24 Jan Blepharoplasty Recovery Time: What To Expect in the first 2 Weeks (Updated 2024)
“How soon will I look normal after an eyelid lift?” It’s one of the first questions Dr. Sudeep Roy gets asked by patients. The answer is, “A lot sooner than you think! But stick to your individual recovery timeline.” In the vast majority of cases, people who get an eyelid lift feel comfortable getting back to daily tasks—from sedentary jobs to coffee runs—about 10 to 14 days after their surgery.
A variety of factors will affect your recovery time, including the type of eyelid surgery you have. Let’s take a quick look at each type of eyelid lift and explore what you can expect during the first 2 weeks of your blepharoplasty recovery time.
What Type of Eyelid Lift Do You Need?
There are two kinds of eyelid lifts, a surgery also known as blepharoplasty, and they are often performed together. An upper eyelid lift and lower eyelid lift address very different signs of aging, though.
Upper Eyelid Lift
Upper eyelid lifts are used to correct ptosis, or a sagging eyelid. This is performed by removing a small amount of excess skin, and the incision is hidden in the crease of the eyelid. The result can dramatically turn back the clock, helping you look younger and better rested. If you notice that your eyelids are drooping and uneven, and if your crow’s feet are getting severe, an upper eyelid lift might be for you.
They are typically more common because that’s where we first notice signs of aging. Well before you might be a good candidate for a facelift, you’re probably going to be better suited to an eyelid lift (though eyelid lifts and facelifts complement one another very well). In fact, some people see eyelid sagging and even drastic crow’s feet as early as their 20s.
Numerous factors contribute to upper eyelid sagging, including:
- Genetics
- Sun damage
- Aging
- Trauma (such as rubbing your eyes vigorously)
In most cases, laxity in this area occurs from the skin that has lost collagen, but in some cases, worn-out levator muscles (which raise and lower the eyelid) may be a factor. Regardless, an upper eyelid lift can help.
Lower Eyelid Lift
A lower eyelid lift is designed to improve lines, wrinkles, bags, and, in some cases, dark circles from the lower eyelid area (depending on the cause of the circles). For this surgery, an incision is made along the lower lash line. In some cases, these lashes may fall out post-surgery, but it’s temporary, and they will grow back. This is the recommended surgery if you have skin laxity in this area.
However, for patients who have fat pockets without severe laxity, you may just need to have these pockets removed. This will call for an incision inside the eyelid, which is completely hidden.
Eyelid Lift Recovery Timeline
Week 1
- You can expect to be bruised and swollen in the eye area after surgery.
- Rest during the first week is vital, and that includes resting your eyes.
- Use cool compresses as directed to ease swelling.
- Most patients try to avoid going out in public or taking video calls during this week.
- If you must go out, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.
- If you had lower eyelid surgery, you may have sutures extending from the lower lids to the brows in order to encourage quicker, proper healing. This is not painful, but it can be annoying and certainly unusual looking.
- Sutures are removed in our office in 7 to 10 days.
Week 2
- You will start to see swelling and bruising subside by the beginning of your second week.
- Some residual bruising and perhaps light swelling may remain at the end of the second week, but not intensely enough to keep most people at home.
- Makeup or tinted sunscreen is often enough at this point to give you the confidence to get back to much of your normal life.
- Working out and other intense activities should be put on hold a little longer. Dr. Roy will tell you your timeline to return to those activities.
To find out more about eyelid lifts, other surgeries, and options to help you look and feel your best this year, get in touch today. Call RefinedMD during business hours or complete the online contact form right now.