Recovery after Blepharoplasty: The aftercare guide

Blepharoplasty – the surgical procedure of removing excess skin and fat around the eyes to remove eye bags and correct hooded, or drooping eyelids – is one of the simplest and most straightforward plastic surgery procedures you can have. It is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments which improves the appearance of the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both.
A Blepharoplasty procedure can take as little as 30 minutes, but just as any other treatment or surgery, you’ll need to ensure that you follow all the aftercare instructions and advice (how to care for your eyes, medications to apply or take) to allow for a swift and smooth recovery.

What to expect following your Blepharoplasty procedure

Before you leave the clinic, your surgeon will go through these Blepharoplasty aftercare guidelines with you and answer any questions you may have. Our patient advisors will contact you regularly to follow-up on your progress and you will also be given 24-hour emergency numbers, to keep your mind at ease knowing that you can get in touch with us whenever you feel the need to.

On the day of your procedure, we suggest that a family member or friend pick you up from the clinic and stay with you for the first 24 to 48 hours, until you are settled in and feel comfortable about acting autonomously.
While you’re comfortable at home, we recommend following the below general guidelines:

• Avoid lying down flat. By keeping your head elevated, you can reduce some of the swelling while also being more comfortable. Use 3-4 pillows when sleeping. A 45-degree angle is best and a travel pillow will provide support for your neck. During the first week, make sure to sleep on your back.
• Try not to bend forward or over for the next three weeks as this can increase swelling.
• For the first 24 hours, try and eat only liquid, nutritious food so as to exert your face as little as possible.
• DRINK WATER. We can’t stress enough how important it is for you to stay hydrated.
• Don’t skip any of your medication. It’s in your own interest to take it exactly as prescribed. When your pain lessens, you can switch to over-the-counter medicine like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
• Don’t remove any steri-strips. It might be slightly uncomfortable, but please try not to touch the crusting around your stitches.
• Quit smoking and alcohol for at least 6 weeks prior to surgery and 3 months after. That way you’ll be ensuring that your body’s healing ability is performing at full capacity.
• Contact lenses shouldn’t be worn for 2 weeks.
• Wait at least a week until you start driving again. Use common sense – if you have trouble seeing, don’t drive.
• Use an SPF 30 sunblock or higher, regardless of your activities or the weather as your skin will be sensitive.
• Don’t use any fragranced skincare products. If you feel the need to apply skincare products, do so cautiously and stay away from the incision areas to avoid infection.
• Don’t apply any makeup until at least a week after your stitches have been taken out and the wounds have sealed. It’s best to avoid applying it until your eyes have completely healed in order to avoid scarring and infection. Note that using new products will further lessen the risk of infection.
• Don’t do any exercise other than walking, which is necessary daily so as to prevent blood clot formation.

The healing process

Depending on your body, you will be advised to take around 1 week off work. It’s normal to experience some bruising and swelling during your initial healing process. This isn’t anything to be alarmed about, and your surgeon and aftercare advisor will talk you through how to control any discomfort. Very few of our patients report any pain experienced with the bruising.
Despite it being a minimal procedure, our patients have expressed great joy at having opted for it. Women in particular, have been impressed at how much easier their morning routines are now that they can easily apply makeup, without having to deal with troublesome creases and folds. Most just tell of how much younger and more refreshed they feel thanks to these small tweaks.

Blepharoplasty with Fat Transfer

The Private Clinic

At The Private Clinic, your safety and satisfaction are our top priorities. You aren’t just a number for us and we care about your well being even after you leave our premises. We pride ourselves in our thorough aftercare and we want you to feel confident that you’ll be supported all the way, no matter the procedure. Our industry-leading surgeons will provide you with all the information you need to have a smooth recovery following surgery and our expert team of medical professionals will be available 24/7 should you need any help or advice.
Blepharoplasty Surgeons at The Private Clinic

• Mr Davood Fallahdar, BSc, MB ChB(Hons), MD FRCS(Plast), MicroSurg (Hons), ORL H&NSurg. GMC Number: 4686602
• Mr Roberto Uccellini, MD. GMC Number 7416337
• Mr Navid Jallali, BSc, MB ChB(Hons), MD FRCS, MicroSurg(Hons), ORL H&NSurg. GMC Number: 4686602
• Mr Dario Rochira, BS, MD. GMC Number: 6130664
• Mr Adel Fattah, FRCS(Plast). GMC Number: 4764599
• Mr Philip Lim, BSc(Hons), MB ChB, AFRCS(Ed), MRCS(Eng), FRCS(Plast). GMC Number: 4219068
• Mr Kenneth Kok, MBChB, MRCS, MSc(Hons), FRCS(Plast). GMC Number: 4701147

Blepharoplasty consultations are available in our London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Northampton clinics.
Find out more about our blepharoplasty procedure at The Private Clinic by calling 03339209135 or using our online blepharoplasty surgery contact form.