Currently using sunscreen, at what point can you go swimming and laying out in the sun after Eyelid Surgery?

Eyelid incisions tend to heal quicker than incisions onother parts of the body. Because of this we are usually able to get stitchesout sooner on the eyes than other places, and we can advance our activitiessooner. Usually by 2-3 weeks after blepharoplasty the skin is sealed and theincisions are healed well enough for swimming. Protection from sun exposure isa slightly different issue. Healing skin is at risk for burning much easierthan normal/uninjured skin and using sunscreen is a good idea as soon asstitches are out, and wearing sunglasses to block the sun is important too.With sunglasses and sunscreen it would probably be safe to “lay out” in the sunat about 1 month postop, but be very consciousness about how the skin isresponding, because if the swollen skin or scars get burned the scars willdarken and not lighten up again. You can feel safe to get normal sun exposureon the scars when all swelling is down and all redness is gone from the incisions(about 6-8 months average). Overall scars do change and improve for 12-18months after a surgery.

This will depend upon what kind of eyelid surgery you had done.  Sun exposure can cause problems to the appearance of your incisions.  This is true for upper eyelid blepharoplasty and a transcutaneous lower eyelid surgery.  Avoiding the sun and sun screen is very helpful while the incision is healing in order to prevent hyperpigmentation.  Transconjunctival lower eyelid blepharoplasty usually has not external incisions so this is not as much of a concern. While it is always good to have sun protection via a zinc or titanium based suscreen, I generally recommend to my patients to avoid direct sun exposure for about 12 weeks after surgery.

The safer period for this kind of activities is a month after the procedure. Usually bleeding is present right after surgery, and those hematomas can be converted in tattoos if you don't avoid sun exposure in the early period.