Recovery from upper eyelid surgery?

The recovery after an upper eyelid
surgery is usually about 5-7 days if there is minimal bruising and swelling.

Most people experience some bruising and swelling for about a week. The edema can last longer, but you should be presentable at this point. I like to use a CO2 laser to perform my blepharoplasty. The laser cauterizes at the same time as it cuts, so there is usually less bruising.

Most people are able to return to work and social activities within a week. In most cases, the incision is well hidden within the eyelid crease and is not visible when your eye is open. Properly selected frames will also help camouflage things early on. The biggest limitation would be bruising, if any, that could take up to 10 days to resolve. I hope this information is helpful.Stephen Weber MD, FACS

There is no substitute for a very careful analysis of your situation to determine a clear plan for eyelid surgery. My personal approach involves talking with you about your goals for your eyelid surgery. It is sometimes very helpful to review with you older photographs dating back into high school and college. There is often an age when you think of yourself have peak beauty in which case, the goal of surgery needs to be as much as possible capturing this look. It is critically to get a detailed medication, allergy, medical, surgical, and social history to properly think about your health and welfare associated with eyelids surgery. Detailed photographs are then taken. A detailed examination of the eyes and face is then performed. This starts with a determination of your best corrected visions and measurements of facial symmetry including determining if the eyes project the same amount from the face on each side. It is very helpful to determine if the eyes sit at the same height on each side. I personally like to sketch my patients eyes and eyelids. I feel this forces me to very carefully see the potential issues that are present. Following this I do detailed measurements of the eyes which includes the palpebral fissure height on each side (a measure of how open the eyes are), the margin to crease height, the margin to reflex distance on each side, and a measurement of eyelid ptosis. Levator function is measures and lower eyelid laxity is then assessed. This is followed by a detailed motor and sensory assessment of the eyes, the eyelids, and the face. I assess the pupils and perform a confrontational visual field. Generally I will also perform a microscopic slit lamp examination of the eyelids and the front of the eyes to assess the health of the eyelid margins, conjunctive, cornea, anterior chamber, iris, lens. Intraocular pressure is assessed if you are not being actively followed by an ophthalmologist or there is a family history of glaucoma. I will then do a tear production test and follow this with a nondilated fundoscopic examination. When indicated, I will do some specialize testing to assess upper eyelid ptosis.Now I am in a position to discuss what your best options are for eyelid surgery. This assessment and an appropriately detailed discussion of risks, benefits, alternative, and likelihood of success. Is this level of detailed needed for every eyelid surgery? I personally think so. I think this profoundly increases the chance of the surgeon getting eyelid surgery right the first time. I think you deserve that.Assuming you need an upper blepharoplasty procedure, most people take 10-14 off from work. Often by that time, you are at a place where most people do not notice that you just had eyelid surgery. You might find you are ready to socialize a little before this or perhaps a few days after this. If you are very self conscious, you might not feel that you are really ready for 3 to 4 weeks but honestly that is quite unusual.

Thank you for the question. Recovery from upper eyelid lift surgery is generally very quick. Bruising goes away within a week, and the great majority of the swelling is gone by two weeks. Cold compresses help with this process. After the sutures are removed (usually the fourth or fifth day post-op), some types of eye makeup can be worn to camouflage the area. Best of luck moving forward!

Upper eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) is a relatively common and simple procedure when performed by an experienced facial cosmetic surgeon. This procedure requires a very thin, minimally invasive incision. The procedure can be performed in under an hour (approximately 30 minutes in your case as you are only having one eyelid operated on.) Eyelid lifts do not require very much downtime at all; some patients even return to work the day after. If you do not want anyone to know you've had the surgery, then 2-3 days should be adequate time for you to recover and socialize in public.

Hello 'Clare3343', thanks for your question. If you are overall healthy, not a smoker or diabetic, and not on any blood thinning medications, you should be good to go out in public in 1-2 weeks if it truly is just a 'minor skin excision'. However, if you will be having a more complete blepharoplasty surgery, which usually includes excision of some orbicularis oculi musculature and periorbital fat pads, or have a ptosis repair for a droopy eyelid, expect some bruising and swelling to last at least 2-3wks. If you have any medical issues, that timeframe can be longer for a full recovery. Be sure you see a board-certified plastic surgeon to address your cosmetic eyelid concerns. Good luck!-Dr.92660

is somewhat unusual suggesting you may be having a ptosis repair rather than just some skin trimmed. If it truly is the latter, in the absence of bruising, you should be able to socialize within a week as your scar should be in your lid crease when your eye is open.

This is a difficult question to answer because I do not have enough information. First of all, why one eyelid? Did you have a complete evaluation by an eyelid specialist?Make sure that this is the correct procedure before you have it done.

Since I do most upper eyelid surgeries now by excising skin only, as you describe, down time from social life has shortened to less than a week when the sutures are removed. Oxygenix make up is safe to use on the incision after suture removal on day 5. Bruising is uncommon but can take longer to resolve.