Can I drive after lower blepharoplasty? (Local anesthesia).

Unfortunately, even with local anesthesia, you won’t be able to drive yourself home after your eyelid surgery. Not only could your vision be temporarily impaired for a few hours after surgery, but your plastic surgeon may also use a mild sedative along with local anesthesia, which will definitely leave you unable to drive. If this is a concern, consider talking to your plastic surgeon about rescheduling your procedure for a time that would be more convenient to have someone drive you home and even stay with you for the first day or so after your procedure. It’s better to put off your eyelid surgery until you can arrange for a safe way to get home than to put yourself and others at risk. Hope this helps!
 

Dr. E

Local anesthesia is the right way to go for a blepharoplasty, as it's important for your facial plastic surgeon to evaluate the results while the face can move. However, even with local anesthesia, you will be in no condition to drive yourself. You may be sore and sleepy. Your vision will probably be blurry, your eyes will be anesthetized and your eye muscles won't be able to function optimally. If you can't find anyone to drive you, you will need to arrange for a taxi or some other transportation, or just delay the surgery until a friend or family member is available to help you. I hope this helps.

Each surgeon/clinic will have different policies for the types of procedures performed to ensure patient safety and release their own liability.  Moreover, should you drive and be involved in an accident, your automobile insurance would not cover you.  In some hospital and surgery centers, you will NOT be released until a driver verifies that you will be driven to your destination.  Some even go so far as to require the driver to remain in the waiting room during the surgery.Many of my patients pre-arrange for Uber, a vocational or licensed practical nurse, or a taxi to pick them up and ensure that they are safely at home and following their post-op procedures .Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA