Blepharoplasty Recovery Time – What to Expect Each Week
No matter what cosmetic surgery it is, the one thing that people worry about is when they will recover from it. Blepharoplasty is no exception, and people are rather more concerned about its recovery as the incisions and scarring are easily visible to others on their eyes. So, what’s the recovery time after blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty recovery time totally depends on person to person and their body’s natural process of healing. But normally, you can start doing your regular activities after 3 to 5 days.
You can do makeup after 7 to 10 days of the surgery, concealing the bruising and the swelling. Finally, by the 2nd week, you feel back to normal, but the final results and the full healing take up to a year or more.
What Is The Recovery Time After Blepharoplasty?
There’s no fixed recovery time for eyelid surgery. It totally depends on the person’s healing process.
However, on average, most people can start doing regular activities in 3 to 5 days, do makeup after 7 to 10 days, and feel nearly normal by 2 weeks.
The full recovery takes up to a year, though when swelling and the bruising have subsided completely. You can hasten the recovery by following your surgeon’s post-care tips.
Day-by-Day Recovery Time After Blepharoplasty
Let’s take a look at day-by-day recovery time after blepharoplasty so that you can be well prepared for what happens each day.
Day 2
On day two, it’s the early stage of healing after blepharoplasty when your eyelids are more sensitive and need extra care.
Swelling and bruising may be at an all-time high by this time, and you need to take the prescribed medications and follow the post-care. Keep your head elevated while sleeping and avoid strenuous activities.
Day 3
On day 3, the inflammation and the bruising may start to gradually reduce, but not so much. They’re still there but slightly reduced. You must continue wound care and the medications as directed.
Week 1
After 1 week of blepharoplasty, the swelling and the bruising are gradually improving, but are still noticeable.
You can return to light daily activities such as walking and jogging, but avoid anything that strains or causes eye dryness.
Also, attend the follow-up appointment after the surgery, as the sutures may be removed after 1 week.
Weeks 2–3
From weeks 2 to 3, there’s a significant improvement in the swelling and the bruising. The patients can now go back to work and resume additional daily activities and light exercises. But strenuous activities that could strain the eyes should be avoided even now.
Weeks 4–5
After 4 to 5 weeks of blepharoplasty, you start feeling that your eyes are normal and most of the swelling is resolved.
The early results of the surgery are visible by this time, and you’re safe to resume normal exercises around week 4 to 5.
Week 6 and Beyond
The recovery is mostly complete by week 6, though the healing is still continuing. You may not notice significant differences in your eyes, but internally, tissues are still healing.
You need to keep following the surgeon’s instructions closely to avoid infections and complications. Also, protect your eyes from the sun by applying sunscreen under the eyes and wearing sunglasses whenever you go out.
Fastest Ways To Recover From Blepharoplasty
You can accelerate the recovery time after eyelid surgery by following these steps:
Follow Your Surgeon’s Instructions
Your surgeon provides post-care instructions on wound care, medications, and activities to avoid. Follow all of their instructions to get the desired final results and boost the recovery.
Keep Your Head Elevated
When you sleep, keep your head elevated to be comfortable and also avoid putting pressure on your eyes.
Avoid Strenuous Activities
Don’t do any heavy activities such as heavy lifting, vigorous exercise or bending over. These could be harmful to your eyes.
Protect Your Eyes from the Sun
Whenever you go out, wear sunglasses and also use sunscreen on your eyelids to block UV damage that could delay eyelid surgery healing and cause complications.
Stay Hydrated and Eat Well
Drink plenty of water and eat well, as a balanced diet and water support the healing.
Track Recovery with Photos
Tracking the recovery can help you get a clue about your progress and take steps accordingly. It also keeps you motivated.
Get Adequate Rest
Good sleep gives your healing tissues time to heal properly. So, whenever you feel tired, rest to support the healing process.
Manage Discomfort with Medication
Your plastic surgeon prescribes pain medication to you. Take those to manage the pain and follow the dosage instructions carefully.
Avoid Contacts and Eye Makeup
The contact lenses could be harmful to the healing process. So, avoid them for a few weeks after the surgery. And also skip eye makeup for 7 to 10 days.
How Long Do Blepharoplasty Results Last?
Blepharoplasty offers long-lasting results, usually 5 to 7 years and even life lifetime. You only need to take the procedure once, and then you can enjoy the results for years without having any issues.
Asli Tarcan Clinic: Expert Blepharoplasty Care
Recovery time after blepharoplasty depends on person to person. For some, it may take longer, while for some, it may be quicker. On average, you take around 3 to 5 days to start regular activities, 7 to 10 days to apply makeup, and by 2 weeks, you can start to feel normal.
The final results take up to a year to appear. Just make sure that you follow the surgeon’s post-care instructions to aid in the recovery and also avoid heavy activities to avoid eyelid injury or strain.
If you want to get advanced blepharoplasty surgery from double board-certified plastic surgeons, contact Asli Tarcan Clinic in Turkey.
This article is medically reviewed by Ophthalmologist Dr. Mehmet
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How long does it take to heal from blepharoplasty?
By the 2nd week, the bruising and the swelling are gone, and you start to feel normal. But the full eyelid surgery recovery takes up to a year.
Does blepharoplasty help blepharitis?
No, it doesn’t treat blepharitis as it’s an eyelid cosmetic surgery that fixes the excessive skin, fat or muscle.
What can you not do after blepharoplasty?
You should avoid all strenuous activities such as exercise, heavy lifting, rubbing eyes, contact, or applying eye makeup for weeks.
