What Is The Recovery Time For Eyelid Surgery?

Eyelid surgery – also known as a blepharoplasty – is a cosmetic procedure that can help address common symptoms of eye aging, including sagging, drooping, and even fatty bags underneath the eyes. If you’ve ever felt as though you’ve looked tired or disinterested due to sagging eye skin or undereye bags, then you may be a good candidate for eyelid surgery.

But there’s just one thing from holding you back from undergoing eyelid surgery – the recovery time. How long will it take you to recover from the procedure? Do you have to take weeks off from work? Will you be laid up in bed for days at a time?

While you should take about 3 to 5 days off from your normal activities after the procedure, the truth is that eyelid surgery doesn’t require as much recovery time as you might initially think. While everyone’s recovery period varies, here’s what you can expect in terms of recovery time for eyelid surgery:

- 0 to 7 days: You’ll experience some swelling and bruising after the procedure; during the first few days, most patients prefer to remain at home while the majority of the swelling goes down. A lot of patients are able to return to their normal activities around the house within a few days after the surgery.

- 7 to 10 days: After the first recovery week, the swelling and bruising should have gone down enough to make it possible to wear makeup. This is when a lot of patients choose to go back to work, as they’re able to hide any remaining bruising under concealer and foundation.

- 14 days: By this time, most of your swelling and bruising should be gone, so you can resume social activities. You may even be able to go to the gym, although that will be determined by your plastic surgeon during your follow-up appointments.

Want to learn more about the recovery time for eyelid surgery? Schedule a consultation with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kyle Song to find out more.