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)

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.

I would say for the vast majority of patients, the bulk of the bruising and swelling goes away within 2 weeks and therefore it would be rare that I would recommend a patient take more than 2 weeks off work. If you have a desk job, you probably would be able to back in 5-7 days with the understanding that you would still have some bruising and swelling but that could probably manage to cover up with a little concealer. If your job requires heavy lifting (police officer, firefighter, nurse, etc.), then I would recommend taking a full 2 weeks off work.
Now that being said, some patients heal more slowly than this and some much quicker. If you are over the age of 65, are a diabetic, smoker, have hypothyroid or take medications that slow your metabolism, it may take longer for you to heal, so plan for it. This is just for the bulk of the bruising and swelling.
In terms of incision lines, sensation of your eyelids to touch and overall final results, I would say wait 3-6 months at least. The reason is that scars continue to mature, sensation of the skin to fine touch and overall healing continue up to a year after surgery. After one year, most people are probably as healed as they are going to be. Which always brings up the next question, what can I do if I'm not happy with my eyelid surgery? The short answer is wait at least 6-12 months before seeing a second opinion. As an oculoplastic surgeon I do a lot of revisional surgery from patients who have had surgery elsewhere. I would say more patients do get better with time, but if you are entirely happy wait at least 6 months before considering a second operation