Contact Us  |  Locations

How long does it take to recover after Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)?

How long does it take to recover after Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)?

Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Blepharoplasty or eyelid lift surgery involves a significant recovery phase like any other cosmetic surgery procedure. Patients are advised to understand what to expect during the recovery phase including the amount of downtime involved in the procedure.

The surgeon, during the pre-operative consultation, will discuss the recovery phase with you to ensure that you can make a well-considered decision. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Matthias Solomon provides eyelid surgery to patients in Dallas, Frisco, Sherman, Texas, and surrounding locations.

Initial Post-Op Phase

Patients generally undergo blepharoplasty an outpatient procedure. Your surgeon will cover your eyes gently using bandages following the procedure. You may be asked to wait in the recovery area for a few hours until the bandages can be removed. You should get someone responsible to drive you back home and provide aftercare for a few days following your eyelid surgery.

Your surgeon will offer in-depth guidelines regarding post-operative care. They may give you a cold compress and lubricating ointment for mitigating post-operative inflammation and itching. They will also prescribe antibiotics and pain medications for the first few days.

Patients, in the early recovery phase, may experience bruising, inflammation, mild irritation, and dry eyes. Eye drops can go a long way in preventing dry eyes. Most symptoms resolve in a week. However, you may experience mild inflammation persisting for a longer period of time.

First Few Weeks

You should take care to rest your eyes as much as possible during the first week. You should avoid putting strain on your eyes by web surfing, reading, watching TV, or wearing contact lenses. Your surgeon may ask you to keep your head in an elevated position for expediting the healing process.

Sutures are generally removed after the first week. You should be able to resume work and normal chores. It’s astute to wear dark sunglasses in the first 2 to 4 weeks for protecting your eyes from the wind and sun. You should also take frequent naps to rest your eyes.

Make sure to avoid lifting heavy weights, aggressive exercising, and bending in the first few weeks. This will prevent increased blood flow to the eyes. Your surgeon will review your condition before advising on a timeline to resume routine activities.

Recovery Length

It can take several weeks until you recover fully from the eyelid lift plastic surgery. Redness and inflammation will gradually subside. Patients, in general, should be able to resume work in 7 – 10 days. Your eyes will appear more youthful and alert gradually. As long as you follow your surgeon’s post-op care instructions, you should be able to recover quickly and safely.

Aftercare

You should apply ice therapy on the incision area for addressing inflammation and soreness in the first 48 hours. You may be prescribed eye drops if you have dry eyes. You should avoid sun and wind exposure. Your surgeon will ask you to slowly increase activities that may strain the eyes.

Inflammation following the procedure will resolve gradually and it may take several weeks before you can see the outcome entirely. Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Matthias Solomon receives patients from Dallas, Frisco, Sherman, Texas, and nearby areas for eyelid surgery.

Schedule a Consultation with Texas Plastic Surgeon Dr.  Solomon

For more information on Plastic Surgery and Non-Surgical Medical Spa Procedures and Treatments in Offices in Dallas, Frisco, Sherman, Texas and surrounding areas please contact the offices of Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Matthias Solomon by clicking here or calling 214-983-0213.

Serving patients in Dallas, Frisco, Sherman, Highland park, University Park, Preston Hollow, McKinney, Prosper, Allen, Southlake, Denton, Irving, Flower mound, Little Elm, Fort Worth, Texas and surrounding areas.

Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) Procedure Steps

Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) 

Eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty helps in reducing the signs of aging for a more youthful and rested looking upper face. There are several steps to the procedure. The final surgery plan will depend on the surgical technique used by your surgeon for performing the upper and lower eyelid lift.

The surgeon, during the pre-operative consultation will inform you about the procedural steps in detail. This information can help you feel more reassured and confident about getting the procedure done. While the major procedure steps will not change, minor adjustments may have to be made if you plan to undergo your eyelid lift cosmetic surgery in conjunction with another procedure such as brow lift.

Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Matthias Solomon provides eyelid surgery to patients in Dallas, Frisco, Sherman, Texas, and surrounding communities.

Anesthesia

The first step is anesthesia, which can be general or local anesthesia with sedation. For complex or combined procedures, surgeons tend to place patients under general anesthesia. A registered nurse anesthetist or an anesthesiologist will administer the anesthesia to you.

Lower Eyelid Surgery

After placing you under anesthesia, your eyelid surgeon will begin placing small incision in discreet pre-determined sites. Generally, the incisions are placed in the natural folds and creases under the lower eyelashes. The surgeon will remove surplus skin and fat through the incisions before tightening the underlying sagging muscles.

In case you have depressions under the lower eyelids, the surgeon may recommend fat transfer. Incisions will be properly sutured once the plastic surgery procedure is complete.

Upper Eyelid Surgery

Incisions will be placed in the natural upper lid creases. Loose skin will be trimmed through these incisions for reducing sagginess and treating partial vision hindrance concerns. Your surgeon may reposition the underlying muscles in case they are weak or sagging.

Extra skin will be removed by the surgeon before lifting and reattaching the remaining skin. This will be done for creating smoother and youthful looking upper lids. The incisions will be subsequently sealed with fine sutures.

Transconjunctival Eyelid Surgery

In case you don’t need skin tightening and only require fat reduction in the area around your eyelids, your surgeon would perform a transconjunctival blepharoplasty. This is a less invasive procedure and perfect for patients that don’t have severe puffiness in the undereye area.

Once you are placed under anesthesia, your surgeon will make tiny incisions in the lower eyelids for eliminating excess fatty pockets. Transconjunctival blepharoplasty does not involve the removal of surplus skin and fat or tightening of muscles.

Recovery from Eyelid Lift Surgery

Patients can usually return home on the surgery day once the effects of anesthesia have worn off. You would need a week of downtime before you are allowed to return to work or resume normal activities. The cosmetic surgeon will ask you to apply ice packs for reducing bruising and swelling.

Generally, topical creams and pain medications are prescribed in the early recovery phase to provide relief. You should protect the treated site from sun exposure for several weeks after a blepharoplasty procedure. Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Matthias Solomon receives patients from Dallas, Frisco, Sherman, Texas, and nearby areas for eyelid surgery.

Schedule a Consultation with Texas Plastic Surgeon Dr.  Solomon

For more information on Plastic Surgery and Non-Surgical Medical Spa Procedures and Treatments in Offices in Dallas, Frisco, Sherman, Texas and surrounding areas please contact the offices of Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Matthias Solomon by clicking here or calling 214-983-0213.

Serving patients in Dallas, Frisco, Sherman, Highland park, University Park, Preston Hollow, McKinney, Prosper, Allen, Southlake, Denton, Irving, Flower mound, Little Elm, Fort Worth, Texas and surrounding areas.

Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) Preparation

Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) 

Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery is usually performed for effectively treating loose upper lid skin, under eye bags, fine lines, and wrinkles around the eye. The procedure involves the removal of excess skin and fat. You should be well-prepared for your eyelid lift plastic surgery for attaining safe and predictable results.

During the pre-operative consultation, surgeons will offer patients detailed guidelines on preparing for the eyelid lift surgery. Patients that are thoroughly prepared tend to enjoy higher satisfaction rates. They are also more assured in getting the surgery done. These patients usually experience a stress-free recovery and are more resilient and sensible in their approach.

During the pre-operative preparation phase, you should feel free to ask questions from your surgeon about any instructions that you may be unsure of. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Matthias Solomon provides eyelid surgery to patients in Dallas, Frisco, Sherman, Texas, and surrounding locations.

Educating Patients

Various possible blepharoplasty treatment options and techniques will be explained by the surgeon. It is vital that you openly express your concerns and ask questions regarding the eyelid lift cosmetic surgery procedure. You should ask about the surgeon’s background as well. Dedicated surgeons tend to answer all questions in an honest and transparent manner.

Medical and Anatomical Evaluation

Your surgeon will evaluate your past medical records, level of skin laxity, eye structure, skin tone, and other things during the pre-operative consultation. They will also check whether you suffer from any eye infection or not. It is important that you disclose all your underlying health conditions during this period.

Full Disclosure by Patients

Patients should be open about any past eye surgeries, including LASIK. They should also let the surgeon know if they have any underlying eye conditions. They should list out all their prescription and non-prescription drugs. Furthermore, they should be honest about their lifestyle habits and if they drink or smoke.

Care Instructions Before and After Surgery

You will be provided with a set of instructions for your eyelid lift procedure. All working professionals should take at least a week’s leave from the scheduled date of surgery. Non-working patients should plan their social engagements.

You should arrange for a responsible person to drive you back from the surgical venue. You should also arrange for someone to clean, cook, and provide after care for a few days following the plastic surgery.

Avoid Certain Medications and Smoking

Surgeons will ask you to stop taking blood thinning medications, such as NSAIDs and aspirin. They may also ask you to discontinue vitamin E and herbal supplements. If you smoke, the surgeon will ask you to stop smoking for a few weeks before and after the surgical procedure.

Other Practical Arrangements

You should arrange to have someone provide aftercare following the blepharoplasty procedure. You should also complete all your important work-related and home chores in advance for a relaxed and comfortable recovery period. You can prepare a recovery kit in advance including the following things:

  • Antibiotics and prescription medications
  • Gauze bandages
  • Extra pillows
  • Front open and loose-fitting clothing
  • Over the counter medications

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Matthias Solomon receives patients from Dallas, Frisco, Sherman, Texas, and nearby areas for eyelid surgery.

Schedule a Consultation with Texas Plastic Surgeon Dr.  Solomon

For more information on Plastic Surgery and Non-Surgical Medical Spa Procedures and Treatments in Offices in Dallas, Frisco, Sherman, Texas and surrounding areas please contact the offices of Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Matthias Solomon by clicking here or calling 214-983-0213.

Serving patients in Dallas, Frisco, Sherman, Highland park, University Park, Preston Hollow, McKinney, Prosper, Allen, Southlake, Denton, Irving, Flower mound, Little Elm, Fort Worth, Texas and surrounding areas.

ACS
ABPS
ASPS
ABFPRS