Recovery

Most patients have this procedure performed under local anaesthetic (they are awake) and can usually go home the same day.

For the next 48 to 72 hours, Dr Masters requests that you do as little as possible.  Cooling packs are applied to the eyelids on a regular basis during this time. You will be requested to keep your head elevated and not to lay flat. There is often a degree of visual blurring for 48 hours after the operation and, as such, reading and watching the TV (or other activities which require the use of your eyes) can be difficult.  Any activity which raises your blood pressure or pulse should be avoided for at least 72 hours.  This includes housework, exercise and lifting objects.

Antibiotic ointment is regularly applied to the suture lines until the stitches are removed approximately 5 days after the surgery. At this stage, most patients are able to gently apply makeup to disguise any bruising which may be present. Although you will most likely still be slightly swollen and have some residual yellowing bruising, most patients are socially presentable with the assistance of a little makeup by 1 week.

You will be aware of subtle changes occurring in your eyelids for a number of weeks, as the final result becomes apparent. Like all scars, blepharoplasty scars go through a series of stages whilst maturing. The final fine scars should be pale and inconspicuous, but may take a number of weeks to get to this stage.