Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, comes with a shorter recovery than most cosmetic procedures. It typically involves just four to seven days of swelling and bruising, which don’t cause much pain but might keep you away from social interactions. In fact, our patients are often surprised by how quick and tolerable it is to heal from this facial plastic surgery.
That said, post-surgical care isn’t something you should take lightly. You must do everything you can to support proper healing and maximize your cosmetic results.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ronald Schsuter will provide a detailed list of instructions to guide your recovery. For now, here are several things you should avoid after eyelid surgery:
- Applying makeup too soon: As a general rule of thumb, you shouldn’t apply makeup until your stitches have been removed and the incisions have healed. However, guidelines regarding cosmetics can vary from one provider to the next. You should always check with your surgeon before applying makeup after a blepharoplasty.
- Wearing contact lenses: Touching or tugging on your eyelids right after surgery can cause the incisions to reopen. It can also increase your risk of infection. Make sure that you have a pair of glasses with a current prescription to wear during the initial recovery.
- Sleeping flat on your back: Did you know that you can reduce swelling in your eyelids and the surrounding area while you sleep? All you need to do is keep your head elevated. Prop yourself up on a few extra pillows or get comfortable in a reclining chair.
- Booking fitness classes: Sure, the eyelid surgery recovery is pretty easy. But it isn’t so easy that you should schedule a heart-pounding pilates workout a few days into the process. Instead, you should avoid strenuous exercises for 3-4 weeks after surgery.
- Forgetting sun protection: Surgical scars and sun exposure are two things you shouldn’t mix. Unfortunately, UV rays can make your healing incisions darker and more noticeable. To lessen the risk of scar discoloration, wear dark-tinted sunglasses outside, which will have the added benefit of concealing any post-surgical bruising and scarring.
Ready to Schedule Your Surgery?
Now that you know how easy it is to recover from blepharoplasty, you might be ready to book your procedure. Call 410-902-9800 today to schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ronald Schuster. He serves patients from Baltimore, Lutherville-Timonium, and the surrounding areas of Maryland.
