Eyelid Surgery
Recovering from Eyelid Surgery in New York
How long before I'm back to normal?
You should be able to read or watch television comfortably after 2-3 days.
Contact lenses should be avoided for 2-3 weeks, and even then may feel
uncomfortable for a while. It is advisable to plan on taking it easy for
the first week after surgery. During this time get plenty of rest and allow
your body to spend its energy on healing.
You should be able to go back to work by 7-10 days. Bruising can be masked
with light makeup. You may be sensitive to sunlight, wind and other irritants
for several weeks, so you should wear sunglasses and a sun block when you
go out. It is especially important to avoid activities that raise your
blood pressure, including vigorous sport, bending or lifting.
What happens After the Surgery?
Following surgery you will have cool compresses applied to the eye region and be carefully observed for the first 3 to 4 hours, to ensure that no bleeding occurs which may spoil the final result of your surgery. The upper eyelid suture consists of a single very fine line beneath the skin surface. With the lower eyelids there are 3-4 fine individual sutures held in place with a small strip of tape. In both cases sutures are usually removed at around 3 days. In the transconjuctival technique mentioned above there are no sutures in place. You should expect the application of an antiseptic eye ointment postoperatively. This may blur your vision initially but this soon clears. A large pair of sunglasses helps to hide the effects of surgery. After your discharge please read and follow the postoperative instructions carefully.
What kind of after effects should I expect?
Following surgery you will experience swelling and bruising around the eyes to varying degrees.There is frequently slight leakage of blood from the incisions, and your eyes may be gummy for a week or so, all of which can add up to a disturbing postoperative picture. The eyelids should be gently splashed with water and not rubbed in any way. The majority of the swelling usually subsides after the first 10 days postoperatively. Bruising however may persist for a longer period, even up to one month. Elevation of the head, avoidance of any stooping and the use of cold compresses reduce the swelling and bruising.
What are the Scars like?
Scars will form as a result of the surgery. Overall, blepharoplasty scars heal relatively well. However variations in the healing process do occur from individual to individual. The scars along side the eyelashes almost always heal with a near invisible line after several months have passed. Those extending out into the crow's feet area can become a little reddened and lumpy requiring perhaps a little longer to settle completely. Massage of these scars speeds up the maturation process and is recommended in all cases.
Is it painful?
Your eyelids will probably feel tight and sore as the anesthetic wears off and it is normal for this to continue for a few days afterwards. Mild painkillers control this. A number of patients may experience a feeling of numbness in the eyelid region. This is to be expected and normal sensation usually returns quite quickly in a matter of weeks. However, rarely, this may be delayed and may take a few months.