Visible recovery from eyelid surgery takes about 10 days. The final result is visible after 3 months. For a speedy recovery and a good result, it is advisable to follow the aftercare advice. Here we describe how the recovery goes, how long the recovery takes after eyelid surgery and give advice on aftercare.

Eyelid surgery recovery per day

1. Day 1 – Immediately after the procedure, the treated area is still numb. In the hours following the procedure, the effect of the anesthesia wears off and the eyelids may feel sore. You can, if you like, cool today with ice glasses or bag of peas from the freezer.
2. Day 2 – In the first few days after surgery, swelling increases. Today the swelling is often at its worst.
3. Day 3 – You may have somewhat drier eyes than normal. This is because the blink rate and tear production change temporarily. If you are very bothered, the doctor may prescribe drops.
4. Day 4 – A scab often appears on the wounds. This is best left in place. However, you can carefully clean the area around the wound with a cotton swab.
5. Day 5 – Around this day, there may be some irritation of the scar. You may feel the stitches pulling a bit and the wound may start to itch. The latter is a good sign; itching means it is healing.
6. Day 6 – The worst of the swelling has now subsided. You are probably looking forward to tomorrow because that is when the stitches may come out.
7. Day 7 – Today the sutures will be removed.

Eyelid surgery recovery after one week

After the sutures are removed on Day 7, a small wound may sometimes appear (again). This will heal on its own over the next few days. Once the wounds are completely closed, you can wet your face, apply makeup and wear lenses again. You may now drive a car again. Please wait a week before doing any sports. Bicycling and walking can, of course, be done. If there are bruises after the procedure, they may still be visible. The bruises will fade and disappear by themselves.

Irritated eyes after eyelid surgery

After eyelid surgery, the eyes may be somewhat irritated. For example, you may experience dry eyes, a pulling sensation at the wounds, a dull feeling in the eyelids and swelling. This is all normal and will go away on its own. Do you feel that your symptoms are abnormal or persistent? If so, it is important that you contact us. Complications with eyelid surgery are not common, but as with any surgical procedure, there is a small chance of such things as infection.

10 Tips after eyelid surgery

1. In the week following eyelid surgery, keep your head higher than the rest of your body. Sleep on an extra pillow and don’t bend over to tie your laces. This way you avoid putting pressure on the wound. In fact, pressure on the wound can make swelling worse.
2. For this reason, it is also best not to exercise or lift heavy things.
3. If you are in pain, you can take paracetamol, but not Ibuprofen. This is because it acts as a blood thinner. Consult with the doctor if you take daily blood thinners for a certain condition. This does not have to be a problem for the treatment, but do consult during the initial consultation.
4. Try sleeping on your back. Worried about turning in your sleep? Then place pillows on either side or sleep with a travel pillow around your neck.
5. The wounds should not get wet. You can just shower, but keep your face dry. You can gently clean the eyes and around the wounds with a cotton swab. You can clean your face with a washcloth.
6. Do you suffer greatly from swelling? For some people, the supplement Bromelain helps with that. This is a natural supplement based on pineapple extract. Do not use if you are hypersensitive to pineapple.
7. Do you bruise easily? Then it may help to take Arnica drops or tablets a few days before and or a few days after the procedure. This is a homeopathic medicine that helps reduce swelling and bruising.
8. Cooling the wound is especially effective in the first few hours after surgery. After that, you may cool to temporarily relieve some pain, but do not cool too often or for too long (max 10 min). For cooling, use ice goggles or a bag of peas from the freezer. Do not apply these directly to the skin, but put a gauze between them.
9. Arrange for a driver! Even if you feel well and have little discomfort from the surgery, it is not advisable to drive yourself right away. Should you get into an accident, the fact that you have had surgery may be insurance disadvantageous.
10. Protect scars from UV radiation. It takes a year for a scar to really heal completely. Because the scars in an upper eyelid correction often disappear completely into the fold, wearing sunglasses is sufficient. With a lower eyelid surgery, it is recommended to additionally apply SPF 50 to the scar.

Eyelid correction without surgery

There are also less invasive options for eyelid correction. View options for eyelid surgery without surgery here.