Recovery After Blepharoplasty Day by Day: A Practical Guide
Stitches after blepharoplasty are usually removed between day 5 and day 10. Swelling and bruising typically settle within 1–2 weeks, when the eyelid usually looks cosmetically presentable. Makeup is generally possible after 2–3 weeks. Exact timing is individual and set by your doctor; at BEAUTYSHAPE we follow the patient through to full healing.
What do the first 48 hours look like?
At BEAUTYSHAPE, blepharoplasty is performed on an outpatient basis under local anaesthesia with a radiofrequency scalpel. The procedure takes about 45 minutes and you go home the same day with no hospital stay. The first two days are usually the most noticeable for swelling and any bruising around the eyes.
Rest and cold compresses, as advised by your doctor, matter most in this period. Sleeping with your head slightly elevated helps swelling drain. The sutures are microsurgical and the upper-eyelid scar sits in the natural crease, so over time it tends to become inconspicuous.
- Day 0: procedure around 45 minutes, home the same day.
- Days 0–2: peak swelling and possible bruising; cold and rest.
- Sleep with your head slightly raised to help drainage.
- Protect the suture area and avoid rubbing the eyes.
When do swelling and bruising fade?
Swelling and bruising are a normal, expected part of healing. They usually subside gradually over the first one to two weeks. The pace is individual and depends on your tissue type and how well you follow the aftercare routine.
The final aesthetic result takes longer to settle, on the order of several weeks to months, as the scar matures. Seeing some swelling or a slight colour change in the skin after a few days is common.
- Weeks 1–2: swelling settles and bruises fade.
- Weeks to months: scar matures and the final look emerges.
- Protect the scar from direct sun and use sun protection as advised.
When are the stitches removed?
Stitches after blepharoplasty are usually removed between day 5 and day 10. The exact day is set by the doctor based on how healing is progressing. At BEAUTYSHAPE, follow-up checks are included in the price and the aftercare package is a gift.
Stitch removal is a short, routine step. Until then, keep the sutures clean and dry per your instructions and avoid activities that would strain them.
- Stitches: usually days 5–10.
- Check-ups included; the doctor follows you to full healing.
- Keep sutures protected and unstrained until removal.
When can I return to work?
Many people feel presentable at around two weeks, once swelling and bruising have largely settled. Return tends to be earlier for office work than for physically demanding jobs.
Because healing is individual, always confirm your return date and any restrictions with your doctor at a follow-up check.
- Around week 2 the eyelid is often cosmetically acceptable.
- Office work sooner than physically demanding work.
- The doctor confirms timing based on your healing.
When can I wear makeup, exercise, use lenses and be in the sun?
Eye-area makeup is usually possible after 2–3 weeks, once the operated area is sufficiently healed. Put contact lenses back in only after your doctor explicitly agrees.
Early on, it is recommended to avoid exertion, bending forward, saunas, swimming pools and direct sun. Return to sport and full activity gradually and on your doctor's guidance, not by how you feel.
- Makeup: usually after 2–3 weeks.
- Contact lenses: only after the doctor agrees.
- Early on: no sauna, pool, bending or direct sun.
- Sport and exertion gradually, as advised by the doctor.
What is normal and when should I call the doctor?
Mild to moderate swelling, bruising, tightness or a dry feeling around the eyes in the first days is usual and gradually improves. If you are unsure, it is always fine to reach out for a check.
Contact the clinic or doctor immediately if you develop severe pain, increasing swelling, vision problems or a fever. These are not a normal part of healing and need to be assessed without delay.
- Normal: mild swelling, bruising, tightness, steady improvement.
- Call at once: severe pain, increasing swelling, vision problems, fever.
- When in doubt, reach out for a check-up.
- Stitches usually days 5–10; the eyelid is often presentable around week 2.
- Makeup typically after 2–3 weeks; contact lenses only with the doctor's approval.
- First days: rest and cold, sleep head-elevated, protect sutures and scar.
- Warning signs (severe pain, increasing swelling, vision problems, fever) mean call at once.
- Timing is individual; check-ups are included and the doctor follows you to full healing.
FAQ
How long is recovery after blepharoplasty?
Stitches usually come out between day 5 and day 10, swelling generally settles within 1–2 weeks, and makeup is typically possible after 2–3 weeks. The final look develops over several weeks to months as the scar matures. Timing is individual and confirmed by your doctor.
Does it hurt and do I have to stay in hospital?
The procedure is outpatient under local anaesthesia and takes about 45 minutes, so you go home the same day with no hospitalisation. Manage any discomfort according to your doctor's instructions.
When can I wear makeup and contact lenses?
Eye-area makeup is usually possible after about 2–3 weeks. Reintroduce contact lenses only after your doctor explicitly agrees.
Will the scar be visible?
The upper-eyelid scar is placed in the natural crease and the sutures are microsurgical, so it tends to become inconspicuous over time. Protect it from the sun while it matures and use protection as advised.
When should I contact the clinic outside a scheduled check-up?
Reach out immediately for severe pain, increasing swelling, vision problems or fever. For any other doubts it is always fine to ask at a check-up; the doctor follows the patient through to full healing.
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