4 Essential Tips for Blepharoplasty Recovery

At Rival, we’re best known for our work on Rhinoplasties in Toronto. But while Dr. Rival is famous for his skill and knowledge in the field of rhinoplasty, we offer a wide range of cosmetic options to help give you the power to decide what your face and features should look like.

Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, has become one of the most popular cosmetic treatments over the years. When talking about other cosmetic surgeries, we always want to provide as much information as possible on the recovery process. Here, we’ll cover all the most important information you need to know about blepharoplasty recovery and the eyelid surgery healing process.

Wait, what’s blepharoplasty?

In short, a blepharoplasty procedure is eyelid surgery. Just like you get a rhinoplasty procedure to adjust the shape of your nose, or an otoplasty procedure to adjust the shape of your ear, a blepharoplasty procedure can adjust the shape of your eyelids.

It’s important to note, of course, that the upper and lower eyelids have different shapes, and therefore require different procedures. This is where you’ll hear the terms “upper blepharoplasty” and “lower blepharoplasty”, referring to which part of the eye is getting the attention.

Generally, the process will involve the removal of excess skin or fat through an incision that is “camouflaged”, in the natural folds of the skin. The process is a surgical one, similar to rhinoplasty.

So why get a blepharoplasty?

It’s unlikely that your eyelids are the first part of your face you think about when it comes to maintaining a youthful, satisfying appearance. For most people, they worry about the big features – lips, nose and ears. But the eyes are said to be the windows to the soul – so you should be worrying at least a little about the framing of those windows. If you have wrinkles around your eyes, for example, you might want to look into a method of smoothing out the skin for a more youthful experience.

The eyelids are a bit trickier, however. If you have excess fat and skin on your lower eyelids, it can make it appear like you have permanent “bags” under your eyes, giving a constant appearance of exhaustion and aging. Excess fat and skin on the upper eyelids can give you a permanently “lidded” look, making you always appear tired or disinterested. More severe buildups of skin and fat can even end up impairing vision – another good reason to get a blepharoplasty.

The blepharoplasty recovery

The actual process of a blepharoplasty will normally take roughly an hour to complete, two hours if you opt to get a lower blepharoplasty and upper blepharoplasty combined. The procedure itself is generally a painless one, but it is normally accompanied by swelling and bruising for two weeks or so. Here’s some general tips to make those two weeks a much smoother process.

#1 Don’t rub your eyelids!

Rubbing your eyelid is only going to slow down the healing process, and possibly lead to damaged stitching. Do your best to avoid touching your eyes altogether.

#2 Keep the eyelids clean

Ask your doctor for advice on how to gently clean the eyelids. The best way to go about cleaning them very much depends on whether you got upper or lower blepharoplasty, or both. Gently using a damp cloth is better than vigorous rubbing.

#3 Use drops to moisturize

Using drops can help alleviate any discomfort from dry eyes. If your doctor doesn’t give you drops post-surgery, ask them which kind they recommend.

#4 Give yourself time off

While you should be able to go home right after the surgery, rest and relaxation is always a good idea post surgery. Taking a week or two off after surgery will also help the visible swelling go down, and let you feel more comfortable about being in public.

Bonus tip – ask Rival!

No two people are alike. Because of this, no two cosmetic procedures are alike either. At Rival, we’re always happy to help answer any questions you might have. Feel free to contact us today to book your consultation!