Eyelid Lift Recovery
Conveniently located to serve New York City
Just about all cosmetic procedures involve a period of recovery in which incisions heal, swelling and bruising subside, and your final results take shape. Blepharoplasty is no exception. For a short period of time following eyelid surgery, you will have to rest and take the downtime necessary to heal successfully. If you are interested in learning more about what you can expect from blepharoplasty, please call Manhattan Surgical Care at 212-308-1566.
Healing after Blepharoplasty
Your stitches will be removed after about 3 to 5 days, depending on how the incisions are healing. You'll probably have some bruising and swelling around your eyes for the first several days. Most of our patients return to work anywhere from a week to 2 weeks after eyelid surgery, once bruising and swelling has improved. During this healing phase, it's typically normal to experience:
- Irritation
- Dry eyes
- Blurry vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Discomfort
Dr. Pakeman will let you know how to alleviate these side effects. A cold compress and elevation of your head while you rest can reduce swelling and bruising. You and Dr. Pakeman can discuss if any prescription or over-the-counter medications will be appropriate for reducing discomfort. Dr. Pakeman may also recommend eye drops for irritation, redness and dryness.
During the first week to 2 weeks after blepharoplasty, you should:
- Protect your eyelid area from sun exposure by wearing sunglasses outside
- Sleep with your head elevated
- Avoid straining, bending and heavy lifting
After 2 weeks or possibly earlier, your eyelids should be healed enough for you to resume all of your normal activities.
Your Long-Term Blepharoplasty Results
Most patients feel their eyes are completely healed after about 2 to 4 weeks, although you may experience a shorter or longer healing period. Complete recovery can take several months to a year, although you probably won't notice the subtle changes taking place during this last phase of healing because all of the obvious swelling and bruising will be gone.
Your results from blepharoplasty should be long lasting. You may experience a recurrence of sagging eyelids over the years, due to the normal aging process. For the most part, your eyes will look permanently younger than they would have if eyelid surgery had not been performed.
If you live in or around and want to know if you are a good blepharoplasty candidate and what you can expect from the procedure, please Contact Manhattan Surgical Care to schedule a consultation with experienced cosmetic surgeon Dr. Basil Pakeman, MD, FRCS. Dr. Pakeman is committed to answering all of your eyelid surgery questions.