I cannot afford to miss more than 2 weeks of work when recovering from blepharoplasty procedure. Can a plastic surgeon describe the post-op recovery typical for patients?
Answer: Eyelid Surgery Recovery
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)
Helpful 34 people found this helpful
Answer: Eyelid Surgery Recovery
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)
Helpful 34 people found this helpful
October 29, 2018
Answer: Recovery post blepharoplasty Hi there, In general, I advised my patients to be prepared to take 1 to 2 weeks off work for blepharoplasty procedures. Obviously it'll also depend on the magnitude of the procedure, whether it's just an upper or lower blepharoplasty or both. The swelling tend to be worse in the first 3 to 5 days before it starts to subside in the following week where all sutures will be removed by 5 to 7 days post op. The majority of swelling will subside by 3-4 weeks post op time frame. Certain patient profiles, especially for patients with atopic/allergy background could sometimes take longer for the swelling to improve. Patient expectations, comfort and preferences in letting people know they have eyelid procedures depending on the their respective line of work and individual personalities could also have significant impact on how long they want to "hide" before returning to their normal work environment. Hope this helps your preparation in your prospective blepharoplasty procedure. Best wishes Ellis Choy
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October 29, 2018
Answer: Recovery post blepharoplasty Hi there, In general, I advised my patients to be prepared to take 1 to 2 weeks off work for blepharoplasty procedures. Obviously it'll also depend on the magnitude of the procedure, whether it's just an upper or lower blepharoplasty or both. The swelling tend to be worse in the first 3 to 5 days before it starts to subside in the following week where all sutures will be removed by 5 to 7 days post op. The majority of swelling will subside by 3-4 weeks post op time frame. Certain patient profiles, especially for patients with atopic/allergy background could sometimes take longer for the swelling to improve. Patient expectations, comfort and preferences in letting people know they have eyelid procedures depending on the their respective line of work and individual personalities could also have significant impact on how long they want to "hide" before returning to their normal work environment. Hope this helps your preparation in your prospective blepharoplasty procedure. Best wishes Ellis Choy
Helpful
March 13, 2018
Answer: Eyelid Surgery Recovery Thank you for your question. Like any surgery, everyone heals a little differently and the recovery process varies. However, compared to other surgeries, eyelid surgery is generally very well tolerated. If you just have an upper blepharoplasty, some patients are able to be social within a few days. Sutures are removed at day 4-5, so that is one limiting factor but I use a small suture that is hidden under the skin so it's difficult to see. One key to minimizing your bruising and swelling post eyelid surgery is to rest, ice and keep your head elevated. If you're able to dedicate your first 2-3 days to this you will have a much shorter recovery. Some patients feel great and try to get back to their normal routine too fast and that can set things back. So be patient and put in the time upfront to decrease your recovery time. If you have an upper and lower eyelid procedure the recovery process is a little longer. There may be more swelling and bruising so most people need more like 5 days. If you do develop bruising this can take more time to resolve. Using Arnica pre and post op can decrease the severity of the bruising. I also give everyone zofran, which treats nausea. The last thing you want to do it become nausea and throw up. This can be related to the anesthesia or the pain medications. Every surgery has a different approach and recovery protocol. It is important to understand what you need to do postoperatively before surgery so you have a good strategy. Make sure you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon and ask lots of questions.
Helpful
March 13, 2018
Answer: Eyelid Surgery Recovery Thank you for your question. Like any surgery, everyone heals a little differently and the recovery process varies. However, compared to other surgeries, eyelid surgery is generally very well tolerated. If you just have an upper blepharoplasty, some patients are able to be social within a few days. Sutures are removed at day 4-5, so that is one limiting factor but I use a small suture that is hidden under the skin so it's difficult to see. One key to minimizing your bruising and swelling post eyelid surgery is to rest, ice and keep your head elevated. If you're able to dedicate your first 2-3 days to this you will have a much shorter recovery. Some patients feel great and try to get back to their normal routine too fast and that can set things back. So be patient and put in the time upfront to decrease your recovery time. If you have an upper and lower eyelid procedure the recovery process is a little longer. There may be more swelling and bruising so most people need more like 5 days. If you do develop bruising this can take more time to resolve. Using Arnica pre and post op can decrease the severity of the bruising. I also give everyone zofran, which treats nausea. The last thing you want to do it become nausea and throw up. This can be related to the anesthesia or the pain medications. Every surgery has a different approach and recovery protocol. It is important to understand what you need to do postoperatively before surgery so you have a good strategy. Make sure you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon and ask lots of questions.
Helpful
January 9, 2015
Answer: Eyelid Surgery Recovery Time Is Very Patient Dependent The recovery time will vary from patient to patient as well as from doctor to doctor. Clients at my practice benefit by the fact that I do not utilize a scalpel blade for my eyelid surgery (blepharoplasties). I have been using a CO2 laser for over 2 decades. The benefit of this technique is the laser helps to minimize bleeding so patients have faster operating room times and in my hands faster healing. Most patients have minimal " black and blueness" I have my patients ice for only the first 24 hours time. Most of my patients are back to their regular activites in one week.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
January 9, 2015
Answer: Eyelid Surgery Recovery Time Is Very Patient Dependent The recovery time will vary from patient to patient as well as from doctor to doctor. Clients at my practice benefit by the fact that I do not utilize a scalpel blade for my eyelid surgery (blepharoplasties). I have been using a CO2 laser for over 2 decades. The benefit of this technique is the laser helps to minimize bleeding so patients have faster operating room times and in my hands faster healing. Most patients have minimal " black and blueness" I have my patients ice for only the first 24 hours time. Most of my patients are back to their regular activites in one week.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
Answer: Recovery After Blepharoplasty 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
Helpful
Answer: Recovery After Blepharoplasty 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
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March 27, 2024
Answer: Eyelid Surgery Recovery Time 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.
Helpful
March 27, 2024
Answer: Eyelid Surgery Recovery Time 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.
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