The answer is that your recovery will occur is stages. In addition, there is a difference between recovery between upper and lower eyelid surgery because lower eyelid surgery is more involved and requires more than simple skin excision.
For upper eyelid surgery, you will have stitches in for 1 week. I use a subcuticular suture which simply slides out at this time. Bruising is typically minimal and on average there is very little pain. You can apply make up in 10 days.
For lower eyelid surgery, sutures are also removed at 7 days. Bruising is typically mild to moderate, with mild discomfort. Makeup can be applied at 2 weeks.
Patients undergoing revision lower eyelid surgery or those that require more complicated procedures such as tarsal strips will experience a longer recovery.
