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Social Downtime After Blepharoplasty?

asked 3 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Chris Thiagarajah, MD
Question viewed 2,864 times
Tags: downtime

If I was to have blepharoplasty done on both eyes, how long would I have to be out of work, and would my skin be black and blue? Thank you

19 answers to Social Downtime After Blepharoplasty?

Blepharoplasty Recovery Time

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... more

Steven H. Williams, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Blepharoplasty requires 5-7 days off of work

I tell my patients not to plan any big social events (weddings, reunions, etc.) for 2 weeks after eyelid surgery. Most patients can go back to work within 5-7 days depending on the type of work. Sutures will be removed around day 5 and most of the bruising and swelling will be resolved by day 7. Each patient is different and these times may vary by a day or two either way. Not taking any medications that can cause bleeding, head elevation, cool compresses and taking it easy can help you... more

Jeff T. Healy, MD
Oahu Island Plastic Surgeon

Take a week off

I recommend surgery on a thursday or friday and take the following week off. If the amount of work is small, fat removal only, than half a week should be enough. However, if you need extensive work a full week off will be necessary so people don't know you had the surgery. There should be swelling but very minimal bruising. All surgeons who perform eyelid surgery know how important hemostais is. The complications of bleeing can be disasterous. Since bruising is due to bleeding most... more

Christopher L. Hess, MD
Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

The downtime after Blepharoplasty is relative

In my experience, this is not a question that is answered by the doctor but rather, by the patient, their mindset, and social/work condition. IF your family and coleagues are in the loop AND you are not doing heavy physical labor you can go back in 36 to 48 hours. Sunglasses and some makeup are your post op regimen.

Barry H. Dolich, MD
Bronx Plastic Surgeon

Need time to be at your best

Most patients are grocery store ready in one week, socially ready in three weeks and photography ready in 3 months. So if there is a special event that you have planned give it some time to be at your best.

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Blepharoplasty healing time

I tell patients that there is a bell curve. Some patients are "back to normal" within days, others take 3-4 weeks. However most patients are back to normal for social events by two weeks. After 1 week patients can use coverup but if it was my mom and she was planning for a major social event, I would say three weeks.

Chris Thiagarajah, MD
Washington DC Oculoplastic Surgeon

Two weeks after is a safe time period for social events

Patients typically have bruising and swelling for upwards of two weeks after a blepharoplasty. Makeup can be applied one week after the surgery, however, two weeks is a safer time period for a social event.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Will depend on bruising and ability to wear sunglasses

On average, about 7-10 days can be expected due to bruising. Shopping with sunglasses on, three days; Dinner engagements, 10-14 days. All this will vary with age and inherent tendency to bruise more or less.

Richard Gentile, MD
Cleveland Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.facialplastics.org

Short recovery period

Blepharoplasty in general has a short down time. The sutures are removed within 5-7 days. Swelling and bruising depends on the patient but in most people last around a week or less. It is not uncommon to go back to work within few days.

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Downtime after Blepharoplasty

Your downtime will depend on which eyelid procedures you end up having done . Most of my upper blepharoplasty patients have their sutures remove after 5 to 7 days and are back to work in a week. Lower blepharoplasty recovery will vary from one to two weeks. Bruising can last one to two weeks, but Arnica Montana has been shown to shorten this period.

Daniel Reichner, MD
Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

Most patients look presentable with make up in 1 week.

Hi! Of course, this is not a guarantee. Don't schedule a critical fuction in one week. And it is not the final result. Most people at a week can look like they didn't have surgery. But if you have a complication (2 to 5% risk), then it could take 2 or 3 weeks.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Depends on Upper or lower

The upper lids fade quicker, usually 7 to 10 days while the lower lids can be black and blue for two to three weeks, and it may linger longer. You may be in the public eye sooner with concealing makeup.

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Gererally we advise that 10 days is the time frame.

Dear Brdlvr Remember that that are several time frames for healing after eyelid surgery. The one we are talking about is when will you be ready for social activities. This means at what point can you go about socially without most people noticing that there is something about your eyes. Generally bruising following eyelid surgery resolved at the one-week time frame but the eyelids are generally quite swollen. After a few more days this begins to settle down. Steroids can speed up this... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Blepharoplasty downtime depends upon many factors

Lower eyelid blepharoplasty can be performed from both the outside (transcutaneous) or inside (trans conjunctival) of the eyelid. 99.9% of the 3000 cases I have performed as an Ocular Plastic Surgeon in Sterling Heights, Michigan have been transconjunctival. The advantage of my technique is: NO stitches; NO skin incision, and NO Scalpel blade. I perform the procedure with the MIXTO laser. This carbon dioxide (CO2) laser allows me to gently remove the fullness ( fat) from the inside of the... more

Mark Berkowitz, MD
Sterling Heights Oculoplastic Surgeon

Two weeks of Blepharoplasty downtime should be safe

I agree with Dr.Khoobehi that skin type is important. Essentially, the duration of your downtime depends on swelling and bruising. The delicacy of your surgery has a major effect on the amount of bruising and swelling that you will have. I have used the laser blepharoplasty for the past 14 years because, in my hands at least, the laser causes much less bleeding, and thus bruising after blepharoplasty. I also have my patiets take Arnica montana, an herb, which anecdotally at least, seems to... more

Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

www.drseckel.com

Always hope for the best and plan for the worst

No one can promise to do surgery without bruising. Although careful surgery will often lead to very minimal bruising and down time, this cannot be guaranteed. If you apply cold compresses religiously, I suggest every hour that you are awake after surgery for about five minutes, that will do you more good than any systemic medication. If you do experience moderate bruising, plan on 7-10 days of recovery. You can perhaps apply some coverup makeup before this to allow you to go out in public.... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Depends on your skin type

Most of my patients are ready to go back to their social activities 2 weeks after the surgery. There are always exceptions . There are medications to help with the recovery. Please do not make your decision baesed on the recovery time. If one doctor states that his patients recover faster than the norm that means that less undermining and less work is done and you will see less of the result. Do your home work and get more than one cosultation . Make sure that your surgeon is board certified... more

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Expect swelling and bruising after Blepharoplasty

You will have swelling and bruising after blepharoplasty. Often, upper eyelid lifts tend to heal a little faster than the lower eyes, but not always. In general, I would recommend to give yourself 10 days before easing back into life. If it is quicker, you will be happy. It may be a bit longer, especially if you are prone to easy bruising. But in general, talk to your blepharoplasty surgeon to learn about his experience.

Frank P. Fechner, MD
Worcester Facial Plastic Surgeon

7 to 10 days social downtime after Blepharoplasty

While every patient is different, most people return to an office job 7 to 10 days later. I had a blepharoplasty on both my upper and lower lids 26 years ago, and went to a party on the 8th day. I did wear glasses and a tiny bit of makeup, but only one person at the party noticed the remaining bruise. At 14 days, I returned to work, and did not tell my future wife what I had done until a few days later. Her response was "I thought your eyes looked brighter, but as I had not seen you for... more