What is the standard eyelid surgery recovery time?

Typical recovery is as follows:

Pain Level: Mild discomfort. 0-3 days of pain medication; may not require medication
Swelling and bruising: skin removal only: 3-5 days; skin & fat removal: 1-2 weeks
Stitches: if used, removed in 2 -5 days; no bandages
Work: Return after 5 days with makeup; After 2-3 weeks without makeup
Exercise: Wait 2-3 weeks
Sun protection: Six months with SPF 15 or higher
Final result: Seen after 1-2 months

Contact lenses may be worn in 1-2 weeks (glasses can be worn immediately)
Eye makeup can be worn after 7 days

For faster recovery:
• Sleep with your head elevated for the first few days after surgery to minimize swelling
• Place ice compresses on your eyes for 1-3 days
• Avoid activities that dry the eyes (reading, watching television, wearing contacts, and using a computer)
• Avoid excessive blinking, which leads to increased swelling
• Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from wind and sun irritation
• Avoid any activity that increases blood flow to the eyes (bending, lifting, crying and exercise)
• Don't drink alcohol (can cause fluid retention and delay recovery)

Eyelid surgery is a great procedure as it gives patients a youthful
appearance without looking overly done.
The most common eyelid surgery is an upper blepharoplasty. This is where the excess skin of the upper eyelid
is removed to refresh the eyes.

The recovery process for the procedure is typically very straightforward. I typically use a technique for the upper
eyelids that does not require any sutures. This helps make the postoperative
period very easy for patients. Patients
often have very little pain after the procedure.

I typically have patients take a week off work for their
eyelid surgery. Patients do have to take it easy the first week so that they do
not worsen their bruising or cause a problem after their surgery. At one week typically most of the bruising
from an upper blepharoplasty has resolved, if not patients can use cover-up
makeup.

Please consult your board certified plastic surgeon for your
eyelid surgery.

This is an excellent question! Recovery can vary based on patient (skin type, blood thinners, diabetes, etc.) and degree of surgery (skin only blepharoplasty, skin + fat excision, fat reposition, etc.) however generally speaking:
- Around 1-2 weeks of swelling and bruising of the upper and lower lids- I typically ask patients to take about 1 week off of work to avoid heavy lifting and exertion which can make swelling and bruising slower to resolve - The biggest complaint patients have is typically irritation/dry eyes associated with some of the inflammation from surgery. This is treated with artificial tears and antibiotic eye ointment. - You should be able to return to work in 2 weeks, though there is a chance you may still have some mild bruising and swelling. At this point it is okay to put on makeup (if you wear it), though I like to have patients avoid putting directly on the incision line for about 3 weeks.
Hope this helps! Kyle Kimura, MDFacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

The recovery time for eyelid surgery can vary depending on the extent of the procedure, whether additional procedures are done at the same time, and individual healing factors. In general, I recommend taking 2 weeks off of work to be conservative, but most people will be able to return to work and normal activities within 7-10 days. Exercise and strenuous activities should be avoided for about 3 weeks.
It is normal to have bruising and swelling for the first 1-2 weeks, which gradually subsides. While patients are generally pleased with their results at their one-month visit, full healing and final results take several months to a year. Scars will continue to fade over time, and the final outcome of the surgery becomes more apparent as swelling completely resolves.

Most patients only need to take 7 days off work. Your stitches will be removed 4 days after your procedure. This will significantly speed up the recovery time. Swelling and bruising you may have will be virtually gone by day 10. However, I do recommend my patients to stay away from direct sunlight and wear sunglasses for several weeks when they are working outdoors. Best of luck to you.

Any surgery including upper eyelid surgery has a recovery phase that goes through swelling. I think 2 weeks off is more than what standard patients do. Most of my patients, if taking any time off for eyelid surgery, take one week off. and by second week most of them look presentable.