How long before I can workout after Eyelid Surgery?

2-3 weeks is a good length of time to refrain from heavy physical activity.  A few days after eyelid surgery, you could walk and do light exercise.

I usually have pts wait a least 2 weeks after surgery. I do not want them to raise their blood pressure so high they blow off the small clots on the healing blood vessels and cause swelling, possible hematoma, and slow down healing. All surgeons will probably have different opinions, but why risk it?

My patients would be permitted to engage in limited athletic activity one week after blepharoplasty. You should follow the advice of your own surgeon however.

I think the oculoplastic surgeon had a brain fart when they said this.  I do allow my patients two walk within a day after most eyelid surgeries provide they do not break a sweat (under 3 miles per hour).  It is certainly possible to over do things.  The surgery is a big investment and you want everything to heal right the first time.

It is safer to wait for 2-3 weeks. walking and light activities could be done after few days in general. 

is safe after a week in my opinion if you avoid straining, bouncy, or strenuous activities.  Toning exercises or ellipticals or stationary bicycles would fit this restriction.  But you should always get this cleared with your surgeon since your surgeon will be 'fixing' anything should something unexpectedly occur.

I recommend that patients do not work out for two weeks after eyelid surgery.  It is not worth the risk of a post-operative hemorrhage. 

In our practice, we recommend patients not to exercise for 2 weeks after the procedure to avoid injuring the eyelid, opening the incision, or excess swelling as a result of exercise. For many examples, please see link below.

For cases that go well and not much bleeding, I advise patients to wait until the sutures have been removed.  Generally I remove sutures at about 7 days.  If a patients had bled more than average then I will recommend waiting at least 10 days before working out.  For patients that take NSAIDS (e.g., Motrin) or Aspirin I would definitely wait at least 10 days.  Years ago I had a patient that worked out at about  5-6 days after surgery on a treadmill and felt good so kept pushing harder and then developed a bleed that required drainage and delayed healing by several weeks.  It is rare, but bleeds have been reported to occur up to 10 days after surgery.  Best to be cautious.  Best regards.

Good question and every surgeon has his recommendations. I generally tell patients to hold off on heavy workouts for 2 weeks and light one week.

Dr. Corbin