Types of upper eyelid surgery

After your upper eyelid surgery

You may be given eyedrops, antibiotics, and medication to help with pain, swelling, and to reduce the risk of infection.

How long does it take to heal?

The short answer is that it takes 1-2 weeks for patients to return to their normal activities post upper blepharoplasty, but do note that recovery takes place in phases, and full healing takes longer. One’s readiness to resume activities such as driving also depends on one’s own level of comfort. Even though patients can typically drive 5-10 days after surgery, we do not advise our patients to drive until they have stopped taking pain medication and no longer have blurry vision.

Slight bruising and swelling at the surgical site are to be expected and will be maximal at 24 to 48 hours after your procedure. These can be managed by cold compress and medication. Much of the bruising and swelling will resolve around two weeks; the final long-term result is usually seen at two months.
External sutures are removed 5 to 7 days after the procedure. Scarring is usually negligible and can be managed with topical treatment if required.
Your surgeon will always strive for absolute perfection and symmetry in one sitting. However, there may be slight asymmetries once the healing is complete. If these are obvious, they can be corrected with a minor procedure.

What is the fastest way of recovery?

The road to recovery may vary for different individuals, but here are some tips to speed up recovery.

Make sure you have plenty of ice packs and clean gauze on hand for continuous use. Ice packs and cold compresses help to reduce swelling and bruising. You may sense some discomfort as a result of your eyelid wounds and feel an urge to rub or scratch your eyes, but please refrain from doing so. Sleeping in the correct position also helps to reduce accidental contact and trauma to the incisions. Thus, we recommend our patients to sleep on their back with heads elevated for at least 1-2 weeks after blepharoplasty.

In addition, below are some things you should avoid post-surgery:

- Avoid taking medication and supplements that are not prescribed by your doctor, as they may make you more susceptible to bleeding.
- Avoid exposure to sunlight, especially during the first 1-2 weeks after blepharoplasty as it can cause irritation and redness to your sensitive eyes. You may want to wear polarized sunglasses and sunscreen to shield your eyes from the sun as you heal.
- Avoid physical exertion and activities that require you to strain your eyes for at least a week. The former increases blood flow to your eyelid wounds and the latter is notorious for causing dry eyes. Instead, make sure that you get lots of sleep and relaxation to attain the best healing results.
- Last but not least, steer clear of smoking and alcohol. In fact, it’s advisable to quit smoking several weeks prior to the surgery. This is because nicotine delays wound healing, impedes scar reduction, increases the risk of infection and can even permanently damage smaller blood vessels. As for alcohol, it can cause dehydration, which increases the risk of swelling.