Recovery and Return to Social Life After Upper Eyelid Surgery

The most crucial variable that affects the recovery process and duration after eyelid surgeries is the extent of the surgery.

The scope of the surgery varies depending on the level of aging around the eyes, the degree of change desired by the patient, and individual anatomical features. As the scope of the surgery expands, the recovery time, bruising, swelling, temporary deformations, and the time required to return to social life will all increase.

Here, I will provide you with information about the recovery processes of upper eyelid surgeries, from the simplest to the most comprehensive.

Contents

• Isolated Upper Eyelid Surgery
• Upper Eyelid Surgery and Ptosis (Droopy Eyelid) Repair
• Monitoring and Management of Possible Complications After Upper Eyelid Surgery

Isolated Upper Eyelid Surgery One of the most frequently performed procedures in eyelid surgery is “upper blepharoplasty,” or upper eyelid aesthetic surgery. When performed alone, this surgery is often carried out under local anesthesia. The operation takes between 30 and 60 minutes. After the surgery, there will be fine sutures on your upper eyelid. These sutures are hidden within the eyelid crease, so they are not very noticeable, even in the early stages. Sometimes we use absorbable sutures, and sometimes sutures that need to be removed. Absorbable sutures dissolve on their own within 8-10 days, while non-absorbable sutures need to be removed within this timeframe. After the upper eyelid surgery, I do not recommend any dressing. We only apply an ointment to the sutures and keep the wound open. There may be slight fluid/blood leakage from the wound edges for the first few hours, and you can clean this leakage with a gauze pad.

The surgery is not painful and usually does not require routine painkillers. However, I still prescribe a mild painkiller that patients can use if needed. After the surgery, you should not drive yourself home. It is advised not to drive for the first 3 days after the surgery. Although it is a simple procedure, it is necessary to stay in Ankara for the first 48 hours after the surgery for monitoring potential complications.

During the first 48 hours after the procedure, your eyelids will gradually swell, and there may be bruising around the eyelids. Bruising can be more pronounced in individuals taking blood thinners or those whose blood clots slowly. In principle, swelling and bruising move downwards due to gravity. Swelling peaks at 48 hours and begins to decrease from the morning of the third day. Bruises will fade within 7-10 days.

Swelling and bruising after the surgery only subside with time. Although there are various creams and medications that claim to reduce swelling, I have not seen any of them work. We do not routinely apply ice to the eye area. Patients who use ice and those who don't heal in the same time frame, and applying ice is cumbersome. You can eat anything you want after the surgery. Just don't overdo it if it's cherry season, and limit your consumption of linden/tea to no more than 2-3 cups. If you are taking a blood thinner, inform your doctor. I recommend sleeping on your back the night after the surgery. For the following 10 days, it is advantageous for the wound healing process to avoid pressure on the eyelids from a pillow.

You can take a shower the morning after the surgery. Water and foam can touch the sutures in the shower. You can gently clean the areas between and around the sutures with wet cotton swabs. You should not be too harsh on the operated area for the first 3 weeks, and you should avoid scratching or rubbing this area. Otherwise, the wound edges, which are joined by very fine sutures, may separate, and the scar may widen. Wearing large sunglasses that cover the eye area will be very helpful when going outside after the surgery. Ideally, protect the eye area from the sun for the rest of your life after the surgery. La Roche-Posay’s 50 SPF, colorless, ultra-fine sunscreen is a very good product for the eye area, and you can use it.

Once the sutures are removed, mild makeup products that dissolve in water and wash off in the shower can be used to camouflage the swelling and bruising around the eyes. At this point, you can easily return to social life. People who look closely may notice the operated appearance around your eyes, but you won’t look very strange.

After 21 days, you can apply any kind of makeup and participate in all social activities. By the third month, even without makeup, the surgery scars will be barely noticeable.

Upper Eyelid Surgery and Ptosis (Droopy Eyelid) Repair In this procedure, during the upper eyelid surgery, the muscle structures that lift the eyelid are repaired by reaching the deeper layers of the eyelid. Additionally, the upper eyelid crease is redesigned during this surgery. Although it may look like an eyelid surgery from the outside, it is different because the scope is broader and surgical procedures are performed on the deeper layers of the eyelid.

After this procedure, swelling will be more significant and will last 5-10 days longer. Asymmetry between the eyelids will be more pronounced and will last longer after surgeries that include ptosis repair. To date, I have not seen any patients who have undergone ptosis surgery and healed completely symmetrically. The eyelid may remain open more frequently and for a longer period during the postoperative period in surgeries where droopy eyelids are corrected. We use some sutures inside the eyelid that dissolve while creating the upper eyelid crease in this procedure. These sutures may cause millimetric dimples on the crease until they dissolve.

In ptosis surgery, there may also be sutures on the inner surface of the upper eyelid. These may irritate the eye's surface. To protect the patient’s comfort and vision quality, we may use protective contact lenses. After ptosis surgery, the duration and extent of the eyelid remaining open may be longer. We may use eye drops to support the tear film during this period.

The revision rates for surgeries where upper eyelid aesthetics are combined with ptosis correction are perhaps ten times higher than for standard surgeries. After this surgery, secondary procedures may be required to balance the levels of the eyelids, retouch the upper eyelid crease, or redistribute the skin. Therefore, the decision to undergo surgery should take possible revisions into account, and the return to social life/professional life should be planned with these risks in mind.

When the upper eyelid surgery is combined with other procedures such as brow lift, forehead/temple lift, lower eyelid surgery, or fat injection, the recovery time, pain, swelling, and bruising levels can significantly increase. After combined surgeries involving the forehead, the edema moves downward with gravity and accumulates under the eyes. Under-eye bags may become prominent due to edema for 2-3 weeks.

Monitoring and Management of Possible Complications After Upper Eyelid Surgery Although complications are very rare after surgery, some can occur. Allergies, infections, bleeding behind the eye, dry eyes, changes in glasses prescription, blurred vision, increased intraocular pressure, and temporary lazy eye due to edema in the nerves leading to the eye muscles can occur after surgery. In such cases, treatment should be started without delay. Inform your doctor as soon as you feel any discomfort and confirm that it is normal.

Upper eyelid surgery, like all facial aesthetic surgeries, should be planned individually. With good planning, sagging skin, bags, dark circles, and tired eye appearance can be improved, achieving a youthful look around the eyes.

The postoperative process can also vary according to these individual differences. To learn how this process will unfold for you, and to get more detailed information about the process, prices, and availability schedule, you can contact us.