If your doctor closed your incisions with removable stitches, the stitches will be taken out in 5 to 10 days. Your eyelid may be swollen and bruised for 1 to 3 weeks after surgery. The appearance of your eye may continue to get better for 1 to 3 months.
With modern eyelid surgery there is no tension in the skin closure whatsoever, therefore any non absorbing skin sutures can and should be removed early – usually from 4 to 6 days after surgery. Sometimes we may remove sutures over a few days, dependent on a person's healing characteristics.
Removing stitches after blepharoplasty is NOT painful. ✏️ Note: individual results may vary.
Plain gut suture (6-0 fast absorbing plain gut [Sharpoint "Express gut" TM]) and polypropylene suture (6-0 polypropylene [Ethicon Prolene TM]) will be used to close blepharoplasty incisions. Each patient will have one eyelid using plain gut suture and the other eyelid with polypropylene suture.
Two different types of stitches are used during blepharoplasty; firstly, dissolvable sutures which use glue to close the skin and therefore do not need to be taken out later. The other type of stitches requires removal after 7-10 days or sometimes longer if the area hasn't settled so well.
For the closed/stitching method, the defined double eyelid crease that will last over 10 years. For the open/cutting method, this procedure has a more permanent effect.
The time it takes for dissolvable or absorbable stitches to disappear can vary. Most types should start to dissolve or fall out within a week or two, although it may be a few weeks before they disappear completely. Some may last for several months.
Full blepharoplasty recovery time typically takes about 3 months but you can expect to get back to your normal routine after 2-3 weeks of healing. Below, check out a general guide on what you should expect for your overall timeframe.
While these scars heal to an almost unnoticeable form, the incisions can take up to a year to heal, although most cases are at their worst around six weeks. Eyelid position can be affected by the bruising and swelling that occurs, but this usually corrects itself within six weeks or so.
The majority of patients report tightness after eyelid surgery to last for about two weeks, though numbness or a change in eyelid sensation may last longer. Dr. Contoura will evaluate your healing and recovery process during your follow-up appointments to ensure everything is progressing appropriately.
Steri-Strips (paper tapes) on the incisions can remain in place for approximately one week. Replace them if they come off. Remove the gauze (if any) the day after surgery. Wash the wounds with soap and water.
Swelling typically appears shortly after surgery, peaks two to four days after the procedure, and then slowly subsides over the next few days. Some residual swelling may remain for several weeks, but this is typically minor and shouldn't interfere greatly with social commitments.
For upper eyelid surgery, many sutures are used in the deep tissues. Some of these sutures are permanent as there is a need to maintain strength permanently. However on most of the eyelid skin I use a suture that holds for the first week and then rapidly dissolves.
Answer: Post bleperoplasty swelling
Post surgical swelling of the eyelids always cause the eyes to appear more closed in the early post op phase. As the swelling subsides, they return to a more pleasing and youthful appearance.
Use a Scar-Reducing Cream or Ointment
Recent studies have shown the effectiveness of silicone-based creams in making scars less noticeable when used in the first few weeks after the wound has healed. Your doctor may also use silicone dressings on the incision as it is healing.
Use a Scar-Reducing Cream
After your incisions have healed fully, applying a silicone-based scar cream can improve the appearance of your scars. Your plastic surgeon can advise you on scar creams or tapes to use based on your needs.
Generally, an upper lid blepharoplasty is a non painful procedure that patients can usually have performed, and enjoy a minimal amount of post-operative pain medicine, because the procedure is very mild. It's almost like a skin excision, and the eyelid itself is not particularly painful.
An eyelid lift can tighten the skin around the eyes, removing wrinkles or puffiness and giving a person an overall fresher look.
Asymmetry, the eyes look different, or heal differently.
The eyes may look or feel quite different from one another in the days following surgery. This is normal; no two eyes in nature or following surgery are perfectly symmetrical.
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.
Stitches and staples are used to keep wounds together during healing. They need to be removed within 4-14 days. The specific removal date depends on the location of the stitches or staples. Removal should not be delayed.
You may gently wash below your eyes with wipes or a soft washcloth. You can use dry shampoo for your hair. Once you can take full showers, you can wash your eyelids and shampoo your hair with mild products, such as baby shampoo.
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.
You should begin gentle massage to the eyelids one week after surgery. This will help smooth any irregularities and areas of firmness. You may apply lotion to your hand to massage and/or you may use a vibrating massager.