Social Downtime After Blepharoplasty?

Great question.
It depends on whether you're doing just upper lids or considering either lower lids alone or upper and lower lid together.
Upper lid surgery typically has a quicker recover than any surgery involving the lower lids.
In our San Francisco area practice we explain to patients that upper lid blephs are usually done as outpatient surgery meaning patients go home the same day. The first 24 hours cool compresses and head elevation help reduce swelling. Typically some pain medication may be required for the first day or two. We recommend reduced levels of activity for the first week to lower possibility of bleeding complications.
There are sutures that are typically removed day 4-5.
Patients usually are a bit bruised and swollen for about two weeks. The incision line may be slightly red and raised as it heals for the first month.
Socially patients are usually fine to go out and about shopping with sunglasses after the sutures come out.
Most patients can camouflage any residual bruising with light makeup at 10 days.
Lower lid blepharoplasty can involve more swelling and bruising and has a larger occurrence of black eyes. We usually explain to patients that having the lower lids done will add about a week to the recovery milestones (other than the timing of suture removal) listed above.
I hope this helps!

Blepharoplasty recovery varies from patient to patient and depends upon a large number of variables. Most patients feel pretty good in about two to three days following surgery, but their primary concern is when they will look good enough to go out in public. Recovery following blepharoplasty surgery may last for months, but most patients feel they can go out in public in about a weekIt's important to emphasize that recovery periods are variable and depend not only on the patient's wound healing characteristics and the surgical techniques utilized, but also the patient's tolerance for changes that may occur following blepharoplasty surgery.

The recovery time for a blepharoplasty varies from patient to patient and depends a great deal on you, since everyone heals differently.  The most significant swelling and bruising occur in the first few days and then subside fairly rapidly. Typically, patients take off from work anywhere from 3 days to 1 week if they are not concerned about people knowing that they had surgery. Others wait until 10 days to 2 weeks following surgery to return to work. Healing will continue and swelling will further diminish after that time. Cosmetics can help camouflage any bruising or redness that remains. After surgery, wearing sun glasses that block UVA and UVB rays and using sun screen are important.

 

Recovery time after eyelid surgery depends on a number of factors:


A history of bruising easily.

Overall medical status.

Whether surgery is on the upper lids alone, lowers alone, or both.

The surgical approach: Laser resurfacing may prolong the recovery.

Smoking which delays healing.

Blood-thinning medications and supplements should be stopped 8-14 days prior to surgery. This includes prescription medications, low dose aspirin, anti-inflammatories, non-prescription supplements like vitamin E and fish oil. Discuss with your surgeon the medications and supplements that should be stopped and those that need to be continued.

Use of post-operative herbal supplements such as arnica montana and bromelain may promote healing and reduce bruising and swelling.

Following all instructions: iced compresses, head elevation, exercise restrictions.


 

Your specific concerns should be discussed with your plastic surgeon at a consultation.

 

 

Robert Singer, MD  FACS



La Jolla, California