Generally, an upper lid blepharoplasty is a non painful procedure that patients can usually have performed, and enjoy a minimal amount of post-operative pain medicine, because the procedure is very mild. It's almost like a skin excision, and the eyelid itself is not particularly painful.
Eyelid surgery is among the least painful cosmetic procedures. Aside from minimal discomfort on the day, you'll have a quick recovery and see the results swiftly. So the procedure isn't very painful, but you may have other questions.
According to a study published in the Annals of Plastic Surgery, pain tends to peak around 4.4 hours after surgery. Likewise, swelling peaks at 17 hours, blurred vision at 8.7 hours, and bruising at 33.6 hours. The pain is typically mild to moderate and can last for up to seven days.
There may be some swelling and bruising, but most people do not experience much pain. Application of ice packs and elevating your head can help reduce swelling and speed up recovery.
Although the procedure is not major, patients will still need to take some time off from work. Patients who have undergone upper lid surgery will usually be able to go back after 7-10 days. The recovery time is a little longer for lower lid surgery, with time off work increasing to 10-14 days.
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.
Your eyelids will probably look puffy after surgery. The incisions will probably look red, too. The swelling and bruising involved with blepharoplasty recovery tend to resemble a black eye. That is all normal.
Many patients are interested in knowing if they will be put to sleep for blepharoplasty surgery. To keep you comfortable during your procedure, you will be given either local or general anesthesia. Local anesthesia numbs the eyelid and surrounding area, while keeping you sedated but awake during surgery.
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 similar study was previously conducted by Schulz et al. (15), who reported the results of blepharoplasty in 47 patients and identified a surgery success rate of 91.5% in terms of symmetry.
Avoid activities that raise your blood pressure, including bending, lifting and rigorous sports. Keep activities to a minimum for 3-5 days; avoid strenuous activities for 2-3 weeks. Read or watch television after 2-3 days. Return to work in 10-14 days.
For three to four weeks after blepharoplasty, you should avoid lifting, bending and crying, to avoid irritation to your eyes. You should also not exercise or play sport during this time, as this increases blood flow to the area which can impede the healing process.
It is alright to use your operated eye for reading, watching television, and using your computer. This will not hurt your eyes. Eye irritation, scratchiness, or the sensation of an eyelash in the eye is common in the first few days after surgery.
Also, the removal of eyelid surgery stitches is relatively painless. Most patients describe it as a slight pulling or tugging on their eyes. Patients who undergo minor eyelid revisions may receive dissolvable sutures instead.
After surgery, your eyelid may feel tight and sore. Your eye may be watery, dry, sticky, itchy, or sensitive to light. Your vision may be blurry for a few days. Your doctor will give you medicines to help with pain and discomfort.
Does blepharoplasty lower eyebrows? In some cases, yes. A blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) might cause the eyebrows to drop with time. To avoid that, your plastic surgeon can give you a brow lift at the same time as your eyelid surgery to keep your eyebrows in balance and avoid having them droop after some time.
Complications after cosmetic eyelid surgery are uncommon but can include dry eyes, tearing, excess scarring, inability to close the eyes, rounded or sad eyes, eyelid retraction, and other eyelid and facial malpositions.
Lower eyelid retraction is a devastating complication of bad blepharoplasty results in which the lower eyelid is pulled down. Lower lid retraction has primarily been reported in patients who underwent a transcutaneous approach to lower eyelid surgery – when the surgery is done through lower lid skin.
You can drive as soon as you feel comfortable to do so. We do not recommend that you drive the same day of surgery, especially if the operation was performed with sedation or under general anesthesia. Your eyes may feel heavy and tired the first week, so you should not drive long distances.
A blepharoplasty often will enhance the appearance of a patient's eye area, producing a more youthful and rested appearance but is considered major surgery. Before surgery you should think carefully about your specific expectations and communicate your goals to your plastic surgeon. Complications are rare.
I will come into the room and we will go over the surgery and I will mark your upper eyelids with a surgical marking pen. Then you will lie flat in the procedure chair and I will inject a small amount of lidocaine into the upper eyelid skin to make it numb.
Use a Scar-Reducing Cream
After your incisions have healed fully, applying a silicone-based scar cream can improve the appearance of your scars. Your plastic surgeon can advise you on scar creams or tapes to use based on your needs.
A blepharoplasty, commonly known as an eyelift, can enhance and revitalize the appearance of the eyes. Saggy or drooping eyelids can be an age-defining feature, causing you to appear older than you are.