Your eyelid may be swollen and bruised for 1 to 3 weeks after surgery. The appearance of your eye may continue to get better for 1 to 3 months. Most people feel ready to go out in public and back to work in about 10 to 14 days. This may depend on your job and how you feel about people knowing about 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.
After blepharoplasty surgery, the eyelids will be bruised and swollen for one to three weeks. However, most patients say their eyes look normal and better than before after one to three months. However, people usually feel okay going in public and returning to work after 10 to 14 days.
The appearance of the eyes can be dramatically altered by the removal of excess skin or puffy bags under the eyes. Eyes that are weighed down or crowded by aging skin or puffy bulges may seem smaller or narrower. Once this skin is removed, the eye can appear more open, rounder, and awake.
1-2 Weeks After the Eyelid Surgery
You will still have puffiness and swelling around your eyes. It usually subsides within a period of two weeks. The incisions around the eyes will be pinkish-red in colour. Your eyelids will be numb for several days.
Sleep on your back with your head elevated above your heart for 1 week after surgery. Keeping your head elevated will reduce swelling after surgery. The easiest way to do this is simply with an extra pillow.
By removing excess fat and skin and restructuring the tissues around the eyes, blepharoplasty creates a natural, rejuvenated appearance, erasing five to ten years without changing the shape or overall character of your face.
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.
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.
So, eyelid surgery can help rejuvenate the upper third of your face. It also helps turn back the clock by restoring a youthful appearance. But blepharoplasty cannot alter your eye shape, though it may initially look that way after surgery.
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.
Your eyes may look swollen and bruised after your surgery. The eyelid swelling is usually worse early in the morning and will get better during the day as you sit or walk around. You may also have swelling on your cheeks and jawline. This will start to get better 2 to 3 weeks after your surgery.
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.
Drooping of the lower eyelids can sometimes result after initial blepharoplasty. If the lower lids simply appear to be pulled down, showing more of the white part of the eye below, you may have a condition known as lower eyelid retraction.
Eyelid Lift and Vision
The lubricating ointment your surgeon uses may cause post-procedure blurred vision. Blurred or even double vision is normal during your recovery. You may find your eyes more sensitive to light or wind during this time as well.
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.
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.
Lashes can be pulled out in the office but typically grow back within 6-8 weeks.
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.
One option is using fat injections or filler such as Restylane or Juvederm. Injections are placed in the hollow rim eye area or mid-face. Fat injections are a permanent solution and fillers last from three to nine months.
What Is the Ideal Age for Blepharoplasty? Droopy eyelids appear when you get beyond 30. This is the ideal age for blepharoplasty, though younger people can also go through it. However, most plastic surgeons recommend one to be at least 18 to undergo the procedure.
You can have a blepharoplasty at any time. But if you're seeking one due to aging, you'll usually get the best results after age 40. People who are advanced in age should generally avoid the procedure because of the risks of surgical complications.
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.