What should I expect after my eyelid surgery?
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Johns Hopkins Medicine answered:There are general guidelines about what you can expect after eyelid surgery. Your own situation may be different, and you are encouraged to ask your doctor if you have any questions before or after the surgery. Generally, this is what happens:
- Immediately after the surgery is over, your doctor may apply tiny sterile bandages. This is not done for eyelid surgery performed from inside the lower eyelid, which is called transconjunctival blepharoplasty.
- You will not have to cover your eyes. However, your doctor will give you an ointment to prevent dryness of your eyes.<//li>
- You will have some swelling and bruising. Cold compresses, as well as head elevation when lying down, will enhance healing and relieve your discomfort. Your doctor will prescribe medication for discomfort.
- For a week and a half following eyelid surgery, you will clean the eye area (the eyes may feel sticky, dry, and itchy). Your doctor may recommend eye drops.
- Your doctor will also list activities and environments to avoid in the weeks immediately following surgery. Permanent stitches will be removed in three to five days after surgery. Self-absorbing stitches will dissolve on their own.
- Follow-up care is very important so that your doctor can monitor your healing. If you notice anything worrisome, or if you are not sure about your healing and have questions, contact your doctor immediately. Be sure to keep all of your follow-up appointments.
There are general guidelines about what you can expect after eyelid surgery. Your own situation may be different, and you are encouraged to ask your doctor if you have any questions before or after the surgery. Generally, this is what happens:... More -
Dr. Stuart Linder answered:After blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery one should expect significant swelling and mild pain. Recommendations include: ice compresses (cold), head of bed elevation, no lifting or straining for 2-3 weeks, steroid taper (physician dependent), and pain management.After blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery one should expect significant swelling and mild pain. Recommendations include: ice compresses (cold), head of bed elevation, no lifting or straining for 2-3 weeks, steroid taper (physician dependent), and pain... More -
Dr. Arthur Perry answered:After blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), the patient is watched for two hours in the recovery room. Her vision is checked repeatedly since the majority of bleeding complications and sudden blindness occur during this early period. For this reason, patients are kept tranquil with the head above the level of the heart. After this interval, the patient can be driven home. Ice packs help control swelling and bruising. Since bleeding can occur as late as three weeks following surgery, I recommend elevation of the head and not sleeping on the eyelids during that period.
Oozing normally occurs during the first 24 hours following surgery. You'll have enough bruising to look as if you went nine rounds in a prizefight. The bruising and swelling peak between 24 and 48 hours and then rapidly settle down.
You will be seen one or two days after surgery. During this visit, the lids are cleaned with hydrogen peroxide, and ophthalmic-grade antibiotic ointment is placed on the incisions. Often you will be given a thick night ointment to protect your eyes until they can fully close. When I perform a canthopexy, I give the patient steroid eye drops to keep swelling to a minimum. Sometimes temporary stitches are placed between the outer portion of the upper and lower eyelids for a few days to control swelling.
By 10 days, most of the swelling and bruising has settled down and you can go back to work. If it is critical that no one know about the surgery, you might want to wait a full two weeks before returning to the public eye.
Find out more about this book: Straight Talk about Cosmetic Surgery (Yale University Press Health & Wellne...
After blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), the patient is watched for two hours in the recovery room. Her vision is checked repeatedly since the majority of bleeding complications and sudden blindness occur during this early period. For this... More
