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Do I Need Someone to Stay with Me After Eyelid Surgery? I'm 70 and Live Alone.

asked 4 months ago by Ann in Tx in Brownsville, TX
Latest answer by Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS
Question viewed 218 times
Tags: age 65-74, aftercare, eyesight

live a lone and in my 70's and need upper eyelid surgery to improve vision.

17 answers to Do I Need Someone to Stay with Me After Eyelid Surgery? I'm 70 and Live Alone.

Caregiver Required for 24 Hours Following Surgery

Due to the sedation and medication administered to surgery patients, I require all my patients to have a responsible adult with them for at least 24 hours following surgery. Patients find it extremely useful (if not necessary) to have someone else assist them with daily activities such as giving medications and providing transportation to follow-up appointment as they are recovering. If finding someone to take care of you is difficult, ask your surgeon about the availability of after care... more

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Caregiver required for first 24 hours after eyelid surgery

Yes. It is important to have someone with you the first night after a surgery. You cannot drive home after anesthesia for the upper blepharoplasty and in the event you need to get back to the office for any type of surgically related emergencies it is important to have a caretaker.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Post-op aftercare

All plastic surgery patients should have a responsible adult with them for at least 24 hours following surgery. If a patient does not have a caregiver sometimes plastic surgical offices can provide a private-duty type nurse or other caregiver for this critical and important time period.

Joseph O'Connell, MD
Westport Plastic Surgeon

Help after surgery

All patients who undergo cosmetic surgery of any type should really have a responsible adult with them for at least 24 hours after surgery. An alternative is to see if a plastic surgery aftercare facility is avaiable or look for a plastic surgeon like myself who operates in the hospital setting and can just admit you overnight. Regardless of what arrangements you make you will be glad you made them. Best of luck! Dr Kerr

Mahlon Kerr, MD
Austin Plastic Surgeon

Assistance after blepharoplasty surgery

It would be best for you to have someone with you for the first few days. After surgery, your eyes may be swollen and ointment may be placed in the eyes, making it difficult to see. It would be safest to have a little help with your daily activities, to assist you with your medications and to provide the transportation needed to your post operative appointments.

George John Alexander, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Do I Need Someone to Stay with Me After Eyelid Surgery? I'm 70 and Live Alone.

I think that due to the number of medications that can be given during the surgical procedure, it is always best to have someone with you the day of surgery. If you are trying to get up and become dizzy, you might fall and hurt yourself.

Julio Garcia, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

lvcosmeticsurgery.com

Post-op care after blepharoplasty

I only allow patients to leave my office surgical facility with a chaperone either a family member, friend, or nurse, It is always a good idea to have someone with you the first night or two to at ten to your needs.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Home after eyelid surgery

I would definitely suggest having someone stay with you for at least a couple of days after your blepharoplasty in case your eyelids swell and the paid medications may make you a little unstable on your feet.

Jacob Freiman, MD
Miami Beach Plastic Surgeon

Better safe than sorry.

Have patients been able to get away without any help the night of surgery? Yes. Is it a good idea? ABSOLUTELY NOT. You have no doubt heard the saying : You have to prepare for the worst, and hope for the best. The worst case scenario is bleeding around the eyelids/eye with possible loss of vision. Is that scenario something you want to face alone? NO. Don't want to scare you, but this is an elective procedure and safety is paramount.

A.J. Amadi, MD
Seattle Oculoplastic Surgeon

Care after surgery

It sounds like you are asking because you do not have the option of having someone help you. Since the surgery is being done to improve vision the best solution is have the surgery in the hospital and stay they for less than 24 hours so the nurses can help you, show you how to put in the eyedrops and make sure you can care for yourself after leaving the hospital. I hope you realize that this format of posting questions and receiving answers lacks the face to face direct communication... more

Aaron Stone, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Plan on having someone stay with you and assist you during the first 24 hours after surgery

Plan on having someone stay with you and assist you during the first 24 hours after surgery. We make this recommendation to ALL of our patients regardless of age. It can be very challenging to care for your incisions, deal with swelling and handle the lingering effects of sedation and other medications. Plus, having the needed emotional support during the first days or even week after surgery is very helpful. Thank you for your question. Stephen Weber, M.D. Lone Tree Facial... more

Stephen Weber, MD
Lone Tree Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.lonetreefacial.com

Home care after eye surgery.

Thank you for your question. I will join the chorus here and agree with the other plastic surgeons. It is in your best interest to have someone with you for that first night after surgery. Best of luck. Donald M. Brown M.D. F.A.C.S. Board certified American Board of Plastic Surgery Board certified American Board of Otolaryngology

Donald M. Brown, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Not just you, adults having had eyelid surgery should have someone immediately available.

In arranging surgery for a patient, aftercare is a critical component to the overall surgical plan. This is as much true for a 30 year old as it is for an 80 year old. You might be a very capable individual. However, for the first night after eyelid surgery, swelling, ointment needed to lubricate the eye surface, and the slow clearance of any drugs administered at the time of surgery can all contribute to a degree of impairment right after surgery. Having a sitter or... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Care after eyelid surgery

There will be very little controversy in answering your question. Everyone is going to come down on the side of having someone with you. Yes, After it is done and you come back and say I could have done this myself, Does not make it the right thing to do. I'm sure you will work it out with a friend.

Sherwood Baxt, MD
New Jersey Plastic Surgeon

Do I Need Someone to Stay with Me After Eyelid Surgery?

Absolutely! Your age compunded by impaired vision and prescription pain medication puts you at increased risk for falls. Any person having surgery should have an escort for the first 24-48 hours after surgery (depending on the procedure). Any doctor performing this procedure should insist on it.

Jeffrey S. Yager, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

? Need a Caretaker after Upper Eyelid Surgery

I completely agree with my friend Dr. Rand. Surgery should NOT be about what you / your surgeon can get away with but rather with what would be safe and by planning a response for a worse case scenario. Bleeding is a known complication of surgery. But, bleeding is a known complication of all surgical procedures. If you happen to cough / vomit and begin bleeding, you may actually lose your vision. Have a caretaker for a day or so. It is a much safer way to take care of things. Good... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Yes, you need someone after eyelid surgery for 24 hours

Yes, for sure you need someone with you for 24 hours after any cosmetic surgery, including eyelids. What if for some reason you started to bleed, couldn't see to dial the phone for help or maybe fell down?? Be wise and get a friend to be with you for the 24 hour.