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Oculoplastic surgery · London

Chalazion and stye removal, by a specialist oculoplastic surgeon.

A day-case removal of stubborn eyelid lumps - triamcinolone injection or a small incision and curettage under local anaesthetic, done by a consultant oculoplastic surgeon, with biopsy in the same visit when the lump is atypical or recurrent.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What private chalazion and stye treatment costs in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers.

In short

£280–£950, home the same hour.

Procedure Indicative range
Initial oculoplastic consultation and slit-lamp assessment £180–£280
Intralesional triamcinolone injection (per chalazion) £280–£450
Incision and curettage under local anaesthetic £550–£950
Dermatopathology (if specimen sent) £280–£450
Bilateral or multiple chalazia (per additional lump) £220–£380
Follow-up review and dressing check Included

Prices vary by clinic, by surgeon, by whether one or multiple chalazia are treated, and by whether a specimen is sent for dermatopathology.

The journey

From photo to review - what happens, in order.

One team from first message to the two-week review, including histology when a specimen is sent.

  1. 04

    On the day

    Arrival at the clinic

    Arrival, consent and a chat with the surgeon. Local anaesthetic drops and a small subcutaneous injection of lidocaine with adrenaline. No sedation for adults.

  2. 05

    On the day

    The procedure itself

    5 to 10 minutes. Either an intralesional triamcinolone injection, or a chalazion clamp, small incision on the tarsal conjunctival side, curettage of the gland contents. No suture.

  3. 06

    On the day

    Home the same hour

    A firm pad and pressure for 20 minutes to settle any oozing, chloramphenicol ointment for a week, and home. You can drive yourself.

  4. 07

    After

    Review and histology if sent

    A telephone review at two weeks. Histology in 7 to 10 days if the specimen was sent for dermatopathology. Prevention plan for meibomian gland disease if that is the driver.

When it helps

Chalazion, stye, and the lump you should always biopsy.

The most common lumps, plus the features that mean a specimen goes to dermatopathology on the day.

  • Chalazion, painless firm nodule

    A chronic sterile granulomatous inflammation of a blocked meibomian gland - firm, painless, sits in the tarsal plate, weeks to months old.

  • External stye (hordeolum externum)

    An acute infection of a gland of Zeis or Moll at the lash line - red, tender, pointing outwards, usually staphylococcal.

  • Internal stye (hordeolum internum)

    An acute infection of a meibomian gland - deeper, more painful, often precedes or evolves into a chalazion.

  • Recurrent chalazion at the same site

    A repeated lump in the same place in an older patient - always biopsy to exclude sebaceous cell carcinoma, which masquerades as a benign chalazion.

  • Chalazion not resolving after 4–6 weeks

    About 60% resolve with 4 to 6 weeks of warm compresses and massage - the persistent 40% are the ones that need injection or surgery.

  • Visual axis distortion

    A large upper-lid chalazion pressing on the cornea can induce astigmatism and blur - a good reason not to leave it and watch.

  • Meibomian gland dysfunction driving lumps

    Rosacea, blepharitis and severe MGD produce crops of chalazia - the lump is the symptom, the gland disease is the target.

  • Red flag: atypical, ulcerated, madarosis

    Ulcerated skin, loss of lashes, telangiectasia, yellow discolouration or induration - biopsy same day. Sebaceous carcinoma is missed for years when it is not.

Treatment options

Conservative, injection, surgery - and the prevention that stops the next one.

What each option involves, and which fits which lump. Chronic MGD drivers are treated at the same time.

  • Conservative regimen

    Warm compresses ten minutes four times a day, lid hygiene wipes, and firm digital massage over the lump towards the lash line. Around 60% of chalazia resolve in 4 to 6 weeks.

  • Topical antibiotic

    Fusidic acid or chloramphenicol ointment twice daily for a week - for a stye or an infected chalazion. Not for a chronic non-infected lump.

  • Oral doxycycline for recurrent MGD

    Doxycycline 100 mg daily for 6 to 12 weeks in recurrent chalazia driven by meibomian gland dysfunction and rosacea - anti-inflammatory as much as antibacterial.

  • Intralesional triamcinolone

    0.1 to 0.2 mL of triamcinolone acetonide 40 mg/mL injected directly into the chalazion. Around 80% resolution in one to two doses. Small risk of subcutaneous depigmentation, particularly in Fitzpatrick V to VI skin.

  • Incision and curettage (I&C)

    A chalazion clamp stabilises the lid, a small vertical incision on the tarsal conjunctival side, the gland contents are curetted, and the wound is left open. No suture. 5 to 10 minutes under local anaesthetic.

  • Excisional biopsy

    For recurrent, atypical or older-patient lumps, the whole lesion is excised and sent for dermatopathology to exclude sebaceous cell carcinoma and other rarer eyelid tumours.

  • LipiFlow and IPL for prevention

    Thermal expression of the meibomian glands and intense pulsed light therapy reduce chalazion recurrence in patients with dominant MGD. Discussed at the same consultation.

  • Warm compresses done properly

    A microwaved eye mask, not a flannel that cools in 30 seconds. Ten minutes, four times a day, followed by massage. Most patients under-do this and over-blame the lump.

What to look for

What to look for in an oculoplastic unit.

Consultant oculoplastic surgeons in units with proper lid clamps, dermatopathology access and MGD clinics for people who keep getting chalazia.

Consultant oculoplastic surgeons with high chalazion and lid-lesion case volumes

Dedicated minor-op theatres with proper lid clamps, curettes and lighting

Same-visit dermatopathology pathways when a specimen needs to be sent

MGD clinics with LipiFlow, IPL and TearLab for the patients who keep making chalazia

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Chalazion surgery is a common, well-established minor procedure. The things worth planning are the local anaesthetic, the week of bruising, the makeup and lens holiday, and the prevention plan.

  • Local anaesthetic only

    Lidocaine 2% with adrenaline, injected subcutaneously and subconjunctivally. You feel a sting and a pressure, then nothing. No sedation is needed for adults.

  • Bruising and swelling for a week

    A firm pad for 20 minutes after the procedure limits bleeding. Expect a small bruise and swelling for 5 to 7 days. Ice packs for the first 24 hours help.

  • Depigmentation after triamcinolone

    A small risk of subcutaneous fat atrophy or hypopigmentation at the injection site, more marked in Fitzpatrick V and VI skin. Discussed before you consent to the injection.

  • Recurrence at the same site

    About 10 to 15% recur after I&C, usually because the underlying MGD has not been treated. The lump is the symptom, the gland disease is the target.

  • Sebaceous cell carcinoma - biopsy always if atypical

    A recurrent same-site chalazion in a patient over 50, or an atypical lump at any age, should be excised and sent for dermatopathology. Sebaceous carcinoma is missed for years otherwise.

  • Chloramphenicol ointment for one week

    A pea-sized amount to the lid margin four times daily for seven days after I&C. Simple wound care - no dressings, no sutures to remove.

  • Contact-lens holiday

    No contact lenses for two weeks after I&C on the upper lid. Glasses only. Reduces the mechanical irritation of the healing conjunctival wound.

  • Eye makeup off for two weeks

    Heavy mascara, kohl and eyeliner block meibomian glands and are common chalazion drivers. Off for two weeks after the procedure, and minimised long-term if the lumps keep coming.

  • Red flags after discharge

    Increasing pain and swelling, discharge, fever, or reduced vision - call the clinic or attend Moorfields Private Eye Casualty the same day.

Reading your operation note

Your chalazion note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever technique was used, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.

  1. 01 Header

    Lump type, site and duration

    Chalazion or stye, upper or lower lid, which eye, how many weeks or months, and any prior episodes at the same site.

  2. 02 Technique

    Injection or incision and curettage

    Which treatment was used, dose of triamcinolone if injected, and whether a specimen was sent for dermatopathology.

  3. 03 Findings

    Intraoperative findings and MGD status

    Contents of the gland, meibography grade if done, blepharitis and rosacea status, and any atypical features that prompted a biopsy.

  4. 04 Impression

    Prevention plan and review interval

    Read this first: warm compress and lid hygiene regimen, whether LipiFlow or IPL is recommended, doxycycline dose if started, and when to be seen again.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Cover for chalazion surgery varies by insurer, usually funded when medically indicated.

Frequently asked

Common questions about chalazion and stye removal.

Quick answers on injection versus surgery, cost, biopsy, and stopping the next one coming.

  • What is the difference between a chalazion and a stye?

    A chalazion is a chronic, sterile, granulomatous inflammation of a blocked meibomian gland - a firm painless nodule in the tarsal plate, weeks to months old. A stye (hordeolum) is an acute infection: external at the lash line (glands of Zeis or Moll), or internal in a meibomian gland. Styes are red, tender and short-lived. Chalazia are firm, quiet and stubborn.

  • Will my chalazion go away on its own?

    About 60% of chalazia resolve within 4 to 6 weeks of proper warm compresses (ten minutes, four times a day), lid hygiene and firm digital massage. The persistent 40% are the ones that need a triamcinolone injection or a small incision and curettage.

  • What does a chalazion injection involve?

    A tiny volume, 0.1 to 0.2 mL, of triamcinolone acetonide 40 mg/mL is injected directly into the chalazion under local anaesthetic drops. Around 80% resolve within two to four weeks, sometimes after a second dose. There is a small risk of subcutaneous fat atrophy or hypopigmentation at the site, more marked in darker skin.

  • How much does chalazion surgery cost privately in London?

    An initial oculoplastic consultation is £180 to £280. A triamcinolone injection is £280 to £450. Incision and curettage under local anaesthetic is £550 to £950. Dermatopathology, when a specimen is sent, is another £280 to £450.

  • When should a chalazion be biopsied?

    Always if the lump is atypical (ulcerated, discoloured, has lost lashes, or has telangiectasia), and always if it is a recurrent same-site chalazion in a patient over 50. Sebaceous cell carcinoma of the eyelid is uncommon but frequently missed because it hides as a benign chalazion for years.

  • Why do I keep getting chalazia?

    Because the underlying meibomian gland dysfunction has not been treated. Blepharitis, rosacea and heavy eye makeup are the usual drivers. Daily warm compresses, lid hygiene, omega-3 supplementation, oral doxycycline for a course, and in-clinic LipiFlow or IPL will reduce recurrence far more than another round of surgery.

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