What to Expect After Eyelid Surgery
Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery or an eyelid lift, was one of the top five most commonly performed cosmetic surgeries in the United States last year, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. This cosmetic procedure can make major improvements in the appearance of your upper face. Here are a few tips on what to expect after your eyelid surgery at my Detroit area practice.
Eyelid Surgery Basics
First, you should understand the steps that are involved in performing eyelid surgery to give you a better idea of the portions of your eye that will be affected. With age, our muscles become looser, including the tiny muscles around the eye. This can cause visible drooping in the eyelids. Eyelid surgery retightens the muscles of the eyelid while also removing excess skin and fat to give your eyes a smoother, rejuvenated appearance.
You can expect a little discomfort and bruising in the first week after your surgery, and some swelling is also common. Sleeping with your head slightly elevated can help alleviate this. If you wear glasses, you can resume wearing them right away, but contact lenses should wait a bit longer. Wearing eye makeup should also be avoided for the first week or two.
Most of my patients should be able to return back to work in about two weeks, although some tasks may remain challenging if your vision is still blurry. It’s best to avoid very strenuous activities for the first month following surgery, but your normal routine can be resumed pretty quickly.
Throughout the healing process, protect your eyes from the sun and keep your incisions clean. At my suburban Detroit practice, I prefer to perform this cosmetic surgery using laser technology. This means a surgery with greater precision for my patients, which translates to a faster recovery time with less visible scarring.
