What is the Usual Follow Up After Having Upper Eyelid Surgery?

Every surgeon has their own protocol for follow up.  In my practice, I see patients very often.  I will see them on Day 1, Day 4 (to remove sutures), and Day 7.  Beyond this, I will see them at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and one year after surgery to assess their progress and take the "after photos."  Since upper eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, can be done under just local anesthesia, the main recovery involves waiting for the bruising and swelling to diminish.  This varies from patient to patient, but usually, it's approximately 7 days or so.

The usual follow up after eyelid surgery is at 6-10 days after surgery and depends, in part, on the type if sutures that are used. Most patients have bruising and swelling for 1-2 weeks, but the swelling may persist for several weeks after surgery. The next visit is usually about a month or six weeks after surgery followed by a few more visits over the next year.

Generally, I like to see a lot of my patients after surgery.  This typically includes a one day, three day and 6 day post op visit.  Sutures are generally removed on the 6 day visit.  After this the follow up schedule will be tailored local versus living out of the area.  Local residents are often seen 1 week later and then 1 months after surgery.  Individuals traveling from out of town are recommended to return 6 to 8 weeks after surgery if feasible.  Many patients return to work during the 7 to 10 day period.  Generally one can resume very light physical activity (walking for 45 minutes the day after surgery with no bending over).  Physical restrictions to return to a more vigorous workout is allowed 21 days after surgery.  Most bruising is gone at 7-10 days if medications and herbal products that thin the blood were carefully avoided for 3 weeks prior to surgery.  Swelling will linger for a longer period of time.  Typically by 14 days, most people will not be aware that you eyes are swollen.  Generally it is about 2 months for most of the swelling to resolve.

The recovery after almost all eyelid surgeries is the same: painless bruised eye for 7-10 days. The patient can see after surgery since no patches involved. The limitations are no heavy lifting or exercising for 7-10 days. The follow up after surgery is one week after the procedure.

I always see my surgical patients the morning after their surgery.  This is to ensure that everything is starting to heal as it should -- and because this is a time to answer any questions since on the day of the surgery itself, the patient is often a little groggy and might not remember answers or instructions.

I use dissolving sutures on the entire lower eyelid, which dissolve in about a week, so no sutures have to be removed from this area, but 6 days out from surgery there are small sutures that have to be removed from the upper eyelid.

Beyond 6 days out from surgery, there is no need for the surgeon to do anything else, but typically the surgeon wants to see you again once all bruising and swelling has gone away (at least one month out -- although most swelling and bruising is gone within a couple of weeks).  Then again at maybe 6 to 12 months out to document the final final result for your records and to see if you're OK with educating others with your before and after photos, which should be TOTALLY your choice.

Normally after surgery, we see patients within a week to ensure they are healing well and remove any non-absorbable sutures.  I then usually see patients back after 6 weeks.