Rest and sleep with your head raised on 2 to 3 pillows for 2 weeks or as directed by your surgeon. This will help prevent swelling at your surgical sites. Your eyes may look swollen and bruised after your surgery.
Answer: After eyelid surgery, for the first few days it is ideal to sleep on your back, with your head elevated in order to decrease swelling, however, if you accidentally turn over during the night, and lie on your side, you are very unlikely to have any negative side effects from this.
Because your eye area is sensitive just after surgery, it's important to sleep on your back and stay elevated. Use pillows to stay elevated to at least a 45-degree angle.
We would like for you to sleep upright on your back and avoid turning on your side so that there is no inadvertent trauma during sleeping. Some people use a recliner; others use multiple pillows in bed. You can shower the day after surgery. Clean your incision(s) once daily with peroxide for the first two days.
Post-operative swelling peaks at about 48-72 hours, and then subsides over the next few days. The majority of swelling after eyelid surgery will disappear in the first week, but small amounts may persist for 6 - 12 weeks during which subtle improvements in appearance will continue.
Also, be careful to avoid everyday activities such as lifting heavy items, bending over or lying flat, which can increase blood flow to your eyes or put pressure on your healing lids.
Gentle massage on the eyelid after blepharoplasty will help to reduce scarring. This massage can begin about 7 – 14 days after the surgery. Apply a lotion to the fingers and using just the soft tips of the fingers massage both the scar itself and the surrounding tissues.
A blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) removes the loose skin in the lower eyelid, as well as the bulging fat. A cheek lift then raises the cheek tissue higher, using the same incision as that used for the lower eyelid lift. Not much fat is removed. Instead, cheek tissue is repositioned.
It takes a full 12 months for scars to fully mature, flatten and soften. The following videos are techniques Dr. Kolstad recommends for his patients during the recovery period. He typically recommends massaging the incisions 10-14 days after surgery and continuing them until the scars have softened.
This is a misnomer as a blepharoplasty does not lift the eyelid but removes skin and fat to enhance the upper eyelid appearance. In so doing, the skin removal may make the appearance of the eyelid to brow distance look smaller.
A rare complication after blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) can rob patients of something that most of us take for granted: the ability to fully close the eyes. Unfortunately, this problem, known as lagophthalmos, can make the simplest tasks like sleeping or showering extremely difficult.
While many patients return to work 1 to 2 weeks after blepharoplasty, it may take several weeks for your swelling to subside completely. You should be able to see your final results from cosmetic eyelid surgery in about 4 to 6 weeks following your surgery.
Use cold compresses
On the day of surgery, place an ice pack over the surgical area for about 10 minutes every hour. Starting on the day after surgery, you can reduce the use of ice packs to 3-4 times each day.
After eyelid surgery, it may take about two to three weeks for your vision to return to normal. During the first few days, you may have blurry and double vision caused by eyelid swelling that is usually temporary.
Genteal PM Ointment (preferred) Systane Nighttime Ointment.
Chemosis represents a condition where the conjunctiva swells excessively. The eyes show a gelatinous and almost translucent layer which appears like it could be easily wiped away. It is usually painless, not dangerous and always resolves.
Chloramphenicol ointment: Chloramphenicol ointment is commonly prescribed to most patients following eyelid surgery.
The eyes appear asymmetrical
Having mismatched or asymmetrical eyelids after blepharoplasty is a common mistake that can occur with Eye Lid surgery. It can occur due to the tissues having been over-excited – or simply due to natural changes in the way each eye responded to surgery or to healing processes.
In rare cases, the poor formation of scar tissue from the eyelid surgery may result in problems opening or closing the eyelids. For some patients, this can prevent them from fully closing their eyes. These matters may resolve with time, but they require monitoring to protect the patient's eye health.
It's important for you to avoid sneezing, coughing, and vomiting (throwing up), as much as you can. These can raise your blood pressure and cause bleeding at your surgical sites. Avoid bending at the waist or lifting items heavier than 5 pounds (2.3 kilograms) for 4 to 6 weeks after your surgery.
Walking is one of the best form of exercise after eyelid surgery. Walking in the initial phases of recovery can promote blood circulation, prevent blood clots and lead to a smoother recovery. It will give you a surge of energy as well.
Try to avoid reading, watching TV, or checking your email the week following your blepharoplasty. Instead, give your eyes a chance to rest. Avoid any other activities that can cause your eyes to dry up, too.