Lower blepharoplasty is a plastic surgery procedure of the eyelids that transforms a tired appearance caused by bags and wrinkles under the eyes into a fresher and more rested appearance. Although this surgery is frequently employed to reverse the signs of aging, it is also performed on younger patients with bags and dark circles due to a hereditary factor.
The success of this surgery depends on several factors, which we have mentioned in various notes on this blog. It is essential to choose the appropriate technique according to each person’s age and expectations. Patients who undergo this surgery must understand their role in the postoperative period and have clear and realistic expectations regarding their evolution in recovery.
Below, we offer a review of what to expect according to the different stages of the recovery process:
First day
– It is normal to have slight bleeding from the incisions that can last up to the third day. To stop bleeding, apply a moist, sterile gauze compress to the wound for 3 minutes.
– If you have undergone a lower blepharoplasty with fat transposition, you will notice some numbness in the cheeks, upper lip, and nose; this sensation may persist up to the third month.
– Some patients report nasal congestion and eye irritation.
First week
- You are very likely to experience symptoms of dry eyes, such as tearing, a gritty sensation, and blurred vision; dryness may extend up to 3 months in some cases. Apply the lubricating drops indicated by your surgeon.
– You will notice swelling and bruising increasing from the second day after surgery. Applying sunscreen to the bruised areas, especially the cheeks, is crucial to avoid skin pigmentation and spots.
– Patients who underwent canthopexy will notice their eyes are slanted. This slanted feature can be observed up to the second month.
– You will have sutures under your eyelashes, on your cheeks, and in the corners of your eyes. The sutures on your cheeks are delicate and should not be manipulated.
– You may notice that your eye’s conjunctiva becomes swollen as if you had pink eye. This is called conjunctival chemosis, which may take up to 8 weeks to resolve. We treat chemosis with medicated eye drops.
Weeks 2 to 4
– You may feel discomfort, such as pain and tension in the corners of your eyes, especially when smiling and blinking. This sensation is due to canthopexy and may persist into the second month.
– 80% of postoperative swelling disappears in the first four weeks; however, the remaining 20% takes 3 to 6 months to dissipate.
– For patients who underwent the orbital fat transposition technique, it is important to remember that the fat will harden from the second week to approximately the fifth week. You may also notice a raised area; please do NOT massage or manipulate this region.
Weeks 4 to 8
- From the fourth week onwards, you will notice less bruising and swelling. However, lymphatic edema (fluid in the cheeks) may persist into the third postoperative month.
– You will now also notice that the fat is beginning to soften and that the contour of your eyes is normalizing.
– The healing process is incomplete; however, your incisions will nearly be imperceptible.
– Finally, some patients will feel sutures in the corners of their eyes. In specific cases, these sutures can be removed after three months of surgery.
Most important:
To avoid skin pigmentation and spots:
- Wear sunglasses with UV protection to protect eyelid skin.
- Apply anti-staining products to the bruised skin areas. Use only products recommended by your surgeon.
- Apply sunscreen to bruises frequently and until they disappear entirely.
The healing process is asymmetrical and differs from one side of your face to the other; therefore, it is important to have clear expectations regarding it.
- Do not expect both eyes to heal equally.
- After surgery, it is standard for one eyelid to be more swollen, bruised, or irritated than the other.
Surgical results are best appreciated 6 or 8 weeks after the operation. Addressing surgical results before the second month is difficult and inadvisable since complete tissue healing takes 3 to 6 months.
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