use the data for the purpose specified in the licence.

How long do we keep your personal information?

We generally keep your personal information active for as long as it is required to enable us to provide the relevant service to you. Health practitioner and medical records must be kept long term for medico-legal purposes, which occurs after you have had a clinical consultation where you have received professional advice.

We keep records and other personal data on file to enable us to undertake statistical and historical analysis and reporting. As part of our data security, we regularly backup and archive our electronic databases.

How to find out more about how we collect information and what to do if you have a complaint:

Please contact us if you have a concern in relation to how we collect, store, use or disclose your personal details.

Email: [email protected]
Call: 9411 4880
Post: 4/9 Railway Street Chatswood NSW 2114

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat.

Disclaimer

As per Good Medical Practice Guideline, we would like to notify you that:

  • Any surgical, invasive, nonsurgical, or laser procedure carries risks.

  • Complications do and can occur.

  • Previous success is not a promissory indication of future success.

  • Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

  • All before and after photos on this site are Dr Peter Kim’s work.

  • Copyrights reserved by Dr Peter Kim.

The Next Step

If you have any questions or concerns about cosmetic eyelid surgery, please feel free to contact us. Dr Kim has helped hundreds of patients achieve their desired results.

We would be happy to discuss the procedure with you in more detail and answer any questions you may have. To book an appointment, call 9411 4880.

Our principal clinic is located in Chatswood. For your convenience, Dr Kim also consults at Haymarket, Eastwood and Cabramatta.

You can reach us by:

  • Phone: 02 9411 4480
  • SMS: 0433 284 880