As canceled podcaster Brooke Schofield faces backlash for her recent plastic surgery, an expert takes an in-depth look at the common procedure.
For the past two weeks, Brooke — who co-hosts the podcast Cancelled with Tana Mongeau — has been sharing her journey to getting an upper blepharoplasty, also known as an eyelid lift. While the 28-year-old influencer intended to be public about the changes to her appearance, she has unexpectedly been met with a host of hate online from her many critics.
When she showed off her bruises and stitches on TikTok, some users criticized her decision, claiming that she is not embracing her natural beauty and fueling women’s insecurities. Despite claims that her plastic surgery was “frivolous” and “overdone,” one plastic surgery expert confirmed that it is actually a very common plastic surgery procedure.
Dr. Sean McNally is a board-certified plastic surgeon and lead physician at Doctor PDX and Réviance in Portland, Oregon. Drawing on his years of experience in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, he shares his insights into blepharoplasty. In short, Dr. McNally explains that blepharoplasty is “basically the removal of eyelid skin.”
“This is done by removing excess skin to reduce eyelid droop,” he explains. “It may also involve muscle removal, muscle tightening, and fat removal or repositioning.” He adds, “It is a very common procedure and, when performed by the right surgeon, carries very low risk.”
Dr. McNally breaks down the risk factors for this type of surgery and assures that it is very safe and minimally invasive. “Most of the work is done within a few millimeters of the skin, so while it is surgery, it is not invasive,” he explains. “If the excess skin is enough to obscure the patient’s vision, this procedure can be cosmetic and even covered by insurance. Whether the patient is awake, sedated, or completely asleep in the operating room depends on the type of eyelid they have and patient/doctor preference.”
In Brooke’s case, she chose to remain awake during the procedure—which she claims took 30 minutes—but other patients choose to sleep through it. Dr. McNally revealed the cost of this type of plastic surgery: “It depends on the type of blepharoplasty, but it usually starts at around $3,000 for an upper blepharoplasty, done in-clinic, fully awake. If you want an upper or lower blepharoplasty done in an operating room, it can cost up to $10,000 or more.”
When asked what the most common reasons patients are interested in this procedure are, Dr. McNally shared: “It could be just for cosmetic reasons, or it could be because of symptoms like reduced field of vision due to lash cover or the feeling of the skin on the lashes, which can be crazy.”
Brooke explained that in her personal case, she wanted to have the procedure done so that it would be easier to put on makeup. “I’ve always had inner eyelids,” she explained in the TikTok video. “It never affected my vision, but recently I realized I couldn’t put on makeup like I used to, and it started to bother me. I love putting on makeup. I’ve always been excited about putting it on, but now I’m terrified because I can’t put on eyeliner, people can’t see my eyeshadow, and it doesn’t look the way I want it to.”
With any surgery, there is a risk of side effects, but Dr. McNally assures that in this case, the risk of side effects is minimal. He explains, “If too much skin is removed, dry eyes or corneal exposure may be an issue, but this is very rare if performed properly.”
Dr. McNally further confirms that it is “one of the most common surgical procedures,” revealing that over 300,000 blepharoplasties are performed in the United States each year since 2019. Some of the celebrities who have reportedly undergone this procedure include Taylor Swift, Al Pacino, Paris Hilton, Cameron Diaz, Jane Fonda, George Clooney, Joan Rivers, and Dolly Parton.
Speaking about which patients are suitable for blepharoplasty, Dr. McNally says, “There is no age limit as long as the patient is in good health and generally meets the criteria. Patients seeking Asian blepharoplasty should ensure that their physician is familiar with their specific anatomy, needs, and goals.”
As for pain levels, Dr. McNally assures that blepharoplasty is “less severe than most patients expect.” He also adds that most patients only require “over-the-counter medications” during the recovery process.
Dr. McNally concluded by encouraging all interested patients to do their homework before undergoing surgery. “Research your physician carefully. Make sure they are a board-certified plastic surgeon, facial plastic surgeon, or oculoplastic surgeon and that they routinely perform the procedures you want and achieve the results you are happy with,” he said.
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