Eyelid surgery is considered one of the least painful cosmetic procedures, and upper blepharoplasty is no exception. Patients typically experience minimum discomfort, or only a slight stinging during the injection of the local anaesthetic solution.
The pain usually starts once the effects of the local anaesthesia have worn off but is generally well-controlled with oral painkillers and lasts for 2 to 3 days.
You may be given eyedrops, antibiotics, and medication to help with pain, swelling, and to reduce the risk of infection.
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.
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.
Polaris chooses modern and advanced technologies when performing aesthetic procedures. Our surgeon is skilled in many upper eyelid surgical procedures and will advise you on which procedure best suits your needs. We understand that a myriad of factors may cause droopy eyelids and can even become a hindrance to daily activities. Thus, while ensuring surgical precision, we strive to take a compassionate, patient-centred approach to help our patients restore their confidence in a safe and non-judgmental environment. Having doubts about what kind of procedure to pursue? Consult us today!
Uneven eyelids can be addressed through minimally invasive or surgical methods. You would need an assessment as to the cause and severity to see which method would be most appropriate for you.
Double eyelid surgery is commonly performed under local anaesthesia (LA), as it better allows intraoperative assessment if you are awake. LA involves using a small needle to instil gentle local anaesthesia to the upper eyelids and can be painful for a few seconds at the time of injection. After this and during the surgery, you will be very comfortable. After the anaesthesia wears off (usually a few hours after surgery), oral painkillers usually control the pain very well.
The upper eyelid is made up of delicate structures including very thin skin. Additionally, in East Asians the attachment from the levator muscle to the skin forming the upper eyelid crease may not be very strong. Hidden double eyelids usually occur when there is excess swelling of the upper eyelid, which can occur in the morning after waking up, poor sleep, crying, or other factors such as trauma.
Yes, it can. The vertical aperture of your eye can be altered by tailoring the pull of the muscle on the upper lid margin, whilst epicanthoplasties can increase the horizontal dimensions of the eye, making the eyes appear longer.
If done well, upper eyelid surgery results last for many years. However, it does not reverse the normal effects of ageing, which may need to be addressed at a later stage.
Triple eyelids are caused by excess upper eyelid skin and/or levator mechanism dehiscence. Both can be addressed through upper blepharoplasty.
If performed for medical reasons such as functional ptosis or reconstructive purposes, eyelid surgery can be covered by insurance. There are strict criteria that need to be met, and your plastic surgeon will assess you and discuss the possibility of using insurance with you.
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