How Much Time Will I
Need Off After Eyelid Surgery?
For patients
considering eyelid surgery, knowing how long to be off work and what to expect
in general helps patients plan. The recovery time following surgery varies from
patient to patient depending on the type of surgery, their age and general
health. Even when undergoing the same
procedure, patients may take different amounts of time to heal.
In general, for patients having uppereyelid blepharoplasty, 5 to 7 days off work is typical while for those having
both and upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty, up to 10 to 14 days may be
necessary. Patients with occupations requiring minimal physical activity may be
able to get back to work sooner.
All patients having
eyelid surgery will experience some swelling and bruising that will gradually
improve over the first 1 to 3 weeks. Ice packs, head elevation, and
rest may help minimize swelling. The
amount of swelling and bruising varies from patient to patient and even from
the left and right sides in the same patient. Mild bruising may resolve in 5-7
days, whereas more significant bruising may last 10-14 days. Makeup can be applied to help hide residual bruising,
usually starting two weeks after surgery.
If you or someone you know would like to know more about
eyelid surgery, what to expect before, during and after eyelid surgery or
schedule a consultation to find out if eyelid surgery might be helpful in
looking their best, please call The Eye Care &
Surgery Center at 908-789-8999 to schedule a consultation with Cosmetic Eye Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon Baljeet Purewal, M.D. You may also learn
more by visiting
The Eye Care & Surgery
Center, Google+ or
facebook.com/eyecareandsurgerycenter.
