Recovery from blepharoplasty varies from patient to patient and depends on multiple factors. We recommend that patients take seven to ten days before returning to work, but many are able to return sooner. Patients often feel good in about four to five days, but don’t feel that they are ready to appear in public because of residual swelling and bruising. Sutures are typically removed in five to seven days.
Recovery from eyelid surgery is related to how quickly eyelid swelling and bruising resolve. There are several things that can be done to minimize both swelling and bruising. In the pre-operative period, avoidance of herbal supplements, aspirin and ibuprofen can decrease the potential for bleeding and subsequent bruising and swelling.
In the post-operative period, avoidance of straining, elevation of the head, and the use of ice can minimize these phenomena.
It’s important to realize that healing goes on for up to a year following surgery, and that there are significant variations from one patient to the next. In the majority of patients, two weeks is adequate for recovery following blepharoplasty.
Going Out After Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty recovery varies from patient to patient and depends upon a large number of variables. Most patients feel pretty good in about two to three days following surgery, but their primary concern is when they will look good enough to go out in public. Recovery following blepharoplasty surgery may last for months, but most patients feel they can go out in public in about a week.
It’s important to emphasize that recovery periods are variable and depend not only on the patient’s wound healing characteristics and the surgical techniques utilized, but also the patient’s tolerance for changes that may occur following blepharoplasty surgery.