The investment made for your eyelid surgery does not end upon exiting the operating suite. In fact, the success of your operation depends on your commitment to properly care for yourself in the postoperative period. Surgeons and patients must work together to obtain the best results; for this reason, I want to share a few essential guidelines to help you care for your surgical incisions.
Keeping your eyelid incisions clean
Dry blood and dead skin can build up quickly around the sutures, predisposing to infection or increased swelling if the incision is not kept free of debris. Therefore, the first step in taking good care of your incisions is maintaining the area clean.
For this purpose, I recommend diluting a small amount of baby shampoo in a clean basin. Wet a clean or sterile gauze with the soapy water and cleanse the incision by carefully patting the area. It is important to avoid scraping the skin’s surface as this may easily open up the wound. Carefully dab the wound dry with a clean, soft gauze or cloth.
Applying medicated ointment on the eyelid incisions
A medicated ophthalmic ointment is prescribed to all patients after surgery. When opening the tube cap, be aware that the ointment may gush out, causing you to waste much of the medication. Avoid this by lightly squeezing the tube and gently applying negative pressure on its sides once you have the needed amount of ointment.
A grain-sized quantity of ointment is enough for both upper and lower eyelids. I do not recommend covering the wound with a thick layer of ointment. Use a Q-tip or cotton applicator to gently apply the ointment to the wounds. You may do this free-handed, guided by a mirror, or if possible, ask your caretaker to help you with this step.
Using cold compresses to curb swelling and provide comfort
Cold compresses are an easy and practical way to provide comfort after your eyelid surgery. You may use gel packs or a bag of frozen peas, which adapt to the face’s curvature. Place a clean gauze over the eyelids and then set the compress over it. I recommend applying compresses for 5 minutes every hour while awake. You can use the cold compresses for 12 to 24 hours after surgery.
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