After a blepharoplasty surgery, how long will the swelling be present?
What is the downtime? Will I have pain?
I’m sure you have all these and many more questions in your mind and today I’m here to answer these.
At the end of the surgery you will be able to sit up and look at yourself in the mirror.
Take a look at this patient who just had a upper eyelid blepharoplasty surgery .Pain is generally negligible but it varies from person to person. If you have pain our anesthetist will make you comfortable with pain medications .The eyes will be open and we will place steristrips on the wound which you can retain as long as it stays ,after which you can leave the wound open. Generally we do the surgery after giving small injections around the eye which is called local anaesthesia in which case you can walk out of the hospital immediately after surgery. If we have given you sedation you will be in recovery room for sometime till you are alert enough to go home.
You can go home and ice the area several times during the next 2 days. This will help you get rid of the swelling faster. Make sure the outer surface of the ice pack is clean to avoid getting in an infection.
We will review you one week after surgery for stitch removal .Make sure you have ointment on the wound so that it is moist which makes it easier to do stitch removal.
Generally the first week is the inflammatory phase and 1 week to 6 weeks is healing phase where there is scar formation and collagen formed is irregular and in clumps. From 6 weeks to 3 months is the remodelling phase where the collagen becomes more regular and soft.
Generally the swelling resolves in 2 weeks but it is preferable to give yourself a month before any major events. Sometimes you may have swelling in the lower eyelid when we do surgery in upper eyelid.
Some people especially Asians may have swelling upto 3 months which is usually more near the margin making the crease appear higher and this may give a droopy appearance. This can be more in one eye making the correction appear asymmetrical. This is more seen in Asian blepharoplasty as the lid crease forming process makes it a closed space making the swelling last longer. Nothing to worry. This is normal healing process.
You will not be allowed to do rigorous gymming for 2 weeks and no swimming for a month post surgery. No eye make up for 2 weeks.
The scar is not visible. You must use sun screen over the scar at all times during the day, even if indoor from 6 weeks to 3 months.
We at DRR Face Aesthetics hope for your speedy recovery. If you have any doubts or queries please call in watsap at +91 9790996255.