Blepharoplasty Recovery Day by Day: What to Expect

Blepharoplasty recovery follows a short and fairly predictable course for most people. In the first days the eyelids can be puffy, bruised and numb, and the eyes water and feel sensitive to light; swelling and bruising usually ease noticeably in about 10 to 14 days.¹ Many people return to work and social life at around two weeks, while the appearance keeps improving for one to three months.^2,3

Below we go through each stage up to the end of the second week, from cold packs and screens to contact lenses, make-up, flying and work, and separate expected discomfort from symptoms that need a call.

The day of surgery and the first night

Eyelid surgery can be done under local or general anaesthesia, and most people go home the same day.² The lubricating ointment placed in the eyes can blur vision temporarily.¹

Mayo Clinic advises cold packs on the eyes for 10 minutes every hour on the night after surgery, then four to five times a day from the next day, and keeping the head raised above the chest for a few days.¹ You may have some pain or discomfort, and paracetamol (acetaminophen) can be used if needed.¹ Do not make your own decisions about medicines that affect bleeding; follow the list you were given before surgery.

Do cold packs actually reduce swelling?

The evidence is limited. In a randomised study of 38 patients having upper eyelid surgery, one eyelid was cooled and the other was not. Swelling, redness and bruising did not differ between the two sides; pain on the first day was slightly lower on the cooled side, but scores were very low on both.⁶ Cold packs may feel soothing, but they are unlikely to bring swelling down quickly; follow your surgeon’s instructions.

Blepharoplasty recovery, days 1 to 7: swelling, watering and stitches

Puffy, numb eyelids, watering, sensitivity to light and temporary blurred or double vision are all expected in the first days.¹ Swollen lids can be hard to close fully, and irritated or watery eyes can last a few weeks.² Avoid rubbing your eyes and use the drops or ointment you were given regularly.¹

You can usually shower and wash your hair the day after surgery, keeping soap and shampoo out of the eyes for the first week.³ Adhesive strips are usually removed within a week, and removable stitches at 5 to 10 days.^2,3 Strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, jogging and swimming are avoided for the first week.¹

Screens, reading, contact lenses, glasses and make-up

Screens and reading: there is no strict ban, but the eyes tire easily at first. Alberta Health Services advises limiting reading, computer work and television for the first few days.³ We explain why the eyes can feel dry after surgery, and when that is no longer normal, in our guide to dry eyes after blepharoplasty.

Contact lenses and glasses: contact lenses are not worn for about two weeks.¹ If you normally wear lenses, bring your glasses for that period. Outdoors, dark sunglasses protect the eyelid skin from sun and wind.¹

Make-up: eye make-up usually waits about two weeks, and you may also want to avoid face cream or lotion in that period.³

Driving: the NHS notes that you will not be able to drive for a number of days after the operation.² Ask your surgeon at the review when you can start again.

Work, exercise and flying

The NHS says most people take about two weeks off work, depending on their job.² Alberta Health Services likewise says most people feel ready to go out in public and back to work in about 10 to 14 days.³ Bruising and redness can take several weeks to fade completely.²

Strenuous exercise is paused for the first week, and swimming and hot tubs wait one to two weeks.^1,3 The American Society of Plastic Surgeons advises waiting 7 to 10 days before flying after facial procedures, including eyelid surgery, and notes that long flights and surgery can each raise the risk of blood clots.⁴ Your flight home is therefore planned after the first check, with this advice in mind. On a long flight, drinking plenty of water and getting up to walk regularly also matter.

Signs that need a call without waiting

Swelling, bruising, watering, mild grittiness and temporary blurred vision are expected. A rare but serious complication of eyelid surgery is bleeding into the eye socket (orbital haematoma). In a survey covering 269,433 operations, it occurred in about 1 in 2,000 cases and with permanent loss of vision in about 1 in 22,000; most cases appeared within the first 24 hours, particularly in the first three hours, although bleeding was also seen as late as several days afterwards.⁵ Because these figures rely on surgeons’ recall, they indicate the order of magnitude rather than an exact rate.

With this kind of bleeding, treatment has been shown to be needed within two hours of the symptoms starting.⁷ Contact your surgeon or emergency services without waiting if you notice:

• New, severe or increasing eye pain, especially with nausea or vomiting^1,7
• Reduced vision, double vision or difficulty opening the eyelids^1,7
• Rapidly increasing swelling and bruising around one eye, or the eye being pushed forward⁷
• Bleeding that does not stop, shortness of breath, chest pain or an unusual heart rate¹
• Loose stitches, or an incision that opens³

In the survey, conditions associated with this bleeding included high blood pressure, aspirin use around the time of surgery, vomiting after surgery and increased physical activity.⁵ That is why avoiding straining and preventing retching or vomiting matter in the first days.

Planning your stay in Istanbul

In Op. Dr. Esin Özlem Atmış’s planning, eyelid surgery alone is often a same-day procedure under local anaesthesia with sedation; when it is combined with other surgery or done under general anaesthesia, one night in hospital is planned. You arrive at least one day before surgery and stay five to seven days afterwards, which covers the first checks and the removal of stitches.

Your flight date is confirmed according to the findings at the first-week check. Later reviews at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months can be done online where appropriate once you are home; an in-person examination is requested if needed. For the operation itself, preparation and risks, see our page on eyelid surgery.

Frequently asked questions