Blepharoplasty Eyelid Surgery Recovery

Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery) in Sydney – Recovery

What should you expect after eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) in Sydney?

Most eyelid surgery performed by Dr Gavin Sandercoe is a day surgery procedure, so you should expect to be able to go home on the same day as your blepharoplasty in Sydney. However, there is no rush to go home if you don’t feel up to it; some patients prefer to stay in hospital overnight after their eyelid surgery. Dr Gavin Sandercoe will monitor you to ensure your safety during and after your eyelid surgery in Sydney.

Side effects that may occur after eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) in Sydney

In the first 24 hours, it is normal to expect the following symptoms:-

•    Drowsiness
•    Dry throat
•    Nausea (possibly)
•    Discomfort and stiffness

Medications after eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) in Sydney

The local anaesthetic helps with pain control for the first evening, but has usually worn off by the following morning. This is usually the time when patients feel the most soreness. Regularly taking paracetamol for the first few days after the operation is important in minimising your discomfort and need for stronger pain killers. The majority of patients do not need more pain relief than simple paracetamol and anti-inflammatories.

Artificial tears during the day and eye ointment at night is also a good method of improving your comfort after eyelid operations. Our advice is to use preservative free drops, as occasionally patients will have an allergy to the eye drop preservative which makes things worse. You will be given a prescription to help manage any pain after eyelid surgery in Sydney. You may also be given a prescription for an antibiotic to prevent an infection from developing in the incisions. If you are prone to feeling nauseated after operations, you will also be given a prescription for something to help with that.

Return to activity after eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) in Sydney

There is about a week of social down time after eyelid surgery, where you will not want to be having photographs taken at events. Bruising is a normal part of recovery, although we do try to minimise that risk. Most people can return to an office job within a few days, and are comfortable in the general public within a week. If eyelid surgery is combined with other procedures, the recovery is likely to be a longer.

Gently walking is the only exercise you should plan on doing for the first few weeks, and we advise you to wait until after your three week post operative appointment before returning to the gym or restarting running. Your body will tell you (with pain) if you are trying too soon. When you feel pain, it’s important that you back off and wait a few days before trying that activity again, rather than “pushing through the pain.” Allowing time for your body to heal will minimise your post operative risks from your eyelid surgery in Sydney.

Follow up after eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) in Sydney

You will be asked to see Dr Gavin Sandercoe for several follow up appointments to ensure that your body is healing well from the procedure. This also allows your Specialist Plastic Surgeon in Sydney to treat any complications that occur. You will have appointments scheduled at one and three weeks with the practice nurse, and three months with your Specialist Plastic Surgeon after your eyelid surgery in Sydney. Some procedures may require longer follow up. If there are any problems, we want to hear from you and sort it out as soon as possible!