Nov 25 | Media Feature in the Financial Times

Expert Insights from Dr Elizabeth Hawkes

“I often say to patients: you’re not going to look different. You’re going to look the same, only fresher,” Hawkes says.

Hawkes cautions that it is wise to find an oculoplastic surgeon, adding: “People always say it’s a very simple operation but it’s actually not. Technically it takes years to learn.”

Potential side effects include swelling and dry eyes; rarer risks include infection, asymmetry and vision loss (“the one everyone worries about”, says Hawkes, who adds it affects about one in 22,000).

Hawkes says that she sees more men for lower blepharoplasty. In contrast, women often clock issues with their upper lids when they notice make-up smudging and, she says, “their eyes just aren’t looking as perky as they used to”.

NLA licensed copy. No further copies may be made except under licence. This article originally appeared in the Financial Times on November 1, 2025, written by Laura Antonia Jordan.