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Blepharoplasty Recovery In Dallas, Texas

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Home » Resources » Blepharoplasty Recovery In Dallas, Texas

Blepharoplasty Recovery In Dallas, Texas

Blepharoplasty procedures are performed to remove excess skin or reduce signs of aging on the eyelid or under the eyes. The skin around the eyes is the most delicate skin on our bodies and so is prone to aging and sagging quicker than other areas of the face or body. This is why blepharoplasty procedures are an extremely popular procedure and it is especially important to follow the correct aftercare to ensure this delicate skin, as well as the eyes, are able to recover quickly and successfully.

Guide 

Blepharoplasty Recovery 

Initially, after the procedure, it is important that an adult drives you home and stays with you for the first couple of days. After the surgery, your eyes will be covered with gauze and your surgeon will provide you with specific aftercare instructions. Most patients will be given some form of eye drops or a lubricating ointment to help keep moisture in the eyes and prevent dryness. Additionally, during a patient’s recovery period they will likely experience other side effects from undergoing the surgery such as:

  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Bruising
  • Itching

These are normal side effects and should not be a cause of concern in the majority of cases. There are ways to ease or reduce these side effects such as using the ointment or eye drops for dryness and using a cold compress to help reduce swelling. If you experience side effects that your surgeon has not discussed with you or feel your symptoms are worse than they should be then you should contact your surgeon.

Blepharoplasty Recovery Time

For most eyelid surgery patients, the first week is the worst period of their recovery and after ten to fourteen days most patients can return to normal activities. It is recommended that patients take at least a week off work to give themselves time to recover. Some patients take longer off work and allow themselves at least two weeks to heal. The amount of time it takes for a patient to be able to return to work will depend on how extensive the procedure was as undergoing both upper and lower eyelid surgery will take longer to recover from.

Aftercare Instructions

It is important that patients follow all aftercare instructions provided by their surgeon so they can recover successfully. This is especially important for patients recovering from eyelid surgery as the skin is extremely delicate and the surgery is performed around an important sense organ. Some of the aftercare instructions following the procedure include:

  • It is advised that patients use ice packs on their eyes to help with swelling and pain.
  • It is important that the incision sites are kept clean and patients should aim to gently clean their eyelids and use eyedrops f they have been prescribed them to prevent infection. 
  • Patients cannot wear contact lenses for a few weeks after undergoing the surgery.
  • Patients should sleep with their heads elevated to prevent excess fluid build-up.
  • It is essential that patients protect their eyes from the sun immediately after surgery, sunglasses should be worn straight away and continue long after the procedure. An SPF of at least 30 should be applied regularly to protect the delicate skin and scars around the eyes.
  • Patients should not go swimming so their eyes do not come into contact with unnecessary chemicals.
  • Patients should avoid rubbing their eyes and should not wear any makeup products on or around their eyes when the eyes are healing.

Upper Blepharoplasty Recovery

Upper blepharoplasty procedures tend to be performed to address concerns over signs of aging and excess skin on the eyelids. The surgery tends to make an incision across the crease of the eyelid so that a section of excess skin can be removed. Gauze will be placed over the eyes following the surgery and it is important to have an adult stay with you for the first couple of days. Both bruising and swelling are normal side effects of the surgery and a cold compress can be applied to help these subside. Upper eyelid surgery can be a more extensive type of eyelid surgery and it can take up to fourteen days to recover.

Lower Blepharoplasty Recovery 

Lower blepharoplasty procedures are performed on the skin under the eyes and are performed for a variety of reasons. Some patients have concerns regarding signs of aging under their eyes including sagging skin, fine lines, or wrinkles. Alternatively, some younger patients desire lower eyelid surgery as they have concerns regarding the appearance of dark undereye circles. When recovering from the procedure you will likely have gauze placed under your eyes and will be given eye drops or ointment to apply to keep the eyes lubricated and prevent dryness. Side effects such as swelling and bruising are also likely to occur for the first week or so.

Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty Recovery

Transconjunctival blepharoplasty is a specific surgical technique that is performed on the skin under the eyes. The technique is undertaken for the same reasons as other lower eyelid surgeries but is becoming increasingly popular due to the fact that the procedure does not leave visible scarring. The incisions are made on the inside of the eyelid which is why obvious scarring is avoided. This technique has a shorter recovery period and patients can recover within a week or ten days. Furthermore, the side effects of the procedure such as swelling and bruising tend to be less drastic from this surgical technique.

Laser Blepharoplasty Recovery 


According to Healthline, laser skin resurfacing treatments can be used around the eyes to help tighten the skin and improve the appearance of age spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. Recovering from a laser eyelid treatment is much quicker than recovery from surgical techniques. Healthline states that it tends to take between three and ten days for patients to recover from the treatment. The recovery process also significantly varies from surgical blepharoplasty recovery as the skin around the eyes can become red and scabs can form before some skin peels. Cold compresses or ice packs are also recommended to help with any swelling that can occur and it is also important to keep the area clean to prevent infection.

Blepharoplasty Recovery Swelling 


The extent of both swelling and bruising will vary depending on the specific patient’s reaction to the surgery. However, it is normal for patients to experience swelling of the eyelids, under the eyes, or elsewhere on the face. Swelling can occur soon after the surgery has been performed and can take up to a week to begin to subside. During this time, cold compresses can be applied to the eyes to help reduce the level of swelling. According to MayoClinic, bruising and swelling are normal side effects that occur after undergoing your procedure but they tend to subside in ten to fourteen days. Additionally, RealSelf states that the vast majority of swelling will have subsided within two weeks of the surgery. However, a small percentage of the swelling can remain for months after the procedure. This means that the final results of the surgery may not be visible for up to six months.

Brow Lift And Blepharoplasty Recovery

A brow lift procedure is performed to reduce signs of aging across a patient’s brow and forehead. Many patients feel insecure over wrinkles that have developed across their forehead and desire to undergo a brow lift to rejuvenate their appearance. Therefore, the surgery is frequently undertaken alongside a brow lift procedure to reduce signs of aging around the eyes and forehead.

Additionally, patients who undergo any type of facelift procedure will only have the lower two-thirds of their face treated and so many patients who have had a facelift desire eyelid surgery and/or a brow lift to achieve a fully rejuvenated facial appearance. For information on recovering from a facelift procedure, you can read our blog ‘Facelift Recovery In Dallas, Texas’.

Most patients who are recovering from a brow lift procedure have gauze or bandages placed across their forehead after the surgery. In some cases, brow lift patients require a drain to be inserted to help with excess fluid build-up. Just like after a blepharoplasty procedure, swelling and bruising are potential side effects and a cold compress can be applied to help with the swelling. Most patients recover from the procedure within ten days and should also ensure to keep the incision sites clean to prevent infection.

Conclusion

When recovering from any type of eyelid surgery it is extremely important that patients follow all the instructions from their surgeon. This blog should have provided potential patients with some insight into what the recovery period will be like. However, it is important if you desire to undergo the procedure that you research other aspects of the procedure such as the average cost, surgical technique, and the potential risks. For information on the average price of the various techniques you can read our blog ‘The Average Cost Of A Blepharoplasty Procedure In Dallas’.

Disclaimer

Please note: All materials on the Site, such as text, treatments, outcomes, photographs and images and any other material provided on the Site are for information purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding treatments. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Site.

Though the content of this blog has been carefully prepared, the author of this content is not a medical doctor and the content has not been reviewed by a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon. 

Unless specifically stated, patients referred to in this blog have not received a blepharoplasty procedure from Dr. Liland. This blog does not endorse the work of any doctors or surgeons mentioned. Stories relating to patients’ personal experiences of blepharoplasty procedures should be treated as anecdotal only.

Any application of the material provided is at the reader’s discretion and his, her, or their responsibility.