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Cold vs. Warm Compresses After Blepharoplasty?

asked 1 year ago by Rookshire in Frisco, TX
Latest answer by Julio Garcia, MD
Question viewed 3,019 times
Tags: bruising, cold, hot

I have been advised by my surgeon that after a blepharoplasty to apply cold compresses. I understand this purpose for the first few days but am confused on why he is now recommending using warm compresses. My purpose is to get rid of the swelling and I've been told by a pharmacist cold does this better. I am not concerned about bruising, but can a surgeon please explain the advantage of switching to warm compresses for getting rid of swelling? If I prefer can I still use cold compresses?

18 answers to Cold vs. Warm Compresses After Blepharoplasty?

Heat or cold?

Hi, I too recommend cool ice compresses for the first 1-2 days and then the patients can stop, continue, or switch to warm if they like. I like warm wet wash cloths because it cleans up some of the matter and "scabby" look to the incisions as well as the redundant, caked on antibiotic ointment. However, I tell my patients that after the 1st day or 2 of ice, I want them to do what is most soothing. Ultimately, none of it affects the end result and the healing... more

Jasmine Mohadjer, MD
Clearwater Oculoplastic Surgeon

Not a well studied subject.

Dear Rookshire First the use of cold and warm compresses have much more to do with surgical tradition than evidence base medicine. We as surgeons recommend these physical treatments not because we have a large body of scientific evidence demonstrating their effectiveness but rather, we recommend them because that is the way we were taught. You can see that there is a general consensus that early on, cool compresses are used then later warm compresses. Do cool or... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Hot or Cold Compresses

Cold and hot compresses are both useful after eye surgery, but for very different reasons. Cold gel packs are used to: Reduce/limit swelling Relieve discomfort Warm compresses can be used to: Reduce bruising Soften early scar tissue For the first week, I recommend Cold gel packs. After the first week, moist Warm compresses can be used to speed the resolution of bruising. Some patients have used warmed Black Tea bags, as this also has an... more

Andrew Winkler, MD
Lone Tree Facial Plastic Surgeon

Compresses After Eyelid Surgery- Cold vs. Warm

Swelling and bruising are normal after surgery, but can be minimized by good surgical technique and control of pain and blood pressure. I do not like cold or hot compresses, as they can burn the delicate skin, but instead have my patients use a cool soak (washcloth soaked in a bowl of ice cubes and water) and warm soak, washcloth placed under warm faucet. Cool soaks reduce early swelling and pain by constricting blood vessels and reducing blood and fluid leakage. They also help to reduce... more

Karen Vaniver, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Cold compresses after surgery

Cold compresses in the first 48 hours are helpful in reducing swelling and discomfort. Beyond that period the nature of compresses probably make little to no difference to you recovery. Warm compresses can sometimes be useful in breaking clots, but highly doubtful if it actually makes any difference. So, don't stress too much over the compresses.

A. John Vartanian, MD
Glendale Facial Plastic Surgeon

Compresses after Eyelid Surgery

Eyelids have a very good blood supply. For that reason they heal very well. However they also bruise and swell very easily. Cold compresses constricts blood vessels . That reduces bruising and acute (sudden) swelling. I suggest that my patients use cold compresses for the first 3-4 days. Warm compresses dilate the blood vessels and help you body do what it needs to to break down the bruise and carry away long term swelling. So that is... more

Marc Cohen, MD
Philadelphia Oculoplastic Surgeon

Hot or cold compresses

I use cold compresses for the first 24 hours to minimize the chances of swelling and bruising. After 24 hours we start alternating warm and cold. The warm is to bring blood supply to the area and in the event there is any blood clotted underneath the tissues, that helps soften it so the body can absorb it. We then massage the area lightly for a few minutes, and then we follow with ice to reduce any discomfort we just might have created. Essentially treating it like a pulled muscle on... more

Julio Garcia, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

lvcosmeticsurgery.com

Cold compresses

Cold compresses are recommended for the first 48hrs about every 20 minutes. I recommend frozen bags of peas to my patients. There light weight and contour to your face.

Thomas T. Nguyen, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Cold compresses after eyelid surgery

We have patient place cold on the eyes for the first few days. It brings the swelling down and the subsequent pain away. We also have them sleep with their head elevated, (la z boy recliner is great) for the first week. This increases venous drainage and again decreases swelling. As far as warm compresses days after surgery goes, we do not do them, but some plastic surgeons do. Not a lot of good literature either way.

Jeffrey Roth, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Cold Compress after Eyelid Surgery

Most plastic surgeons will advice ice packs or cold compress the first few days after cosmetic surgery, such as eyelid surgery or facelift. The cold compresses help reduce bruising and swelling. After the first few days, cold packs aren't really as effective. Most importantly is to follow the care instructions of your plastic surgeon. Best of luck. Dr. Chaboki

Houtan Chaboki, MD
Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.potomacplasticsurgery.com

First cold compresses after blepharoplasty. Switch to warm later.

The philosophy of cold compresses is to cause blood vessels to contract and limit the bleeding, bruising and the capillary ooze after surgery. But after 5 days or so, you are not swelling. You are resolving swelling. You need those same vessels to dilate and carry more blood to the area to help resolve swelling in the area.

Ritu Chopra, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Blepharoplasty and cold versus warm compresses

In my practice I advise my patients to use cold compresses to reduce bruising and swelling. I give my patients a basin and eye pads which they soak in ice water and place over the eyes to help reduce swelling. This is most helpful during the first 48 hours after surgery. I also recommend sleeping elevated with two to three pillows behind your back and avoid a high sodium diet to decrease swelling. If bruising persists I would recommend arnica gel and tablets. I would not recommend warm... more

Michael Elam, MD
Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon

Cold or warm compresses after blepharoplasty?

Our goal is to reduce swelling and bruising after surgery. Therefore I advise patients to use cold compresses (a bag of frozen peas works well!) for 2 to 3 days after surgery. Of course it's also a good idea to avoid anything that brings the blood rushing to your face: bending, lifting and straining. After the first 2 or 3 days you can do whatever feels good: warm, cold or nothing at all. Good luck!

Eric Pugash, MD
Vancouver Plastic Surgeon

Cold compresses first

I advise my patients to use cold compresses for the first 48 hours after a blepharoplasty. After that the use of any compresses is optional, and more for patient comfort, since they probably don't effect the final outcome. Of equal importance is to keep your head elevated well above heart level for the first 3-5 days.

Paul W. Loewenstein, MD
Milwaukee Plastic Surgeon

COLD OR WARM COMPESSES AFTER PLASTIC SURGERY AND WHY

Use whatever gives you maximumcomfort. Seek information from your surgeon. The idea is that initially cold is better to reduce swelling etc. After a few days warm compresses increase blood supply and help healing and get rid of bruising. I tell my patient cold for first 3 days and then warm for 5 minutes and cold for 5 minutes 5 x a day. I feel this works best. Remember after the first few days you ability to influence the swelling is... more

George Commons, MD
Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon

Cold compresses

I usually recommend cold compresses after a blepharoplasty for the first 24-48 hours depending upon the patient's tolerance. I do not use heat.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Cold vs warm compresses after surgery

We recommend cold compresses for the first 48 hours every 10-15 minutes and after that warm compresses. Intially, cold reduces swelling and bruising by constriction of small blood vessels. Once that is accomplished, then warm compresses helps with reduction of bruising. Most important part is the the cold apllication.

Mohsen Tavoussi, MD, DO
Huntington Beach Facial Plastic Surgeon

When to apply cold and warm after surgery

Cold application is good for the first 48 hours to minimize bruising and swelling. Cold will cause contstriction of the vessels to achieve this. After 48 _ 72 hours warm compress will increase the circulation to the area and may speed up the healing process but is not as effective as the cold application.