How Does the Recovery for Eyelid Ptosis Compare to That of Blepharoplasty?

Question

I've had upper and lower blepharoplasty, so I'm somewhat familiar with that recovery period. How does repair of ptosis for one eye only, compare with full blepharoplasty? Seems less invasive. How does the bruising compare? How quickly can people go back to work if they simply don't care if others know that they had a cosmetic procedure? Are there any believable excuses to give if I wanted to go back to work quickly but not reveal the cosmetic aspect?

Mehryar (Ray) Taban, MD, FACS · Answer

Bruising, swelling is usually greater with ptosis surgery than blepharoplasty. Healing overall is also slower. But it all really depends on what technique is used for each.

Houtan Chaboki, MD · Answer

Hi 5321anon,

	While every patient and procedure may vary, the postoperative recovery after upper eyelid ptosis repair is similar for upper blepharoplasty surgery. Patients typically take several days off work, while some take a full week off work. Generally, most bruising and swelling improves within the first two weeks. If the eye appearance during the immediate healing period is not bothersome, then patients can return to work as soon as they want, such as light office work. However, physical activity that increases heart rate or blood pressure should be still limited for two weeks. Follow the recommendations of your eyelid plastic surgeon. Best of luck.

	Dr. Chaboki

Flora Levin, MD, FACS · Answer

The recovery depends on the technique used for ptosis correction - whether its internal or external. The internal approach usually results in less swelling/bruising than external. Most patients return to work 4-7 days after either procedure but it depends on the amount of swelling that one gets and how quickly the eyelid recovers. Ptosis correction is more technically challenging (especially the external approach) than blepharoplasty of the upper eyelids.

Damon B. Chandler, MD · Answer

Ptosis ("toe-sis") is a drooping of the eyelid due to a weakness of the eyelid muscle. Ptosis surgery is very technical and requires great precision to have a natural, beautiful outcome.  It is definitely more challenging and more invasive than a blepharoplasty. That being said, the bruising is generally mild afterwards.  This is one of the most common surgeries I perform and my patients are back functioning fully in just a few days.  Any patient may have bruising that may last up to 2 weeks but the bruises appear under the eyes and in the upper cheeks.  I advise my patients (even men) that they can use cover up makeup over these areas as long as they avoid the incision lines. One possible "excuse" would be to say you had to have a treatment of a "lazy eyelid causing problems." For a further discussion, you need an in-person consultation with a board-certified, fellowship-trained Oculofacial Plastic Surgeon with extensive experience in ptosis repair and eyelid surgery. Please avoid any doctors that do eyelid surgery part time, they cannot help you. I wish you well with your surgery! 
Damon B. Chandler, MD
Harvard-Penn Trained Oculofacial Plastic Surgeon

Mahsa A. Sohrab, MD · Answer

Working on all four eyelids at once as you did for a blepharoplasty can cause significant swelling and bruising, and you will certainly not experience as much after unilateral ptosis repair. However, ptosis surgery itself is more invasive in the sense that it involves isolating the muscle that opens the eyelid whereas blepharoplasty usually involves just skin removal (sometimes fat and/or muscle). Afterwards, you will still have swelling and bruising that typically lasts 1-2 weeks. As far as working, as long as your job is not strenuous (manual labor), you would be okay to resume your normal duties within a few days.

Steven Couch, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello.  In general, secondary eyelid surgery - ptosis or bleph following previous eyelid surgery leads to a slightly longer recovery time than the primary surgery.  It is important to remember that eyelid scarring from previous surgery may cause slightly longer recovery.That being said, primary ptosis surgery, depending on technique has a similar recover to primary blepharoplasty. Internal ptosis repair requires no external incisions and can be performed with swelling that lasts at least 7 days.  In external ptosis repair (levator advancement), the dissection is slightly deeper in the eyelid than blepharoplasty which occasionally can lead to minimally increased recovery time.

J. Timothy Heffernan, MD · Answer

Eyelid Ptosis and Blepharoplasty are very similar procedures in the means of comparable healing time and post op courses. Certainly ptosis for your one eye only will be less trouble some with the aftercare. But in terms of going back to work, I would recommend 2-3 days if you do not mind the bruising.

Edward E. Dickerson, IV, MD · Answer

Typically a brow lift would be considered more invasive than a blepharoplasty. Upper blepharoplasty's are usually short and simple procedures in which a short incision is made and excess skin and/or fat are removed; the procedure typically takes about 30 minutes to an hour and the patient is back to normal daily living within a week. Most brow lifts are considered more invasive because the time it takes to perform the procedure and the recovery/healing time following it are longer than the upper bleph. The procedure takes anywhere from 1-2 hours and the healing time for bruising and edema can take anywhere from 7-14 days. Any residual numbness from the brow lift may take longer to subside.

	"Dr.D"

Jasmine Mohadjer, MD · Answer

It is hard to predict exactly how an individual will heal from a particular surgery.  With blepharoplasty, if fat is removed as well, you are in a similar layer of the eyelid and most patients will have up to 1-2 weeks of mild to moderate bruising and swelling.  Because you have already had a blepharoplasty, there will be more scar tissue to dissect to do your ptosis repair, so you may notice that your healing is a little slower.  All in all, however you won't notice much of a difference in the healing process and there should be minimal pain.    Sometimes it also depends on the surgeon's technique and finesse!

	 

	Good luck!

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

The recovery from ptosis repair should be about the same as wehn you had your eyes done, although this is only being done on the upper lids.

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