Experience a Safe, Fast Blepharoplasty Recovery

Recovery times from eyelid surgery vary from patient to patient and greatly depend on your personal healing abilities and how well you care for yourself after the procedure. Generally speaking, patients find that they are substantially recovered about one week after the procedure, although swelling may last longer. Respected plastic surgeon Dr. Oren Lerman in Manhattan, NY, has the expertise to maximize the safety of your blepharoplasty recovery, and reduce healing times, by performing an optimally precise surgery.

Illustration of the surgical area for blepharoplasty.

The Week after Your Procedure

Eyelid surgery is usually performed on an outpatient basis. Once the anesthesia wears off and you are cleared by the medical staff, you may leave to recover in the comfort of your own home. Patients will not be able to drive themselves, so arrangements for travel should be made in advance. Patients will have the area around their eyes taped to support the tissue and enhance contouring as the body heals.

Following post-operative procedures are crucial to you returning to normal activities and enjoying optimal results.

Some patients will experience blurred or double vision following this procedure. Other common side effects include dry eyes, watery eyes, and sensitivity to light. These side effects should subside within a few days.

Since the tissue around the eye is surgically manipulated, patients should expect discoloration and puffiness near the treatment site, possibly extending down towards the cheeks. Most swelling and discoloration will go away in the first week, with residual inflammation potentially lasting for a few weeks.

Most patients can return to work after one week, sometimes two. Rigorous exercise or physically demanding tasks will typically require a longer wait period of about one month to six weeks.

Following Post-operative Instructions

Dr. Lerman's post-operative instructions are designed to stave off infection, expedite recovery, and help you achieve your cosmetic goals. Following post-operative procedures are crucial to you returning to normal activities and enjoying optimal treatment results.

As an eyelid surgery patient, you can make the best of your recovery by:

Avoiding touching or bumping the treatment area. The tissue around the eye will be tender and delicate after surgery, placing it at a higher risk for damage. Patients should avoid rubbing, scratching, tapping, or touching the area as their body heals.

Getting plenty of sleep and rest the week after your procedure. Taking it easy is especially important during the critical recovery period 72 hours after your procedure. Sleep is best, followed by active rest. You should be cautious of engaging in activities that can contribute to dry eye, such as reading and watching TV.

Applying eye drops or ointments as directed. Eye medications are intended to help lubricate eyes, which have a tendency to become dry following blepharoplasty. Dry eye can be a nuisance, tempting patients to rub their eye. To make yourself comfortable, and reduce the risk of eye damage, you should apply the drops as directed.

Caring for your bandages. It is understandable that some patients will want to push aside the eye bandaging. Maybe they want to see their results, or they may find the bandages distracting or bothersome. However, these dressings need to stay on and be cared for as directed to avoid infection and to support tissue contouring.

Learn More about Recovery

Dr. Oren Lerman and his team are committed to expedited and safe surgical recoveries. Call us today at (212) 434-6980 or send us a message to learn more about recovery after blepharoplasty.

Dr. Oren Lerman

Oren Z. Lerman, MD

Dr. Oren Lerman performs a variety of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures with a specialty in reconstructive breast surgery. In fact, he is the director of breast reconstruction at Lenox Hill Hospital's Institute for Comprehensive Breast Care as well as the Microvascular and Cosmetic Breast Fellowship. In addition to the hospital, Dr. Lerman is affiliated with:

  • The New York Regional Society of Plastic Surgeons (Past President)
  • The American Board of Plastic Surgery (Diplomate)
  • The American College of Surgeons (Fellow)
  • The American Society of Plastic Surgeons
  • The American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery

You can schedule a consultation with Dr. Lerman by filling out our online form or calling (212) 434-6980.

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"The one thing that is most important when we're doing cosmetic surgery and aesthetic surgery of the face or the body is to make sure that the patient is happy afterwards..." Dr. Oren Lerman

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