Walking is one of the best form of exercise after eyelid surgery. Walking in the initial phases of recovery can promote blood circulation, prevent blood clots and lead to a smoother recovery. It will give you a surge of energy as well. Initially, walk at a very slow pace and take breaks as needed.
You can generally expect to need between five and 10 days off from work. Usually, people who only get upper or lower blepharoplasty feel up to going back to work after just a week off. Contrastingly, people who get upper and lower eyelid surgery feel they need two full weeks to dedicate to their recovery.
Walking: Easy, slow walking can begin the day of your procedure. Walking around the house for 1-5 minutes assists with healing. After two weeks, you can take your walks outside and slowly build toward 30 minutes. After 3 weeks you can increase the duration of your walks, or begin to walk more briskly.
The eyelids are naturally delicate and even more so after surgery. Avoid rubbing them, pressing on them or performing any other activity that stretches or puts pressure on them. Be gentle when washing your face or showering, and avoid getting them wet.
Avoid activities that raise your blood pressure, including bending, lifting and rigorous sports. Keep activities to a minimum for 3-5 days; avoid strenuous activities for 2-3 weeks. Read or watch television after 2-3 days. Return to work in 10-14 days.
Your eyelids will probably look puffy after surgery. The incisions will probably look red, too. The swelling and bruising involved with blepharoplasty recovery tend to resemble a black eye. That is all normal.
Try to take only liquids or soft foods during the first 24 hours after surgery, and then increase your diet to normal as tolerated. Avoid very hot liquids and foods as these may cause bleeding. Try to keep your surgical area clean and dry.
Because your eye area is sensitive just after surgery, it's important to sleep on your back and stay elevated. Use pillows to stay elevated to at least a 45-degree angle.
You can drive as soon as you feel comfortable to do so. We do not recommend that you drive the same day of surgery, especially if the operation was performed with sedation or under general anesthesia. Your eyes may feel heavy and tired the first week, so you should not drive long distances.
Your eyes will grow tired more easily during the initial recovery period, which can make trying to read or watch TV particularly uncomfortable. You might notice that your vision is a bit blurry or that your eyes tear up easily.
Eyelid surgery is among the least painful cosmetic procedures. Aside from minimal discomfort on the day, you'll have a quick recovery and see the results swiftly. So the procedure isn't very painful, but you may have other questions.
A rare complication after blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) can rob patients of something that most of us take for granted: the ability to fully close the eyes. Unfortunately, this problem, known as lagophthalmos, can make the simplest tasks like sleeping or showering extremely difficult.
Avoid extreme physical activity including athletic activities and intercourse. You may resume light walking three days after surgery. Aerobic exercise, weight training, heavy lifting, and straining may be gradually resumed three weeks after surgery.
For three to four weeks after blepharoplasty, you should avoid lifting, bending and crying, to avoid irritation to your eyes. You should also not exercise or play sport during this time, as this increases blood flow to the area which can impede the healing process.
After eyelid surgery, it may take about two to three weeks for your vision to return to normal. During the first few days, you may have blurry and double vision caused by eyelid swelling that is usually temporary.
The appearance of the eyes can be dramatically altered by the removal of excess skin or puffy bags under the eyes. Eyes that are weighed down or crowded by aging skin or puffy bulges may seem smaller or narrower. Once this skin is removed, the eye can appear more open, rounder, and awake.
Post-operative swelling peaks at about 48-72 hours, and then subsides over the next few days. The majority of swelling after eyelid surgery will disappear in the first week, but small amounts may persist for 6 - 12 weeks during which subtle improvements in appearance will continue.
It is recommended to not drink coffee and other caffeinated beverages for the first few days after eyelid surgery.
Don't take full showers until your surgeon tells you it's safe to do so. This is usually 5 days after surgery. You may gently wash below your eyes with wipes or a soft washcloth. You can use dry shampoo for your hair.
By removing excess fat and skin and restructuring the tissues around the eyes, blepharoplasty creates a natural, rejuvenated appearance, erasing five to ten years without changing the shape or overall character of your face.
By improving the appearance of droopy or sagging skin, your eyes will look younger. In addition to this, your entire face will look more youthful. People who undergo a blepharoplasty enjoy newfound self-confidence in their appearance. The effects of the procedure are long-term, typically lasting more than ten years.
While many patients return to work 1 to 2 weeks after blepharoplasty, it may take several weeks for your swelling to subside completely. You should be able to see your final results from cosmetic eyelid surgery in about 4 to 6 weeks following your surgery.