Eye Lid Surgery | Blepharoplasty Post Operative Beverly Hills | Los Angeles

ONE DAY AFTER SURGERY

The next morning following your surgery, you will return to Dr Motykie’s office for your first post-operative visit. Your eyes will be swollen and tender. Upon arrival to the office you will be escorted to a private examination room where your eyes will be examined. After your examination, you will be allowed to return back to your home. All of your questions will be answered and you will be given instructions for the following week.

Diet: Mostly patients start with a liquid diet the night after surgery. Usually by the next day most patients are back to a normal diet.
Medications: Some swelling, bruising and discomfort are normal immediately following surgery and it is typically controlled with your prescription pain medication. Do not take any other pain medication including Tylenol, aspirin or ibuprofen in combination with your pain medications unless you are given permission by Dr Motykie. A combination of Arnica Montana and Bromelain are encouraged after surgery in order to promote your healing process.
Bathing: Showering and bathing are permitted the very next day after surgery.
Activity: You may feel tired and sore for several days following the surgery. Light activity is allowed and encouraged including moving about your house and going for walks outside in order to aid the circulation in your lower extremities. However, no heavy lifting or strenuous activity should be attempted during your first week of recovery. You can usually return to a desk-type job within 72 hours, physical exercise generally can be resumed 2-3 weeks after surgery.

ONE WEEK AFTER SURGERY

The results of your surgery will typically be obscured by swelling and bruising at one week after surgery. Your eyes may be bruised, swollen, and uncomfortable for a day or two, but the pain shouldn’t be severe. Any discomfort you do feel can be relieved with your prescribed medications but most patients say that lower eyelid surgery is almost “painless.” Some people can return to work after a few days and some after one week. Most patients can drive their vehicles within a few days after surgery, but plan on having someone drive you to your first few post-operative visits anyway. In regards to an exercise program, use common sense and use pain as your guide. The majority of patients are allowed to return to light, low impact cardiovascular exercise after the first week of recovery. Any stitches will be removed 5-7 days. Swelling and bruising will persist for a few days, but you can begin wearing makeup to help conceal these concerns.

Dressings: You should apply an antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin and/or Neosporin) to the incision line once a day.
Medications: Some continued swelling, bruising and discomfort are normal and they are typically controlled with your prescription pain medication and muscle relaxants. You should also be finishing your prescription antibiotics at this time. Arnica Montana and Bromelain may be continued for another week in order to promote your healing process.
Bathing: You may bath and shower freely during the second week after surgery.
Activity: Exercise of some sort is very important, even if it is just walking around your house. Having said this, rest is also important to the healing process and heavy lifting and strenuous activity are still restricted during the first month after surgery. You will be able to return to more strenuous exercise/heavy lifting at 2-3 weeks after surgery. Aerobic and impact cardio exercise should be avoided for one to two weeks post-operatively. Weight lifting should be avoided for 3-4 weeks post-operatively. You can typically return to work within a week and to full activity within a few weeks. Most patients are able to wear contact lenses sometime during the second week after surgery.

ONE MONTH AFTER SURGERY

Depending on the amount of physical exertion required to perform your expected duties, you should already be back into your normal rhythm at work and the gym. When you return to the activity, start at half speed and increase to your normal routine as long as you do not feel any pain during and/or the day after your workout. Although exercising will not adversely affect your end result, it may temporarily cause more swelling immediately after the exercise that will subside over the next few hours. The majority of my lower eyelid surgery patients are back to their regular workout routine within a few weeks after their surgery. Sometimes patients may develop dry eyes after surgery that can be treated with eye drops until normal tear production returns. Over the next several months many of the benefits of your lower eyelid surgery will begin to materialize and you will begin to enjoy the transformation you have received from your upper eyelid surgery.

LONG TERM RESULTS

All patients vary in their ability and speed to recovery after surgery but most commonly you can expect the final result from surgery to be evident at six months after surgery. By this point in time, the upper eyelid incisions should be healing and inconspicuous. Many friends and colleagues may begin to ask you what your secret is to looking so young and rested. The upper eyelid skin is among the thinnest skin in the body and it therefore heals very quickly so you should already be enjoying the results of your rejuvenative surgery at this time. Lastly, many women who complain that they are unable to apply their upper eyelid make-up due to loose skin prior to surgery should now have a beautiful, youthful shape to their upper eyes that allows for the easy, smooth application of upper eyelid make-up.

To find out more about eyelid surgery please contact us at 310-246-2355