Upper Eyelid Surgery / Blepharoplasty

What Happens During Eyelid Surgery?

During eyelid surgery our RPS surgeon will repair the damage or remove lesions on your eyelid. The incision is then closed with stitches.

Eyelid surgery can be undertaken on the upper and/or lower eyelids with a local anaesthetic, with or without sedation. However, lower eyelid surgery is normally conducted under general anaesthetic as a tissue flap may be required to close the incision. Sometimes a tissue graft is necessary to improve the look of the eyelid and ensure it is functioning correctly.

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Recovery and Rehabilitation

To help with swelling cold compresses can be used while you’re in hospital and for a day or two after you return home.

In can take up to seven to 10 days to return to normal activities after eyelid surgery and you may experience swelling and bruising.

The RPS surgeons recommend all eyelid surgery patients take at least two weeks off work to recover.

Notify the RPS team immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
fever/high temperature – 38°C or higher
shortness of breath
leakage of blood or fluid after day one of recovery
increasing pain around the site
increasing redness around incision site
heavy bleeding from incision site.

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What else you should know

Can eyelid surgery be conducted under general anaesthetic?

Eyelid surgery can be conducted under both general anaesthetic or local anaesthetic with heavy sedation. Your RPS surgeon will discuss the risks of both methods and you can work together to decide the best option for you.

Are there any other symptoms that occur after eyelid surgery?

Mild bruising is the main symptom experienced after eyelid surgery. This bruising often subsides with seven to 10 days after surgery. In some cases patients get a black eye or more extensive bruising halfway through their recovery.

Very rarely patients experience bleeding, however we’d recommend getting in touch with your surgeon if this occurs so it can be investigated. The small blood vessels may need to be cauterised.

Sometimes ectropion is experienced after eyelid surgery and is a result of resection or overly aggressive plication of the muscle fat pad or skin over the lower eyelid. This condition can be rectified through steroid injections, but can be avoided altogether if your surgeon is conservative during surgery on the lower eyelid.

To help with recovery, our RPS surgeons always recommend at least two weeks downtime after surgery. If you notice any symptoms out of the ordinary please contact the RPS team as soon as possible.

I suffer from dry eyes, can I still get eyelid surgery?

If you are prone to dry eyes you should speak with your surgeon prior to your eyelid surgery. Your procedure may be modified or our RPS team may recommend forgoing surgery altogether.

What is the long-term outlook following eyelid surgery?

Over time swelling and bruising will reduce. It may take several weeks, but soon you will start to see the results, both aesthetically and with functionality, especially if you had severely loose upper eyelid skin or large bags underneath your eyes. Some incisions may take up to a year to fully heal.

While your surgery will successfully address the condition you highlighted, keep in mind that you will continue to experience the signs of ageing in the area the surgery was conducted.

How will RPS manage my post-operative care?

Your RPS surgeon will give you specific advice regarding your individual post-operative recovery. They will advise: