Eyelid Surgery - Recovery Period - What to Expect After the Surgery?

Eyelid surgery necessitates that you give your face and your body the time it needs to heal properly. That means taking time off from work and not rushing back to your normal day-to-day activities. Be patient with yourself and give yourself all of the time you need.

Individuals who have a blepharoplasty can either do so on an outpatient basis or can opt to spend the night in the hospital. The plastic surgeon will assess your situation and will decide what is best for you. Anyone who suffers complications during or following the operation will be required to stay overnight in the hospital in order to be monitored properly by medical staff.

Following eyelid surgery a patient can expect to experience both swelling and redness at the site of the incisions. You may notice that you have a great deal of tearing from your eyes. Some people find that their eyes are the opposite, that they are very dry and/or that the area around the eye is dry.

The doctor can prescribe something for these problems; however using any type of ointment can cause your vision to become temporarily blurred. In fact blurred vision is a frequent side effect of blepharoplasty.

Rest assured that it is a fleeting one and should improve before too long. It is not uncommon for some patients to notice that they are temporarily more sensitive to light at this time. This not something to be too concerned about.

As your recovery period gets underway your eyelids are likely to feel tight and you may experience some soreness. Taking an over-the-counter analgesic should help with this. Be aware that this is a natural aspect of having a cosmetic procedure on this part of your face.

The first couple of days after the eyelid surgery you will need to keep the incisions lubricated with a special ointment. For the swelling you experience you can place cold compresses on your eyes to help reduce it. Eye drops will also need to be administered in order to prevent the eyes from drying out. They need to be well lubricated in order to heal in the proper manner.

During the first week following the surgical procedure you should steer clear of anything that can dry out your eyes. This includes wearing contact lenses, using your computer, reading, watching television etc. Anything that has the potential to dry out your eyes should be avoided!

To minimize bruising and swelling and to encourage healing it is wise to keep your head elevated as much as you can during the first few days after your procedure. Your stitches will be taken out approximately two to seven days after the blepharoplasty. You should not go back to your regular activities until at least 10 to 14 days into your recuperation period.