When you’re about to have any form of surgery performed, it’s important to know what you should do afterward to make sure you’re able to recover as safely as possible and as quickly as possible with no to minimum issues.
This is just as true with cosmetic surgeries as it is any functional or medical one. One of the most common forms of facial cosmetic surgery is blepharoplasty. This procedure is performed on the eyelids to help your eyes and the areas around them appear more youthful and less tired. If you’ve been considering this procedure, or are talking to your physician about it, you should be educated on what to expect after it takes place.
When You Wake Up
You might feel overwhelmed and nervous upon waking after the surgery has taken place. This is because your vision may appear blurry. This is not an indication that the operation was unsuccessful. A thick antibiotic ointment is applied to the eye area to prevent dryness. You will need to continue to use this ointment several times a day in the eyes and on the wounds, as directed by your surgeon.
24-48 Hours After
For the next 48 hours or so, you will also need to take artificial tear drops to prevent red eyes or dryness. You will also be using cool packs and should sleep in a sitting position to reduce swelling and prevent excess fluid from building around the eyes.
Next 7-10 Days
For the next week to ten days, you shouldn’t participate in any strenuous physical activity such as fitness, heavy lifting, or intense physical labor. You should be walking around occasionally, but nothing faster or more intense than an average walk should be performed.
Pain or Bruising
Some bruising and swelling is normal after a blepharoplasty operation, but the amounts of each vary from patient to patient. If your surgery was on the upper eyelids, it should decrease over the next two weeks. If it was on both eyelids, it will take around four weeks before it subsides completely.
The procedure itself should be pain free and recovery isn’t complicated or difficult. There may be slight pain, but nothing too intense. Normal painkillers should help subside any pain you’re feeling. Your surgeon will make suggestions for relief based on how you’re feeling.
Cleaning Yourself
You can take a bath (preferred) or shower within one or two days after you return home. However, your eyes should be kept dry. Wash your hair over the sink if you must take a shower.
After three days, you should be able to wash your eyes again, but do so gently with soap and water. Pat lightly with a towel to dry. Your sutures should be expected to come out after a week. If you wear make-up, you can resume doing so when your surgeon recommends it’s okay. Typically this is after two weeks.
Conclusion
The way you handle recovery from blepharoplasty is crucial in how successful it is. All of the information here as well as from your surgeon should be followed by the letter in order to recover properly. To learn more about blepharoplasty or to inquire about having this procedure done, contact Ruth Hill Yielding, MD by calling 407-753-4101 or visit www.yieldingmd.com.
