It takes 10 – 14 days to recover entirely from upper and lower eyelid surgery. Before opting for lower blepharoplasty, taking steps to recover as efficiently as possible is paramount to ensure a positive experience and avoid complications. Swelling, bruising, and discomfort are inevitable side effects; however, there are ways to minimize them. At your preoperative visit, we will give you instructions for post-surgery care and medication prescription to aid healing. To speed things along quickly, consider these suggestions for the postoperative recovery process.
Follow Post-Operative Care Instructions
Adherence to post-surgery care instructions helps protect surgical sites and promote efficient healing, particularly in swelling reduction. Sleeping with your head elevated on several pillows during recovery helps minimize pressure while increasing blood pressure—both factors that decrease swelling after upper eyelid surgery.
Avoiding strenuous activities and exercise is key to avoiding bleeding at surgical sites. Maintaining a nutritious diet and drinking enough fluids are also beneficial, especially in terms of lowering sodium consumption, which may exacerbate swelling and discomfort.
Apply cold compresses regularly and cleanse your face carefully, taking special care not to get the incision area wet until directed by a medical provider. Following these simple guidelines can speed up your recovery after upper blepharoplasty and help you achieve the results that matter to you.
Apply Cold Compresses Regularly
Swelling is your body’s adaptive response to tissue trauma or injury. Following eyelid surgery, fluids will rush to help heal damaged tissues by sending more of them directly to this region of your upper eyelids, leading to swelling that may be reduced by applying cold compresses regularly.
Cold compresses should be applied every 10-15 minutes or as instructed by your surgeon. Cover ice packs with cloth to reduce excess skin irritation, and don’t get water into any incisions. Sleep, eating healthily, and drinking enough water are essential to healing.
Keep Your Head Elevated While Resting
After surgery, it is vitally important that you rest as much as possible to reduce swelling and bruising around the upper and lower eyelids. Sleep with your head elevated by placing pillows beneath your head if you are sleeping on your back or stacking several pillows if you are sleeping on your side.
As with any surgery, during recovery, you should refrain from strenuous activities and exercises that increase physical exertion; straining can increase blood flow to the eye area, causing swelling and bruising that delays healing and can even lead to complications.
Attend all post-op appointments your surgeon recommends, which will help avoid infection while speeding recovery time. Drinking water without salt can also help decrease fluid retention around the eyes.
Avoid Strenuous Activities & Exercise
As part of your recovery plan, avoid activities that raise your heart rate or push blood into the eye area—this includes contact sports, heavy lifting, and strenuous exercises such as CrossFit. Instead, focus on low-impact cardiovascular workouts such as walking.
As mentioned above, rest is also an integral component of healing. Find ways to relax, such as listening to audiobooks or podcasts, taking naps when necessary, and taking regular rest breaks.
As soon as your body has recovered enough, you may return to regular physical activities such as working out. Take it slow and listen to how your body reacts – any discomfort should be stopped immediately.
Exercise should not continue as doing too much too soon can slow the healing process, leading to complications like bruising and swelling as well as potentially altering the final results of surgery.
Take Prescribed Medications As Directed
Finding time for rest, drinking plenty of water, and taking prescribed ointments as directed is crucial to a speedy recovery from eyelid surgery. Ointments help alleviate inflammation while keeping surgical sites moistened.
Before your procedure, plan for an extra rest by stocking the fridge with healthy foods that are easy to prepare and enlisting friends or family’s help in childcare duties for a week or so.
It may also be wise to inquire about over-the-counter pain medication such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) to manage discomfort during recovery. This will enable a swift return to regular life, as bruising and swelling typically subside within several weeks of surgery.
Maintain Clean & Dry Incisions
Not only should you adhere to your surgeon’s post-op instructions and avoid activities that strain the eyes, but it’s equally essential that the eye area remains clean and dry – washing hands frequently and limiting sun exposure on eyes.
After one week of recovery, swelling and bruising should begin to diminish, enabling patients to resume most daily activities—although strenuous exercises should be avoided until full healing has taken place.
Rest and taking prescribed medications as directed can speed healing and are essential for eyelid surgery recovery. Staying hydrated and eating a nutritious diet are also key aspects of eyelid surgery recovery, helping you speed the process while enjoying its results in the long term.
Use Sunglasses to Protect Your Eyes
After eyelid surgery, patients experience swelling and bruising, which may be treated with prescribed medication to manage discomfort. Within the first week, patients should rest and avoid activities that strain the eyes. By week two, most of the swelling should have subsided, and non-dissolvable stitches will be removed at this time.
Attending follow-up appointments on time is vital to monitoring recovery and avoiding complications. At these appointments, patients will receive instructions regarding post-operative care.
Sleep and a nutritious diet can also play a crucial role in speeding recovery by helping to heal wounds more rapidly, reduce scars, and limit fluid retention that could exacerbate swelling. Furthermore, sunglasses should shield the eyes from sunlight or other external influences that might worsen inflammation.
Conclusion
Recovering from eyelid surgery, which removes excess skin and excess fat, typically takes 10-14 days. Adhering to post-operative care instructions is crucial for efficient healing and minimizing side effects such as swelling, bruising, and discomfort. A healthy diet and adequate hydration can further support the healing process. By following these guidelines, you can ensure a quicker recovery and enjoy the optimal results of your upper or lower blepharoplasty.
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