Recovering from Eyelid Surgery

What to Expect After Eyelid Surgery

Eyelid surgery is usually a quick and relatively painless procedure for most patients. However, because the eyelid skin is very thin and has many blood vessels, you can expect some bruising and swelling for 1–2 weeks. It often looks worse than it feels—some patients have very little swelling, while others may feel so swollen that it’s hard to open their eyes.

Tips to Reduce Bruising and Swelling

We use specialized tools and medications during surgery to help minimize bruising, but you can also speed up healing by:

• Applying lightweight ice packs consistently for the first 2 days
• Keeping your head elevated (sleep with extra pillows or in a recliner)
• Avoiding blood thinners like Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and supplements such as Fish Oil or Vitamin E, if possible
• Taking Arnica supplements and applying Arnica cream around (but not on) the incision area

What’s Normal After Surgery

• Bruising and swelling around and under the eyes
• Swelling may get worse for the first 2 days before it starts to improve
• Small amounts of bleeding from the incisions for a few days
• Red or pink tears
• Mild discomfort, especially a few hours after surgery when the numbness fades
• Blurry or smeared vision due to ointment applied to protect your eyes (like looking through Vaseline!)

When to Call Dr. Stewart

• Sudden or severe increase in pain or swelling
• Vision that gets darker or dimmer
• Heavy bleeding that doesn’t stop with pressure
• One side hurts much more than the other
• Swelling or redness getting worse 5–7 days after surgery
• Incisions opening or splitting

Scar Care After Surgery

Scars from eyelid surgery are usually small and fade over time. It’s normal to feel bumps or ridges along the incision line, which tend to be most noticeable about 2 weeks after surgery and usually improve within a few months.

To care for your scars:

• Use antibiotic ointment as directed to keep the area moist during the first week
• After your follow-up visit with Dr. Stewart, gently massage the incision area as advised
• Protect scars from sun exposure by using sunscreen, especially on scars near your brow or forehead
• Start silicone-based scar gel or sheets about 2 weeks after surgery
• There are in office procedures or treatments we can perform to minimize scars if you would like. Discuss this with Dr. Stewart

If you have any questions or concerns during your recovery, don’t hesitate to reach out!