Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Post-Operative Instructions

1. Eyelid rest. During the evening of surgery and most of the next day, you should rest your eyes as much as possible. Avoid any reading, television, etc. This can be slowly progressively started on the second day after surgery.
    
2. Ice cool compresses. Obtain a bowl of water and ice cubes and add a pinch of salt. Soak and wring out gauze sponges or a washcloth and apply these to your eyelids, ten minutes on and five minutes off, as much as you can during the waking hours for the first day or two after surgery. This will help decrease bruising, swelling and itchiness to the eyelid areas. These can be used as often as one likes. Sometimes a small, brownish, yellowish bruise may occur on the eyeball itself. This is not dangerous as the layers of the eyelids are in continuity with the eyelids.
    
3. Eye ointment and drops. We recommend for the first few days after surgery that you utilize eye drops several times a day and that you use eye ointment at night. This will help decrease the dryness and irritation to the eyes. Although this would be of benefit for a few days after your operation, patients find this may provide an extra degree of comfort if used for several days. The ointment can be applied just prior to going to sleep by very gently using the index finger, pulling up the upper eyelid and placing a layer of ointment inside the upper eyelid. Drops can be placed in both eyes several times a day. The upper eyelid should be gently smoothed and placed back into normal position.
    
4. Although unusual, if your eyes do not close at night, you should place a moistened cotton ball over the securely closed eyelid and then use paper or Scotch tape from forehead to the cheek area with a slight degree of pressure. (Please see the following instructions.) This will provide that extra degree of safety and comfort for your eyes until the swelling resolves. The normal eyelid muscle will then help keep your eyes closed at night.
    
5. Stitches are normally removed in six to seven days after surgery. You may have a small piece of paper tape at the corner of the upper eyelid. This should be left in place until it either falls off or is removed in our office. It is very important to not place any Vitamin E oil or other products on your incision line unless instructed by this office. Make-up should not be used while the stitches are in place. Make-up may be applied two to three days after eyelid stitches are removed.
    
6. Try to avoid looking in the mirror too often. Remember, in a short time swelling and bruising will resolve and you will look more like yourself.
    
7. Sunglasses. We recommend that any time you are in the car for the first six weeks after your operation you wear sunglasses in order to avoid any sunlight exposure to your eyelids.
    
8. Humidification. An ultrasonic humidifier used in your bedroom at night will help increase the moisture content of the air and decrease dryness and irritation of the eyelids. In addition, it will help your skin and hair look youthful.
    
9. Small bumps. The eyelid incision may cause temporary and slight obstruction of the normal lubricating glands of the eyelid. If small bumps appear, do the following:
   1. Digital pressure with a clean index finger for ten seconds several times a day will help smooth the areas out. Do not do so if it makes your incision line sore.
   2. If you have little white dots (milia), these can be opened gently in the office.
       
10. Tightness, itchiness, slight stinging. This usually occurs late in the afternoon or early in the evening due to progression of swelling throughout the day. The use of intermittent ice compresses will help relieve this.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROTECTING YOUR EYES AT NIGHT AND NIGHTTIME EYE PATCHING

For a short period of time after eyelid surgery, there may be some difficulty in completely closing your eyes at night because of swelling and stiffness in the eyelid muscles (not your eyes, but eyelid muscles).

Do the following only if you have dryness or irritation of your eye(s).

The following instructions are for each individual eye:

1. Obtain a cotton ball, paper tape or Scotch tape, and your eye ointment.
2. Apply the eye ointment by gently lifting up the upper lid and applying a layer of ointment inside your upper lid.
3. Take one water moistened cotton ball and apply it over your closed eye, tapping it securely from the forehead to cheek with paper or Scotch tape.

These procedures should be followed until your symptoms or dryness resolve.

Common Risks	The Procedure
Common Questions	Post-Op Instructions
Post surgery check list

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