After blepharoplasty, we recommend that you sleep on your back with your head elevated for at least 3-4 weeks. This helps reduce eyelid swelling and speeds up recovery.
For the first 72 hours, sleep with your head in an elevated position, either in a recliner with your head elevated or sleeping on 2-3 pillows. No lifting or bending over.
Rest and sleep with your head raised on 2 to 3 pillows for 2 weeks or as directed by your surgeon. This will help prevent swelling at your surgical sites. Your eyes may look swollen and bruised after your surgery.
How long should I ice after blepharoplasty? Especially for the first 48 hours after surgery, you should ice as much as possible while you're awake. Doing so will help ease discomfort and bring down your swelling. The rule of thumb is to ice for 20 minutes, and then take a ten minute break.
Avoid activities that raise your blood pressure, including bending, lifting and rigorous sports. Keep activities to a minimum for 3-5 days; avoid strenuous activities for 2-3 weeks. Read or watch television after 2-3 days. Return to work in 10-14 days.
Physical Exercise after Eyelid Surgery – Blepharoplasty
Walking is one of the best form of exercise after eyelid surgery. Walking in the initial phases of recovery can promote blood circulation, prevent blood clots and lead to a smoother recovery. It will give you a surge of energy as well.
After each cleaning please apply the ophthalmic (eye) antibiotic ointment (that you receive in recovery room after surgery) to the upper and lower eye lid incisions to help soften crusts for 6 days.
Swelling typically appears shortly after surgery, peaks two to four days after the procedure, and then slowly subsides over the next few days. Some residual swelling may remain for several weeks, but this is typically minor and shouldn't interfere greatly with social commitments.
Reduce caffeine and carbonated drink intake in the first few days. You should abstain from alcohol during the first week following surgery.
Your eyelid may be swollen and bruised for 1 to 3 weeks after surgery. The appearance of your eye may continue to get better for 1 to 3 months. Most people feel ready to go out in public and back to work in about 10 to 14 days.
Don't rub your eyes or attempt to go swimming, work out vigorously or lift heavy objects. Keep your eyes covered from the sun and wind with dark, protective sunglasses. Do not attempt to wear contact lenses for the first few weeks after your surgery. Your doctor will tell you when it is okay.
The skin incisions should be washed with soap and water three times per day starting the day after surgery. This should be done very gently and pat dry (do not wipe). After drying, the incisions should be cleaned with a 50% solution of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide and a Q-tip.
Rubbing your eye or even water splashing in your eye can aggravate the chances of infection. You may also want to avoid sleeping on the side of the operated eye for the first 24 hours.
While these scars heal to an almost unnoticeable form, the incisions can take up to a year to heal, although most cases are at their worst around six weeks. Eyelid position can be affected by the bruising and swelling that occurs, but this usually corrects itself within six weeks or so.
Full blepharoplasty recovery time typically takes about 3 months but you can expect to get back to your normal routine after 2-3 weeks of healing. Below, check out a general guide on what you should expect for your overall timeframe.
Answer: Post bleperoplasty swelling
Post surgical swelling of the eyelids always cause the eyes to appear more closed in the early post op phase. As the swelling subsides, they return to a more pleasing and youthful appearance.
Your eyelids will probably look puffy after surgery. The incisions will probably look red, too. The swelling and bruising involved with blepharoplasty recovery tend to resemble a black eye. That is all normal.
Asymmetry, the eyes look different, or heal differently.
The eyes may look or feel quite different from one another in the days following surgery. This is normal; no two eyes in nature or following surgery are perfectly symmetrical.
3-7 days after: Eyes can begin being washed gently with water and soap.
Insert eye ointment (if prescribed) as follows: For older children and adults, pull the lower eyelid down with one or two fingers to create a pouch. Put the ointment in the pouch. Close the eye for 30 to 60 seconds to let the ointment absorb.
It's not unusual for patients to develop dry, burning, itching eyes following blepharoplasty surgery. In most cases, this problem resolves in 2 to 3 weeks, but in rare cases may persist for longer periods of time.
Since the eyes swell following eyelid surgery, the ability for a patient to blink is affected. Consequently, the cornea is not covered adequately by the tear film, which causes a dry feeling. In some cases, the procedure alters the composition of the tear film, leading to dry eyes.
For three to four weeks after blepharoplasty, you should avoid lifting, bending and crying, to avoid irritation to your eyes. You should also not exercise or play sport during this time, as this increases blood flow to the area which can impede the healing process.
You should begin gentle massage to the eyelids one week after surgery. This will help smooth any irregularities and areas of firmness. You may apply lotion to your hand to massage and/or you may use a vibrating massager.