Down time from studying after lower TC blepharoplasty? (photos)

Question

Hi. Thanks to the doctors who advised me previously. I am looking into going ahead with a TC blepharoplasty doing fat removal only. My question now is how long after surgery will I not be able to study or look after my two little kids under 4? I have exams coming up and if I will need more than two days off studying then I better postpone till after that. Also what are the realistic odds of a complication like ectropion after a simple fat removal procedure? Thanks so much for your help.

David W. Rodwell III, MD · Answer

Congratulations on your decision to move forward with a lower bleph.  Based on the photograph you provided you appear to be a wonderful candidate for this procedure and should get a really nice result.You need more time off than you are planning -- see below for more explanation.When I first started doing blepharoplasty I used the "skin-muscle flap" technique that I learned from a very well respected mentor.  Since then I have gravitated toward preferring the transconjunctival blepharoplasty technique that you plan to have.  It is very effective, and in some regards can be a little less invasive than other approaches.The recovery is fairly straightforward.  Your surgeon will have some more specific instructions, but the general guideline about keeping physical activity to a minimum for a week or two is good advice for all patients.Two kids under 4 is a handful.  I speak from experience of someone with young kids at home!  That is too much for you to handle by yourself during the first week after eyelid surgery, but you'll be fine if you have some help with the kids.Studying is a different issue.  You will probably feel like doing nothing for a day or so, but you are not incapacitated after upper or lower eyelid surgery.  You can get back into studying or doing some light work from home within a day or two.  However, one thing that people often forget is that reading or doing computer work puts a lot of strain on the eyes and can really fatigue the eyes after blepharoplasty.  I advise patients to read or use the computer for fun but not to plan to do any serious studying or work on the computer during the first 4-5 days after the procedure.

James Murphy, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Transconjunctival blepharoplasty has a much shorter recovery time than a conventional transcutaneous approach but the first couple of days need to be respected and you must rest with your head elevated and use cold compresses to reduce swelling and the risk of bleeding. You will be able to read a screen within a couple of days but will need help with childcare for 4-5 days until your sutures are removed. Resting early on will, in the long run, speed your recovery up and you should only go ahead with this (or any form of cosmetic surgery) when you have time to recover properly. For more information on how to recover from cosmetic procedures, have a look at my website.

Ira Vidor, MD · Answer

Hi. Transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty is generally a well tolerated procedure. Every patient is unique, and downtime can vary, but generally is about 1-2 weeks. You can expect your vision to be blurry for a week or so. This is mostly due to the post operative antibiotic ointment. Since you should avoid lifting, bending, and straining for a week or two, you will probably need help with you kids as well. The risk of ectropion is low with transconjunctival blepharoplasty. In many cases, a canthopexy or canthoplasty is performed at the same time to further reduce the risk of ectropion. Hope this helps. Good luck with your surgery. Ira Vidor, M.D.

Suzanne Kim Doud Galli, MD, PhD, FACS · Answer

You need about a week of low activity levels while recovering from lower lid blepharoplasty. It is important for you to take it easy and use cool compresses to avoid excessive swelling. You could probably study but you would need someone to assist in child care.

Down time from studying after lower TC blepharoplasty? (photos)

Answers (4)

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