Eyelid Surgery After-Care

Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, is a minor operation to remove excess skin that gets accumulated on the upper as well as lower eyelids. This condition occurs with age and is mostly seen in people above 35 years. Excess bags of skin on the lower eyelid give rise to wrinkles, while surplus skin on the upper eyelid make the eyes droop, affecting vision of the person. The eyes look tired due to puffiness on the upper eyelid. This can be treated with a surgery which is a type of cosmetic surgery, where excess skin and fat prolapses are removed.

Eyelid surgery does not take much time i.e not more than two hours, even if both upper and lower eyelids have to be operated. Depending upon the patient's condition, he is either asked to stay at the hospital for one night or is discharged the same day. It is important that the patient does not go home alone, and there should be someone to take care of him for a few weeks after the surgery. The care taker should see to it that the patient gets a lot of rest, and strictly follows the instructions given by the surgeon.

Surgery is done after the patient is given local anesthesia and the eyelids are operated by creating incision. Like every operation, there are some very important factors and issues that the patient and the caretaker should remember to enable speedy recovery.

Eyelid Surgery After-Care

Once the effect of anesthesia subsides, the person may experience pain. It is also normal to find bruises and swelling in areas where incisions were made. The most common after-effect of an eyelid surgery, is dry eyes.

Pain after the surgery usually persists for not more than a day. The patient may also feel it tightened around the operated area. These can be reduced by consuming pain killers prescribed by the physician. Cold compresses and ointments can be applied to reduce the swelling and bruises. It is also important to apply eye drops for preventing the eyes from drying out.

It takes almost 10 days for recovering entirely, after the eyelid surgery. The patient should take complete rest and avoid using computer, watching television, reading and also wearing contact lenses, as it is likely that indulging in these activities would increase the risk of the eyes getting dried up. The person should not go outdoor for work and should be confined to a safe environment like that of a home. One should also not indulge in sports activities or exercises.

After completion of 10 days, the patient should visit his physician, and usually is permitted to continue with his previous routine. The patient should wear dark sun glasses and apply sun-protective creams for at least 2 months while leaving. They should also avoid indulging in any kind of exercises till the doctor gives permission to do so.

People who go through eyelid surgery may have a difficult time during the recovery period. The bruises and swelling may remain for a long time. One should remember that these bruises will subside with time, leading to healthy, young and good looking eyes.