Recovery From Eyelid Surgery
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Undergoing recovery from eyelid surgery is one of the most important parts of the procedure. You may have given eyelid surgery some thought, but some of the things you might not have considered are the time for healing and the whole recovery process. If you know what to expect for the surgery and for the recovery time afterward, you'll have a much easier time adjusting and you'll be prepared for any surprises that come your way.
Eyelid surgery is a cosmetic surgery, which means that it's not necessary to protect your eyesight. A lot of people undergo eyelid surgery, often referred to as blepharoplasty, because it's a way to remove wrinkles and add more strength and tone to both the upper and lower eyelids. Once the surgery has been successfully completed, most surgeons will apply an eye lubricant to the eye and cover it with a temporary dressing. During your recovery from eyelid surgery, there's a chance that you will experience some slight blurriness in your vision, but this is nothing to worry about. It happens very frequently among people who receive any type of eye surgery. The eye ointment that the surgeon uses to keep your eye moist once the surgery is completed causes the blurriness.
During the surgery itself, most surgeons will use a local anesthetic to dull any pain that you might experience, and when this starts to wear off it's not uncommon to feel some pain or tenderness around your eyes. Some patients report feeling hot and uncomfortable as well. It's important to know that there's a good chance you'll experience these minor side effects because if you are unwarned it can actually be pretty frightening. After all, our eyes are two of the most important sense organs in the body, and any unusual feelings can instill a sense of panic if you're not ready for them. If you do experience any pain, make sure the nurse knows about it so that you can get a pain reliever.
The other side effects of the anesthesia wearing off are usually different with every person. Some people feel cold, or overly emotional, and some people feel nauseated as they begin to feel everything on their body again. Make sure you communicate everything that's happening with you with the attending nurse because there are usually medications that can provide relief.
Your full recovery from eyelid surgery might last as long as 10 days, up to 2 weeks, so you have to take it easy during that time. You'll probably have some tenderness around your eyes or a vague feeling of discomfort, and most physicians will prescribe some sort of pain reliever until you feel completely better again. You should definitely avoid most over the counter medications, because formulas containing aspirin or ibuprofen can cause the cuts on your eyelids to start bleeding again. Finally, be sure to take your temperature every day while you are recovering from eyelid surgery to reduce the risk of a potential infection.
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