Recovery After Eyelid Surgery

Eyelid aesthetic, that is, blepharoplasty, is a procedure that includes the aesthetic corrections done on the eyelid. Blepharoplasty which is one of the most frequently done operations in the oculoplastic surgery; can be done in the event of excess skin on the upper eyelid, sagging in the tear duct, subcutaneous muscle and ligament weakness, forward herniation or collapsing in the fat tissue, sagging in the bottom eyelid due to looseness, excess skin, fatty bagging, collapsing between the lid and the cheek, and weakness in the bottom eyelid ligaments.

What is an Eyelid Aesthetic Surgery?

There might be various deformations in the upper and bottom eyelids with time due to reasons like aging, genetic factors and the effects of gravity. The bags that occur with the excess skin, muscle and herniation in the fat tissues in the eyelids might cause an old, tired and sleepy appearance in people. The excess skin might sometimes get to a point where it blocks a person’s sight. Plastic surgery of the eyelids is a popular procedure that is implemented to eliminate such issues and rejuvenate the eyelids.

With the eyelid plastic surgery, the sagging skin and the excess muscle tissue are removed and the tissues around the eye are stretched. Although the skin normally has an elastic structure, this elasticity decreases gradually with age. And as a result of this loss of elasticity in the face, the excess skin initially collects in the eyelids and the first signs of aging appear on the eyelids.

The excess skin and muscle tissue in the area are removed with the droopy eyelid surgery. The incision is made on the fold line of the eyelid so the operation scar cannot be seen. The upper eyelid plastic surgery can be combined with the procedures of forehead lift and eyebrow lift procedures in order to get better results.

The fat pads over the cheekbones move downward with the effects of gravity and aging, and might cause the formation of signs of aging like collapsing below the bottom eyelids and deeper smile lines around the mouth. In bottom eyelid plastic surgeries, firstly the fat pads are lifted back in place endoscopically. In some cases, this procedure is sufficient and there might not be another intervention needed. In cases where the bagging and sagging symptoms are not eliminated, an incision is made below the eyelashes and the skin is lifted. After the fat pads are spread over the eye socket, the excess skin and muscle are cut out. If the sunken part under the eyes still cannot be eliminated, the method of under-eye fat injection can be used.

Before and After the Eyelid Surgery

Before the plastic surgery of the eyelids, the surgeon must evaluate the position of the patient’s muscles really well. If there is also a droopy eyebrow situation in addition to the eyelid aging signs, the need for an eyebrow lift operation should also be considered. If the eyelid plastic surgery is done without correcting the droopy eyebrows, there might be unfavorable situations such as the eyebrows drooping even further and the failure to obtain the desired aesthetic look.

Taking Aspirin and similar medications should be stopped at least 15 days prior to the operation due to the risk that they might cause the tendency to bleed during the eyelid plastic surgery to increase. Also, because of its properties of delaying wound healing, consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products should also be stopped 2-3 weeks before the operation. Again due to the possibility of causing unwanted effects, one should take a break from any herbal supplements, if any.

After the eyelid plastic surgery, ice and antibiotic ointment are applied on the area of application, and the patient is kept under observation for about 2-3 hours. In the event that no problems are observed, the patient can be discharged on the same day. Intermittent application of ice is done for 48-72 hours.

The wound is applied antibiotic ointment twice a day for a week after the operation. Swelling and bruising on the area of application are considered normal. The swelling and bruising get better on their own within 1-2 weeks at the latest, depending on the patient’s skin type and the scope of the application. The patient should rest for the first few days and limit their physical activities for a fast and healthy recovery process. In other words, they should avoid bending forward, weight lifting and taking long and exhausting walks.

It is not recommended to get the wound wet for the first 4-5 days. No special treatment is needed after the stitches are taken out on the 6^th-7^th day. The incision can get redder and tighter between weeks 4-6. Then the scars start becoming invisible when the reshaping stage begins.

The patient should make sure to keep their head up when they lie down for the first week after the operation. As the sensitivity to the wind and sunlight will be high for several weeks, wearing sunglasses outdoors is a crucial point.

The sea, swimming pools and heavy exercise activities should be avoided for the first 2 weeks after the eyelid operation. Although heavier activities are usually started after the 10^th day, doctor’s approval must be taken as there might be patient-specific differences. Under normal circumstances, patients can go back to their desk jobs after the 3^rd day after the eyelid operation. Although jobs requiring activity can usually be started 7 days later, taking the doctor’s approval is recommended for the person.