At the end of the surgery, the surgical incision site and the stitches are covered with a lubricating ointment and there is no need for eye dressing and bandage. The eyelids may feel tight and sore or pain as the numbing medicine wears off. The discomfort is usually mild and easily controlled with pain medicine. If you have any severe pain or reduced vision, be sure to call your ophthalmologist. It is generally recommended to use a cold compress for 24 to 48 hours and keep your head raised (use several pillows during sleeping). After 48 hours, if you have bruises, use a warm compress. These measures help to control swelling and bruising of the surgical site.
The rate of swelling and bruising of the surgical incision site varies from person to person, and usually the swelling and bruising will be maximized after a few days and resolve between two to four weeks. One to two weeks after surgery, the eyelids have mild secretion or adhesion. The use of appropriate drops helps to eliminate these discomforts. In the first days after surgery some complications like tearing, light sensitivity, and temporary vision problems (such as mild blurred or double vision) may occur which are gradually resolved. The stitches are usually removed six to eight days after surgery, and after suture removal, the swelling of the eyelids is reduced and the person looks better.
Best Time to Return to Daily Activities
Most people can read and do their daily activities two days after surgery. After six to eight days, when all sutures are removed and the wound heals, you can do light sports activities. From this time if your ophthalmologist determines, you can use cosmetics to hide the bruises and the surgical wound. Usually between three and four weeks after surgery, the eyes are sensitive to sunshine, intense wind and dust. During this time, it's best to wear large appropriate sunglasses.
After two weeks, you can do heavy activities, such as lifting heavy objects or doing power exercises.
Possible Post-Operative Complications
Any surgery can have its complications. Due to the fact that the eyelids are in direct contact with the eyes and a person’s vision, it is recommended that eyelid surgery is carried out by subspecialists of eye plastic surgery who are familiar with the exact anatomy of the eyelid, and do not injure a person's vision. Certainly, the more experienced the surgeons are, the less post-operative complications occur. Experienced ophthalmologists of Noor Eye Hospital perform eyelid surgery carefully and provide patients with the highest quality services.
The mild post-operative complications include: double vision or mild blurred vision, swelling and bruising of the eyelids and around them (often with varying degrees of intensity on both sides), asymmetry of the surgical incision site on eyelids, small white wounds or spots on the stitches surface. These complications are temporary and resolve after a few weeks.
After surgery, the eyelids may not completely close in some people, especially while sleeping. This complication is usually mild and gradually gets better after a few weeks. Using artificial tear drops and moisturizing ointments during sleeping helps you decrease this complication, but if this condition is severe and makes the eyelid remain open for a long time, it can cause dry eye and corneal ulcers, which may lead to serious eye problems. In this situation, it should be followed by a second corrective surgery.
In very rare cases, lower eyelid surgery may result in an acute hemorrhage, which by pressuring on the optic nerve leads to severe and permanent vision loss. In order to prevent this complication, the person should avoid bending or doing strenuous activities in the early hours after surgery, and should be examined by an ophthalmologist if any severe pain or vision loss occurs.
About remaining effect of the stitches and scars site, it should be noted that the surgeon's acquaintance with the vital anatomy of the vessels and nerves and vital tissues of these areas is very important. If the surgeon makes tiny cuts (incisions) into the natural creases or folds of the eyelids, it will not have significant effects on the eyelid. The scars may remain slightly pink for 3-6 months or more after surgery. They will fade to a thin, nearly invisible white line and gradually they will dissolve. In the lower eyelid, if there is no excess skin and only puffiness is due to fatty outflow, the procedure is performed by creating an incision inside the lower eyelid (transconjunctival incision) and at the end it does not need to suture. If there is excess loose skin, an incision should be created under the eyelashes line, where will not leave a noticeable effect.
An eyelid surgeon tries to make the two sides look quite similar after surgery, but occasionally and rarely, due to the difference in the repair process on both sides, eyelids may not be completely symmetric.
About the possibility of returning this problem with increasing age, it should be noted that this issue varies from person to person, and as we can not prevent from aging, we can not completely prevent from changing tissue and loosing the skin over time, but by controlling health and skin care, it can be controlled to some degree.
The points that a candidate for Bleoharoplasty should know:
Do not use some medications such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Indomethacin, Piroxicam and Mefenamic Acid for about two weeks before surgery, and if you need any pain killer for any reason, just use simple Acetaminophen or Codeine.
1. Before entering the operating room, be sure to completely remove your makeup.
2. Use a cold compress for 24- 48 hours after surgery. To do this, you can use a bag of frozen food, put a few cubes of ice in it and place it on your eyelids and around your eyes. Be sure before placing the ice bag on your eyes cover the surgical wounds of your eye lids with two pieces of sterile gauze. Use a warm compress after 48 hours to remove any possible bruises.
3. During the first two days after surgery, when you sleep, it is best to lift the pillow below your head and sleep with your head elevated 45 degrees. This will minimize the bruising and swelling of the eyelids.
4. Take your prescribed medicines according to your ophthalmologist’s instructions.
5. According to recommendation of your surgeon, 6-8 days after surgery, go to the hospital or your surgeon’s office for suture removal.