Blepharoplasty Recovery: Day-by-Day and Week-by-Week Guide

Most people take about 2 weeks off work after eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), according to the NHS. Bruising and redness can take several weeks to fade, and scars may look visible and feel tight for a few months. Serious problems are rare: in a U.S. database of 4,879 eyelid surgeries, 0.4% had a major complication within 30 days (Annals of Plastic Surgery, 2023).

Recovery timeline at a glance

Sources: NHS, ASPS, Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2004.

The first 24 hours

Eyelid surgery takes about 45 minutes to 2.5 hours, under local or general anesthesia, and most people go home the same day (NHS). Your surgeon may apply lubricating ointment and cold compresses, and sometimes loosely cover the eyes with gauze (ASPS).

This first day matters most for the rarest serious problem: bleeding behind the eye. A survey of U.S. eyelid surgeons covering 269,433 operations found that most orbital hemorrhages happened within the first 3 hours, and the risk dropped sharply after 24 hours (Hass et al., 2004). Ask your surgeon whether someone should stay with you that night, and avoid planning travel for that first day.

Week 1: swelling, bruising and dry eyes

The NHS lists these as common and temporary:

• Puffy, numb eyelids that are difficult to close
• Irritated, sensitive or watery eyes, which may last a few weeks
• Bruising
• Scars, which should eventually fade to be almost invisible

ASPS adds dry eyes and irritation at the incisions, which can be eased with medicine, cold compresses and ointment (ASPS).

Aftercare the NHS describes

• Prop your head up with pillows for a couple of days when resting
• Clean the lids gently with the prescribed ointment or drops
• Use a cold pack, such as frozen peas wrapped in a towel
• Wear sunglasses against sun and wind
• Avoid strenuous activity and swimming for a few days
• Avoid smoking, rubbing your eyes and wearing contact lenses

Source: NHS. ASPS also stresses careful sun protection and dark sunglasses until healing is complete. Ask your surgeon when you can wear contacts again, as we found no fixed rule.

Weeks 2 to 6: back to normal life

By about 2 weeks, many people are back at work, depending on the job. Bruises and redness take several weeks to fade completely (NHS). ASPS says most patients are presentable in public in 10 to 14 days, but final healing can take a few months (ASPS). Ask your surgeon when you can wear makeup near the incisions.

Screens are a common question. We found no guideline on screen time after blepharoplasty. Because dry and irritated eyes are common, regular breaks and the eye drops your surgeon recommends may help you feel more comfortable.

Upper vs lower eyelid surgery

Sources: NHS, ASPS. ASPS notes that "lid lag," a pulling down of the lower lid, is often temporary. We found no reliable study comparing recovery time for upper and lower surgery, so ask your surgeon what to expect for your plan.

Warning signs: when to get help fast

Bleeding into the eye socket is rare but can threaten sight. The large survey above found orbital hemorrhage in about 1 in 2,000 cosmetic eyelid operations and permanent vision loss in about 1 in 22,000 (Hass et al., 2004). A second survey of 752,816 operations estimated permanent vision loss at about 1 in 30,000. In those cases, the most common symptoms were pain and pressure, usually within the first 24 hours (Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2011).

Get urgent help from your surgeon or an emergency room if you have:

• Severe or rapidly increasing pain around the eye
• A tense, bulging eye or swelling that gets much worse quickly
• Any change in vision, such as blurring that does not clear or double vision
• Heavy bleeding that does not stop

Both surveys linked high blood pressure with this problem. The 2004 survey also noted aspirin use around surgery, vomiting and physical activity. The NHS says your surgeon needs to know if you take blood thinners such as aspirin, warfarin or apixaban. Talk to the doctor who prescribed a blood thinner before changing it; that decision needs a joint plan.

How long the results last

ASPS describes the results of eyelid surgery as long-lasting. It can correct some problems permanently, but your face keeps aging, and ongoing sun protection helps maintain the result (ASPS). ASPS also says there is no guarantee: sometimes a single operation does not give the best result, and another surgery may be needed. The NHS notes that some people feel they need a second operation because they did not get the effect they wanted.

Adding a brow lift

Eyelid surgery is often combined with a brow lift. In the U.S. database study mentioned above, adding a brow lift did not raise the rate of major complications, which stayed at about 0.4% (Annals of Plastic Surgery, 2023). Hematoma was the most common major complication in every group. Ask how your recovery plan changes if both are done together.

Questions to ask before surgery

• Will you operate on my upper lids, lower lids or both, and through which incision?
• Local or general anesthesia, and who will monitor me afterward?
• Which of my medicines and supplements should I discuss before surgery?
• How soon can I read, use screens, wear contacts and exercise?
• What should I do, and whom should I call, if I have pain or vision changes that night?

Recovery after eyelid surgery abroad

• Avoid a same-day flight. The highest-risk window for bleeding is the first 24 hours. Ask your surgeon when they are happy for you to fly, and see our guide on flying after surgery.
• Plan for stitch or strip removal. Strips usually come off within a week. Ask whether you need to stay for that or can have it done at home.
• Pack for dry eyes. Bring sunglasses and enough of the prescribed drops or ointment for the trip home.
• Bring records. Ask for the operative note in English, listing which lids were treated and how.

Our guide to eyelid surgery in South Korea covers trip planning, and the eyelid surgery cost page has U.S. price ranges. For clinic checks, read is plastic surgery in South Korea safe, and before choosing a surgeon, use our question checklist.