# Can a Dentist Perform Blepharoplasty?

What CFO Resolution 286/2026 allows in Brazil, what to check before eyelid surgery with anyone, and how complications should be handled.

[Dr. Walter Zamarian Jr.](https://www.walterzamarianjr.com/us/walter-zamarian/) · CRM-PR 17.388 · RQE 15.688
Published October 29, 2026

Topics: [Blepharoplasty](https://www.walterzamarianjr.com/us/blog/category/blepharoplasty/)

[Read the article ↓](#leitura)

## At a glance: can a dentist perform blepharoplasty in Brazil?

As of November 2, 2026, Resolution 286/2026 of Brazil’s Federal Council of Dentistry (CFO) included blepharoplasty within the scope of dentists registered as specialists in Orofacial Aesthetic Surgery (CEOF), not every dentist. The rule is being challenged in the Senate and may change. Whatever the outcome, what protects you is checking who operates, their registered specialty, the facility and the plan for complications.

- Current status: a CFO rule for CEOF specialists; a Senate bill seeks to overturn it.

- Credentials: check registration with the professional council, not just course certificates.

- Responsibility: ask who operates and who handles a complication, including at night.

- Facility: anesthesia, monitoring and emergency resources suited to the operation.

- Risks: removing too much skin can prevent the eyes from closing and expose the cornea.

- Emergency: severe pain, worsening vision or increasing swelling need care right away.

My [blepharoplasty](https://www.walterzamarianjr.com/us/face/blepharoplasty/) page explains how I assess and operate on the eyelids. This article answers a question I hear often: can a dentist perform this surgery? Behind it there is usually another one: “How do I know my eyes will be in capable hands?” That second question applies to anyone who operates, and it is the focus of this article.

An eyelid is only a few millimeters thick, but it helps protect your sight. The size of the incision says little about the responsibility of the operation. Over more than 8,000 surgeries in more than 22 years, I have learned to consider appearance and eyelid function together.

## Where the Brazilian rules stood on November 2, 2026

CFO Resolution 285/2026 keeps blepharoplasty off-limits for dentists, except for registered CEOF specialists. CFO Resolution 286, issued on March 20, 2026, includes lower and upper blepharoplasty within that specialty’s scope, with requirements for training, registration and the treatment setting [1]. The Regional Dental Council of Rondônia explains that these procedures do not automatically extend to other dental specialties just because the fields are similar [2].

A legislative decree bill filed in Brazil’s Senate, PDL 177/2026, seeks to overturn CFO Resolutions 283 to 286; on that date, it was still awaiting its initial referral [3]. A pending bill is not an enacted suspension. This can change, so check the current status on the official CFO and Congress pages listed in the references before booking treatment. If you are considering surgery in another country, check that country’s medical and dental regulators.

## What to check before eyelid surgery, whoever performs it

### Training and registered credentials

Start with information you can verify, not photos or follower counts. In Brazil, a doctor presenting as a plastic surgeon should have a medical registration (CRM) and a specialist registration (RQE), which you can look up in the [Federal Council of Medicine’s doctor search](https://portal.cfm.org.br/busca-medicos/) (in Portuguese). For a dentist, check the dental registration (CRO) and the registered specialty in the [CFO’s registry search](https://website.cfo.org.br/consulta-inscritos/) (in Portuguese). A course certificate is not the same as a registered specialist title.

### Who operates and who handles complications

Ask who will perform the whole operation, how much specific eyelid experience they have, and who will see you if something happens at night or on a weekend. Ask where you would go if you needed a hospital or an ophthalmologist. A clear answer before surgery is worth more than a confident presentation.

### Facility and anesthesia

Check whether the facility is licensed and suitable for the planned operation and anesthesia, with monitoring and emergency equipment. CFO Resolution 286 itself requires a monitor and emergency equipment in the settings it describes [1]. The label “office” or “hospital” alone doesn’t answer those questions. I operate on the eyelids in a hospital, under total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA).

### An assessment that goes beyond the skin

When I assess the eyelids, I don’t only look at skin that seems loose. I need to understand brow position, support of the lower eyelid, eye closure and any eye symptoms. A drooping lid may be [eyelid ptosis](https://www.walterzamarianjr.com/us/face/eyelid-ptosis/) rather than excess skin, and ptosis needs to be recognized before surgery [7]. I also ask about previous operations, dry eye, contact lenses and ongoing eye care.

## What can go wrong and how it should be handled

The ASPS lists the risks of eyelid surgery as including difficulty closing the eyes, dry eyes, ectropion, bleeding, infection, the possible need for revision and a temporary or even permanent change in vision [8]. Ask how each of these would be recognized and treated where you plan to have surgery.

### Bleeding behind the eye

Severe pain, decreased vision and progressive swelling may signal bleeding behind the eye and need immediate care [6]. It is an emergency that calls for prompt decompression by the surgical team; with prompt treatment, vision loss can be reversible [4][7].

### Trouble closing the eyes

Lagophthalmos means the eyelids don’t close fully. It can follow excessive skin removal and make dryness worse [4].

### A lower eyelid out of position

Ectropion means the eyelid edge turns outward, most often in the lower lid, leaving the eye’s surface more exposed [5]. Retraction is different: the lid sits lower than usual without necessarily turning out.

### A drooping lid after surgery

Ptosis can become apparent after upper blepharoplasty, so it needs to be assessed beforehand and, when present, built into the plan [7].

Exposure of the cornea, the clear surface at the front of the eye, can damage it and, in serious cases, lead to an ulcer [4][5]. A complication alone does not prove negligence: several factors can contribute, even with appropriate care. What you should expect from the person operating is the preparation to prevent what can be prevented, recognize a problem and treat it or refer you.

A good consultation leaves room for questions and for deciding against surgery. If the explanation stops at “it’s just a little skin” or promises no risk, an important part of the conversation is missing. The article on [how to choose a plastic surgeon](https://www.walterzamarianjr.com/us/blog/how-to-choose-plastic-surgeon-criteria/) covers other criteria.

## Frequently asked questions

Can any dentist perform blepharoplasty in Brazil?

No. As of November 2, 2026, CFO Resolution 286/2026 assigned it to registered specialists in Orofacial Aesthetic Surgery, under specific requirements. The rule is being challenged in the Senate and may change.

How can I check the registration of the person operating?

For doctors in Brazil, look up the CRM and RQE in the Federal Council of Medicine’s doctor search. For dentists, look up the CRO and the registered specialty in the CFO’s registry search.

Does every complication mean the surgeon made a mistake?

No. Complications can happen even with appropriate care. What matters is preventing what can be prevented, recognizing the problem early and treating it or referring you.

I’ve had surgery and can’t close my eyes properly. What should I do?

Get a prompt assessment. If your vision is getting worse, you have severe pain or the swelling keeps increasing, go to an emergency department right away; a question about credentials should not delay care.

## Let’s talk about your eyelids

If you would like to discuss your case, [write to us on WhatsApp](https://www.walterzamarianjr.com/us/contact/): Bruna, my AI assistant, handles the first contact and then puts you in touch with Isanna to arrange a consultation with me. I will assess your eyelids and explain what can be treated, the risks and the limits, including the option of not operating.

## References

- Conselho Federal de Odontologia (Brazilian Federal Council of Dentistry). [Resolução CFO 285/2026](https://sistemas.cfo.org.br/visualizar/atos/RESOLU%C3%87%C3%83O/SEC/2026/285/) and [Resolução CFO 286/2026](https://sistemas.cfo.org.br/visualizar/atos/RESOLU%C3%87%C3%83O/SEC/2026/286/). In Portuguese.

- CRO-RO (Regional Dental Council of Rondônia). [CRO-RO Orienta: entenda as competências de CEOF, HOF e Cirurgia e Traumatologia Bucomaxilofacial](https://cro-ro.org.br/noticias/cro-ro-orienta-entenda-as-competencias-de-ceof-hof-e-cirurgia-e-traumatologia-bucomaxilofacial). In Portuguese.

- Brazilian National Congress. [Projeto de Decreto Legislativo n° 177, de 2026](https://www.congressonacional.leg.br/materias/materias-bicamerais/-/ver/pdl-177-2026). In Portuguese.

- Klapper SR, Patrinely JR. [Management of Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery Complications](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2884833/). Semin Plast Surg. 2007.

- MedlinePlus. [Ectropion](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001007.htm).

- American Academy of Ophthalmology. [Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/upper-eyelid-blepharoplasty).

- Yang P, Ko AC, Kikkawa DO, Korn BS. [Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty: Evaluation, Treatment, and Complication Minimization](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28255290/). Semin Plast Surg. 2017.

- American Society of Plastic Surgeons. [Eyelid Surgery Risks and Safety](https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/eyelid-surgery/safety).

## About the author

I am Dr. Walter Zamarian Jr., a plastic surgeon in Londrina, Brazil. My practice focuses on deep plane facelift surgery with fat grafting. Here I explain my approach, the available evidence, and the limits of each treatment.

CRM-PR 17.388 · RQE 15.688

[Read about my training and practice →](https://www.walterzamarianjr.com/us/walter-zamarian/)

This article provides general information and does not replace an individual medical consultation.

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