Blog

4 March 2019

How is recovery after eyelid surgery?

The aim of blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) may be cosmetic, or it may also be to resolve problems of vision due to excess skin, or to avoid sequelae after reparative or cancer surgery.

The surgery can be performed on the upper and lower eyelids separately or jointly. Joint surgery dos not lengthen the postoperative period, since the recovery time is the same for one eyelid as for all four.

Things to bear in mind regarding recovery after eyelid surgery:

After the surgery, several medical recommendations must be followed:

Take things relatively easily: don’t exert yourself, take exercise or lower your head for too long. These precautions are necessary to avoid bleeding and reduce inflammation.

At night you should sleep on your back and with your head higher than normal. This is to reduce immediate postoperative inflammation and thus obtain faster results.

Follow the ophthalmological treatment prescribed by your doctor during the immediate postoperative period. You must take care of your eyes, both inside and out. Your doctor will explain the situation and give you the prescriptions needed for your particular case. Wear ice goggles or place cold compresses on the area – for example, during the hours of treatment.

Be sure to take the oral medication prescribed. In all probability you will feel next to no pain, but you must keep taking the medication nonetheless.

Your vision will be blurred for the first days, especially because of the application of ointments and eye drops. Take the opportunity to rest!

You should come to the centre for your scheduled appointments, but above all you must call us if you notice anything different or unusual or if you have questions.

During the first two weeks you will not be able to wear makeup, though you can cover your eyes with a sunscreen.

The normal recovery time after this procedure is two weeks, although it can vary from a week to a month. To a large extent it will depend on you – make sure to follow all these indications as well as your doctor’s medical advice.