Is it possible to sunbathe after blepharoplasty. Proper makeup after blepharoplasty: how to hide the consequences of the operation? What to do if there are complications

The eyes are not just called the "mirror of the soul", their beauty is one of the main factors shaping your image, so it's no wonder how many women (and recently men) decide on blepharoplasty - an operation to change the shape of the incision of the eyelids and eyes.

Any plastic surgery carries with it a period of recovery of the body, which is called rehabilitation. Rehabilitation after blepharoplasty of the upper and lower eyelids usually does not require any additional medical manipulations, but the doctor’s recommendations will have to be strictly followed, otherwise you risk running into complications that can negate the benefits of the operation, and in rare cases even lead to the need for a new complex operation in ophthalmologist.

Rehabilitation after blepharoplasty of the upper and lower eyelids

The most burning question for most women who decide on blepharoplasty is: how long does healing take after surgery, how acute are the pain sensations and what can not be done while rehabilitation after blepharoplasty lasts. That is, how to behave during the period of recovery of the body after the operation, so that it goes as painlessly as possible.

Let's start with the most important thing - with the duration of the rehabilitation period, and it depends primarily on the structure of the tissues around the eyes, the condition and type of your skin, as well as your age and general body tone. On average, the main phase of the rehabilitation period lasts about two weeks, during which pain, swelling, bruising and pronounced scars disappear.

First time after surgery

Blepharoplasty takes place under local anesthesia or under general anesthesia, depending on the result that the surgeon plans to achieve and the indications of your body.

Care after blepharoplasty is especially important not only in the first days after surgery, but also in the next 1-2 weeks. The main indications and recommendations of doctors do not differ much:

So, recovery after blepharoplasty by day can be divided into 3 phases:

the most difficult first three days;
a week after the operation, when you must strictly follow the instructions of the doctor;
the end of the main rehabilitation period, which can last up to one and a half months.

The dependence of rehabilitation on the type of plastic surgery

Eye care after blepharoplasty largely depends on which blepharoplasty methods were used. In a nutshell, let's try to describe the main differences.

Lower eyelids: the incision is made through the mucous membrane, respectively, the rehabilitation is very easy and the swelling disappears in just a week. And if you use a special massage, you can remove them altogether in five days.

Indications and contraindications for the rehabilitation period

To speed up the healing process with minimal consequences, after blepharoplasty surgery, the rehabilitation period requires the implementation of the doctor's recommendations and doctor's prescriptions, as well as refraining from some of the usual things:

mandatory wearing of sunglasses during the rehabilitation period to protect the retina from exposure to direct sunlight;
using sunscreen eye spray;
refuse to wear contact lenses, in the case of problematic vision, you will have to wear glasses;
it is advisable to refuse a computer and a TV at all, or at least limit the time spent behind them to a minimum;
refusal of physical labor and exercise;
giving up smoking and alcohol for the period of rehabilitation, so as not to provoke swelling that interferes with tissue healing;
to maintain a water-salt balance, you will have to reduce salt intake and drink the prescribed amount of fluid per day;
optimize nutrition, follow the prescribed diet;
at first, you will have to give up the shower, but the solarium, swimming pool, bathhouse and sauna are forbidden to visit throughout the entire rehabilitation period.

All patients are concerned about significant swelling after blepharoplasty. You should know that edema is a normal reaction of the body to a violation of the integrity of the tissues, and this should not be a cause for concern. A cooling bandage and compresses help to reduce the severity of puffiness. Limiting physical activity and taking anti-inflammatory drugs also contribute to a speedy recovery.

Bruising after blepharoplasty is another inevitable consequence of plastic surgery. Hematomas do not require special treatment and resolve on their own within two weeks. Approximately the same amount of time is needed for the complete disappearance of tissue edema, but the change in skin color of the periorbital region can last up to 3-4 weeks. But from about the tenth day, you can already use decorative cosmetics, which helps to hide the traces of plastic surgery.

After blepharoplasty, patients complain of discomfort and a feeling of stiffness in the eyelid area. These symptoms do not require special treatment, it is enough to follow general recommendations. Pain in the eyes, increased sensitivity to light, dry or watery eyes, and temporary changes in vision are also often associated with blepharoplasty.

Antiseptic eye drops help to moisturize the mucous membrane and prevent infectious complications. When outdoors during the daytime, it is advisable to wear sunglasses or eyeglasses with tinted lenses. It is necessary to regularly perform gymnastics for the oculomotor muscles and the circular muscle of the eye.

For a couple of months, you will have to give up contact lenses, returning to regular glasses. For 2-3 weeks you need to limit physical activity. If possible, sleep on high pillows. During the entire recovery period, you can not visit the solarium or sauna. It is advisable to give up alcohol, coffee and smoking. You should not take medications without first consulting with your doctor.

The exact recovery time depends on many factors: the method and extent of surgical correction, the age of the patient, the condition of the skin and soft tissues of the face and periorbital region.

Methods of physiotherapeutic influence allow to accelerate tissue regeneration. Microcurrent therapy is actively used in our clinic after eyelid surgery. Each patient after plastic surgery is provided with three free procedures. You can evaluate the results of blepharoplasty after 2 months.

Stitches after blepharoplasty

Sutures after blepharoplasty are not always superimposed, for example, with transconjunctival access, a cooling bandage and a patch on the eyelids are sufficient. Thanks to the excellent blood supply to the conjunctiva, the wound heals on its own in the shortest possible time.

If the surgical access is through skin folds or along the ciliated edge of the eyelid, absorbable suture material is used. Minor scars remain after any operation, but after blepharoplasty they are not visible, because they pass along natural folds.

Complications after blepharoplasty

Any plastic surgery is associated with the risk of complications. In most cases, complications after blepharoplasty require only conservative treatment.

lacrimation. Increased lacrimation is associated with soft tissue edema, which leads to displacement of the lacrimal ducts. Does not require treatment. When swelling decreases, lacrimation goes away on its own.

Dry conjunctivitis. Eyelid surgery can provoke the development of conjunctivitis, although this condition is not a direct consequence of plastic surgery. To reduce pain in the eyes and moisturize the mucosa, special eye drops are used.

Eversion of the lower eyelid, or ectropion. A rare complication after blepharoplasty. Its cause is non-compliance with the doctor's recommendations or the removal of excess skin and subcutaneous tissue. Due to the deformation of the eyelid, the patient cannot close the palpebral fissure, an open area of the sclera appears between the iris and the lower eyelid. As a rule, ectropion is accompanied by significant dryness of the mucosa.

An effective method of preventing ectropion is gymnastics for the circular muscle of the eye. Gymnastics and therapeutic massage are used when the first signs of eyelid eversion appear, and only with a significant degree of severity of ectropion is surgical correction indicated.

Diplopia(double vision). This visual impairment is a temporary complication. It is caused by a disorder of the coordinated work of the oculomotor muscles. It does not require special treatment, it is enough to perform exercises for the eyes. The function of the visual analyzer is restored after 2-3 weeks.

Retrobulbar hematoma. Extremely rare, but the most serious complication of eye surgery. Its cause is a hemorrhage in the retrobulbar region (behind the eyeball). Symptoms - pain, limitation of mobility and protrusion of the eyeball. If these symptoms appear, you should immediately consult an ophthalmologist.

Despite the impressive list of possible complications, in the vast majority of cases, the rehabilitation period after blepharoplasty goes well. If you want to learn more about the operation and the features of the recovery period, sign up for a free consultation with a plastic surgeon at SOHO CLINIC.

Blepharoplasty- a relatively simple and low-traumatic operation. The risk of complications is minimal, they practically do not happen. The standard rehabilitation period is only 14-16 days. In many patients who strictly follow the recommendations of a plastic surgeon, the period of postoperative rehabilitation is reduced to 10 days.

The healing process after blepharoplasty is somewhat lengthened with the following factors:

the patient's age is over 45 years;
there is a tendency to edema;
the skin is thick;
there are individual features of the skin in the eye area, prolonging the rehabilitation process;
the patient smokes.

After upper blepharoplasty and transconjunctival plasty of the lower eyelids, a hospital stay is not required. The patient can go home immediately. Relatives are advised to meet him in a private car or take a taxi, since the eyes are not fully open immediately after the operation and the eyes may become cloudy.

Pain after this operation is either completely absent, or insignificant and easily removed with painkillers prescribed by the doctor.

Natural consequences of blepharoplasty during the healing period

During the period of postoperative rehabilitation, the patient may experience:

moderate swelling;
small bruises localized under the lower eyelids;
feeling of heaviness of the eyelids;
increased lacrimation;
dry eyes;
soreness;
blurred vision;
diplopia (double vision).

We emphasize that the patient does not always have all these side effects. Usually only a few symptoms from the lists appear.

These side effects of blepharoplasty usually go away within 7-10 days. Residual edema may persist for up to two months, depending on the individual tissue response to the new location. Competent skin care, which we will discuss below, helps to quickly solve the problem of residual edema.

Will there be scars after blepharoplasty?

This is probably the most common question that a patient asks a plastic surgeon. Scars should not be feared, as the surgeon makes incisions in the natural folds of the skin. There is a stereotype that the stitches are less visible if you do blepharoplasty with a laser. But it's not. When using a laser, the edge of the wound is burned, which makes the scar more visible than when using an ultra-sharp scalpel. In general, the quality of the postoperative scar depends on the skill of the plastic surgeon and the individual characteristics of the patient's skin.

Rehabilitation calendar

1 day. You can go home immediately after the operation. It is recommended to apply cold to the eyelids to reduce swelling. It is worth taking pain medication.
2-3 day. You can take a shower and even wash your hair (make sure that the shampoo does not get into your eyes). Use antiseptic drops prescribed by your doctor, do the recommended eye exercises. You can read a little, but in moderation so as not to overload your eyes.
3-5 day. Visit a clinic to have stitches removed (unless they are self-absorbable). You can wear contact lenses.
Day 6 All antiseptic stickers (plasters) are removed from the eyelids.
Day 7 Most patients experience bruising and swelling. As a rule, the patient returns to normal life, goes to work.
Day 10 Traces of hemorrhage are reduced to a minimum. If there are no complications, decorative cosmetics can be used (it is advisable to choose products for sensitive eyes).
Day 14 You can gradually resume the usual physical activity.
45-60 days. Residual edema completely disappears. Postoperative scars become completely invisible even without decorative cosmetics. The effect of blepharoplasty becomes clearly visible.

To make your recovery as successful as possible, follow these simple recommendations:

do not drink alcohol and do not smoke (strictly prohibited);
do not eat salty, sour, spicy foods during the rehabilitation period;
protect your eyes from sunlight and wind for six months (this can be done with glasses);
after the operation, rest more and avoid physical loads, especially those that increase intraocular pressure (lifting weights, bending over);
refrain from intense loads for a month;
for several days, try not to watch TV, do not use the computer and do not read (this provokes dry eyes);
try not to cry or blink often;
do not sleep with your head down;
do not take too hot a bath and do not go to the sauna.

How to reduce swelling after blepharoplasty?

In order for swelling after surgery to go away as quickly as possible, follow these recommendations for caring for the skin around the eyes:

remove the special tape applied to me to ensure the correct location of the tissues;
regularly use drugs prescribed by a doctor (ointment, eye drops);
apply cold compresses to the eye area;
sleep with your head up;
drink more water;
follow the exercises recommended by your doctor to restore muscle activity in the eye area, eliminate lymph congestion and improve blood circulation.

In order to quickly remove the residual edema, 7-14 days after the operation, you can sign up for a cosmetology clinic for lymphatic drainage massage, moisturizing procedures and lifting. Botox to smooth mimic wrinkles can be done 1.5-2 months after eyelid surgery.

The information on the site has been personally verified by plastic surgeon Osin Maxim Aleksandrovich, if you have any additional questions, please call the phone number listed on the site.

Due to the fact that blepharoplasty is a surgical intervention, for some time after it is carried out, it is necessary to change the way of life. Along the way, you should perform a number of medical procedures that accelerate. The duration of rehabilitation depends on the individual characteristics of the body, the presence of bad habits (smoking, alcohol abuse delay recovery). However, with proper care, scars after blepharoplasty become completely invisible after 4 to 6 weeks.

Immediately after the correction, a bandage is applied to the injured area. The patient notes swelling, cyanosis, which increase in the first 3 days, after which they subside.

provide yourself with complete rest on the first day (do not overstrain physically, do not be nervous);
sleep on your back with a large pillow under your head - this minimizes swelling;
follow a diet - give up fatty, salty, smoked, in favor of vegetables and fruits (except citrus fruits: they worsen blood clotting), dairy products, lean meat;
protect the skin from the sun - do not leave the house or go out, but in sunglasses;
observe the regime of the day - sleep for 8 hours, going to bed at 22.00;
provide peace to the eyes - watch less TV, read, sit in front of the computer. The ideal option is to listen to music with your eyes closed.

You can take any medication after blepharoplasty only after consulting a doctor. As a rule, he prohibits drugs that worsen the clotting process (aspirin).

It is also forbidden to bend over, turn your head sharply, as in these cases pressure on the eyes increases.

Care of the affected area

It is a mistake to believe that after blepharoplasty, only stitches need to be taken care of. It is also important to treat the skin around the eyes, use drugs to reduce dryness.

The sterile bandage, which is applied to the sutures themselves, is removed after a few days. In addition, the doctor prescribes antiseptic solutions for washing and wound healing medicines, for example, Levomekol ointment. After removing the stitches, it is recommended to apply absorbable preparations that effectively relieve redness.

In general, daily skin care after blepharoplasty includes:

repeated application of cold compresses in the first few days - they relieve swelling;
use of a special patch;
applying hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic (cleanse the fatty ducts), but only after removing the stitches and with the permission of the doctor;
treatment of the upper eyelids with a Chinese mushroom extract - it increases the elasticity of the skin.

Note! After transconjunctival blepharoplasty, ointments are placed under the lower eyelid (on the incision area), which can cause discomfort, temporary blurred vision. Don't worry, they are normal.

To relieve inflammation and prevent dryness, drops can be instilled like an artificial tear. The doctor will help you pick them up. According to individual indications, other manipulations can be prescribed.

To eliminate hematomas after blepharoplasty of the upper and lower eyelids, postoperative care must necessarily include the application of Lyoton ointment.

Washing, make-up

On the first day, it is forbidden not only to use any cosmetics, but also to wash your face. With each passing day, the patient's possibilities expand:

Already 24 hours after the procedure, he is allowed to gently wash his face. The main thing is to use cool water (it increases blood flow, speeds up the regeneration process) and avoid the affected area: water should not get on the seams under the bandage.
After 5 days, you can go to a qualified specialist for a massage.
After removing the stitches after blepharoplasty, it is allowed to apply masks to the face, avoiding injured areas. This usually happens on the 7th day.
Decorative cosmetics can be used no earlier than after 14 days. In the absence of complications, it is allowed to apply it to the area around the eyes.
Scrubs are shown only after 2 or more weeks.

For the entire period of rehabilitation, it is forbidden to touch the damaged areas with your hands, pull and rub your eyelids. Otherwise, the risk of development, infection is high.

After upper blepharoplasty, rehabilitation can go even faster than expected.

How long does the pain and traces of surgery last?

Eyelid surgery is not a painful procedure. Stitches are removed, on average, within 5 days. After this surgical intervention, the following traces may remain in the first weeks:

bruising;
Swelling of soft tissues;
Traces of incisions and suture sites.

Can I return to work a couple of weeks after the operation?

Experts answer this question unequivocally: it is possible. By the end of the second week, the condition of the operation area improves so much that it allows you to go out into the world without feeling uncomfortable about the external visibility of the traces of the operation.

During this period, there may still be slight bruising at the surgical site and the sutures from the incisions are not completely smoothed out. However, experienced plastic surgeons confirm that all these marks are usually too small and poorly expressed, therefore, an outsider can notice them only with great difficulty.