Eyelid Surgery Recovery

Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) recovery isn’t particularly painful, but you may notice eye strain and blurry vision due to the antibiotic ointment.
Most patients with sedentary jobs can return to work in about a week if they can see well enough. More laborious jobs will require more time off.
Bruising and swelling are normal after eyelid surgery and tend to be more pronounced on the lower eyelids.

What to Expect After Eyelid Surgery

Because the eyelids are such a small part of the body, patients often assume that eyelid surgery recovery will just be a quick blip on life’s radar. While it’s true that discomfort after an eyelid procedure, technically called a blepharoplasty, is generally only mild to moderate, recovery can prove a bit more disruptive than expected. You certainly won’t be bedridden in agony, so no worries there! But don’t expect to have surgery on a Friday and be back in the office on Monday.

Eyelid surgery recovery does require that you take some time off work and pause your usual workout routine. Patients often keep a low social profile for a week or two as well until some of the swelling and bruising resolve. A tight feeling, dry eyes, and light sensitivity are also commonly reported. The specifics of your recovery will depend on your body and whether your surgery was on the upper or lower eyelids, as the two heal a bit differently.

Eyelid Surgery Recovery Timeline (Day by Day)

We understand that you want to know how long recovery takes and what to expect along the way, so let’s get right into it. This general timeline provides a good overview of eyelid surgery recovery, but it’s meant as a general guide rather than a rigid recovery calendar. People’s bodies are all different and heal at different rates. Although you can expect the following, don’t panic if you don’t hit a particular healing milestone on a specific day.

Days 1-3: Peak Swelling and Bruising

  • Swelling usually peaks in 48–72 hours
  • Eyelids may feel tight
  • Vision may be slightly blurry due to ointment
  • Sensitivity to light sometimes reported
  • Bruising appears and is typically worse on the lower lids than the upper

Days 4-7: Visible Improvement Begins

  • Bruising starts fading
  • Swelling begins decreasing
  • Many patients feel comfortable going out with sunglasses (both to help with light sensitivity and hide remaining bruising and swelling)

Week 2: Most Patients Feel Socially Presentable

  • Majority of bruising resolved
  • Makeup may be resumed (if approved)
  • Sutures removed if non-dissolvable
  • Contacts use resumed with surgeon’s permission

Weeks 3-6: Refinement Phase

  • Residual swelling decreases
  • Eyelid contour becomes more defined

Months 3-6: Final Healing and Scar Maturation

  • Incisions continue fading
  • Subtle firmness softens
  • Final results settle in

Upper vs. Lower Eyelid Surgery Recovery Differences

Your upper and lower eyelids each react to and heal from surgery differently. A bit tougher than your lower lids, the upper eyelids generally heal with less bruising and do so more quickly. You’re much more likely to experience a feeling of tightness in the upper eyelids when blinking and closing your eyes, however.

The skin of the lower eyelids is quite delicate, resulting in more swelling and puffiness. This area likes to hang onto that puffiness, so it will last longer here than it does after upper eyelid surgery. Bruising is also more prevalent after surgery on the lower lids, making black eyes common. Eye dryness and irritation can also be more intense with lower lid repair.

What the First Two Weeks Really Feel Like

We’re just going to put it out there — you’re not going to like what you see in the mirror for the first week or two after eyelid surgery. And that’s OK. Things will get better as you heal, but they may get worse first. Swelling often doesn’t reach its peak until three days after surgery. But after that, things will improve a little bit every day.

While bruising and most major swelling will resolve in a few weeks, it takes a few months for residual swelling to settle down and reveal your final surgical results. Don’t be too quick to judge early on. Better days are absolutely coming. But in the meantime, expect to experience some or all of the following:

  • Tightness
  • Mild tenderness
  • Sensitivity to light
  • A somewhat distorted appearance due to swelling
  • Asymmetrical swelling, with one eye potentially worse than the other
  • Dry, itchy eyes
  • Blurry vision due to prescribed ointments

Managing Swelling, Bruising, and Dryness

We want you to be as comfortable as possible after your eyelid lift surgery (or any surgery). Knowing what to expect during recovery is important, but we also want you to understand how to safely manage your symptoms and ease any discomfort. We can’t snap our fingers and instantly take away swelling, dryness, or discomfort, but we are happy to give you some tips on managing them. We recommend that you:

  • Apply cold compresses to your eyes (first 48 hours primarily)
  • Elevate your head, even when sleeping, to minimize swelling
  • Use lubricating eye drops
  • Administer prescribed eye ointment as directed, even though it may make your vision blurry
  • Avoid wearing your contacts as well as applying eye cream and makeup
  • Limit screen time and other activities that can cause eye strain, like reading

When Can I Resume Normal Activities?

The specific answer to this question depends on how your body heals, your plastic surgeon’s individual guidance, and what defines “normal activity” for you. There are no absolutes in eyelid surgery recovery, but the following timeline is generally applicable:

Returning To Work

  • Seven to 10 days for desk jobs, longer for more physical labor

Exercise

  • Walking is encouraged early on to prevent blood clots
  • Strenuous exercise postponed for several weeks

Makeup and Skin Care Routine

  • Resumed when incisions are fully healed
  • Wait for approval from your plastic surgeon

Contact Lens Wear

  • Delayed for one to two weeks based on your healing and your surgeon’s preference

Eyelid Surgery Recovery Risks and Warning Signs

Eyelid surgery is fairly routine nowadays, but every surgery comes with risks and complications. A reputable plastic surgeon will always discuss these risks with you and make sure you understand them before consenting to surgery. They are quite rare, but they can happen. Potential risks of eyelid surgery include:

  • Infection
  • Bleeding (hematoma)
  • Excessive scarring
  • Asymmetry
  • Worsening of dry eye
  • Vision changes (extremely rare but serious)
  • Ectropion (lower lid pulling downward)

It’s important that you contact your plastic surgeon right away if you experience:

  • Sudden, severe eye pain
  • Sudden vision changes like double vision or severe blurriness (not caused by ointment)
  • Excessive bleeding or rapid swelling in one eye
  • A fever above 101°F (38.3°C)
  • Pus-like discharge
  • Inability to close your eye completely

These symptoms may indicate a complication that requires medical intervention. With prompt treatment, we can often stop small problems from becoming big ones. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns. Your plastic surgeon’s job is to see you through your entire eyelid surgery journey, from planning to full recovery.

Eyelid Surgery Scars During Recovery

Surgery leaves scars, and you should be wary of anyone who claims otherwise. That doesn’t mean you’re going to come out of eyelid surgery looking like Al Pacino in “Scarface!” But we can’t promise that you won’t have any scarring at all. So where will they be?

Plastic surgeons choose incision points carefully and with scarring in mind. Upper eyelid surgery scars are typically hidden in the natural crease of the eyelid. Lower eyelid scars tend to be placed just below the lower eyelashes or inside the eyelid. The goal is to camouflage the scar by placing it where it won’t stick out or draw attention.

Your scars may be quite visible at first, turning red and becoming slightly raised as your incisions heal. In time, however, scars fade and flatten, ultimately blending in well with the surrounding tissue. Full scar maturation can easily take six months to one year, so be patient with the process.

When Will I See My Final Results?

Although you’ll see improvement quickly at first as swelling and bruising fade, it takes months for your final surgical results to reveal themselves. Residual swelling hangs around long after more noticeable swelling fades, and refinement can take a few months.

When you do see your final results, it’s important to note that they may not remain exactly the same in the future. You can expect to enjoy your new look for several years at least, but the aging process will continue as time marches on. Good skin and eye care can help you maintain your results for as long as possible. But your eyelids may change a bit as you age.

Frequently Asked Questions

Again, there are no absolutes when it comes to a recovery timeline. But for most patients, the second or third day after surgery is the worst as swelling reaches its peak. After that, it’s all downhill. You may not improve in leaps and bounds, but you should feel a little better every day.

Well, you can watch TV if you’re comfortable, but we do suggest limiting your screen time to no more than 30 minutes per session. Televisions, computer screens, and cell phone screens can all cause eye strain, as can reading. We suggest avoiding activities that potentially cause eye strain for at least a few days to increase your comfort.

It’s best to sleep with your head elevated after eyelid surgery, as this lets gravity help reduce swelling. You should also avoid putting any pressure on your eyes. Some patients are most comfortable sleeping in a recliner for a few days while others prop themselves up in bed with pillows. Tucking pillows in beside you can also be helpful to prevent you from rolling onto your side.

It can, yes. Most of the time, vision changes are temporary and caused by swelling or the antibiotic ointment your surgeon has you apply to your eyes. In very rare cases, however, surgery can permanently impact your vision. Make sure you understand all the risks and potential complications of any surgery before consenting to it, including eyelid surgery.

You can drive when you can see! You should avoid driving while swelling obscures your vision or while things look blurry due to any prescribed eye ointments. Most patients need only OTC pain relievers, if any, during eyelid surgery recovery. If, however, you and your surgeon agree you need something stronger, make sure you don’t drive while taking narcotics.

Tightness in the eyelids will resolve as swelling does. For most patients, the sensation fades in a few days, but it can last a week. Even if the tightness doesn’t completely go away at first, you should feel it ease as the swelling goes down.

Yes. A skilled plastic surgeon can do what it takes to make your eyelids as symmetrical as possible when all is said and done, but they can’t control swelling. One eyelid may require a bit more work than the other during surgery, and this can increase swelling. And sometimes the body just doesn’t swell evenly. Asymmetrical swelling is very common early in recovery and isn’t cause for alarm.

Table of Contents

Free Virtual Consultation