Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery) Upper Eyelids

How to Prepare for Surgery

We will have you come in for a pre-surgical appointment 1-2 weeks prior to your surgery date to go over post op instructions and give you a list of medications that will be called into your pharmacy. All prescriptions that are called in are to be taken after surgery. If you have someone that will be taking care of you, it is recommended that they come to this pre-surgical appointment to hear and understand post op instructions. We will provide one dose of arnica to help prevent bruising, which you can start taking 8 days prior to your procedure. If you would like to take another dose post-surgery, arnica supplements can be purchased at our office or in common drugstores. We recommend obtaining all necessary items before surgery, that way after surgery you can go straight home and rest.

What Can I Expect After Surgery?

For the first 5-7 days post-surgery, it is common to experience bruising of the eyelid and around your eye. 

You may experience blurred vision after the surgery due to a lubricating gel that is placed in the eyes during the procedure. This is normal and should subside quickly.

It is advised that you ice your eyes after surgery to help with swelling. We recommend keeping a fresh bowl of ice water nearby and using cotton rounds or make up removal pads to dip in the ice water and place on the eyes. This is advised over using traditional ice packs because the cotton rounds don’t put as much pressure on the eye. You should change out the cotton rounds regularly and avoid placing used ones back into the bowl of ice water. 

When you are not icing your eyes, please keep the Erythromycin ointment on the incision. We never want the incision to appear dry, as that will hinder healing and create more prominent scarring. Please use clean cotton tip applicators to place the ointment on the eye and avoid touching the incision with your fingers. 

Prescriptions Post-Surgery

• You will be prescribed medications based on your health history. 
• You will receive pain medication to use for the first 3-5 days after surgery, if needed.
• An antibiotic will be prescribed for you to start taking the day after surgery.
• An oral steroid will be prescribed to help reduce the swelling.
• Anti-nausea medication will help limit any nausea you may experience after surgery.

Activity Level After Surgery 

• Avoid any strenuous physical activity for 1-2 weeks. 
• You may return to school or light duty work (non-physical labor) within a week of the surgery, or as tolerated. We can provide school or work notes as needed.
• Although you just had surgery, we recommend you do not stay in bed while awake. The more movement and blood flow, the easier the recovery can be. 
• Try to transfer to a chair and walk around the house. You want to be as active as possible but avoid doing anything too strenuous.
• The swelling will worsen over the first 3-4 days after surgery, which is expected, and will begin to subside shortly thereafter.

Skin Care After Surgery

• We ask that you use gentle cleanser on your face until the sutures are removed, which is typically done at the one week follow up.  
• We will provide a scar cream (Silagen Scar Refinement System) at your one-week follow-up to help prevent scarring as much as possible.
• Protect your facial skin from any sun exposure for months after surgery.  Please use sunscreen anytime that you are outside. Exposing the new healing scars to the sun will cause more prominent scarring. 

What Happens at the 1 week Follow-Up?

• We will remove any sutures that are ready to come out.
• We have a Candela Vbeam Prima Perfecta Laser Machine, a pulsed-dye laser (PDL), that will help remove residual dark red or purple bruising more quickly.
• We take photos at each follow up appointment to monitor your healing progress. 

What Happens at Additional Follow-Up Appointments?

At each appointment, we spend time making sure you are comfortable with your results and review the post-op care that is needed for each progressing week. 

When Should I Call My Doctor? 

• Excessive bleeding
• Itching, redness, or rash around the eyelids
• Temperature above 100.5 degrees
• Excessive, sudden swelling or discoloration
• Severe pain or pressure around your eye
• If you have any questions or concerns between follow-up appointments.

Who Should I Call if I Have Questions? 

Please call our office at (972) 914-3660. You may also email photos or questions to info@dsa.live and someone will get in touch with you within 24-48 hours.