Patient Guides · Blepharoplasty recovery

Patient guide

Upper Blepharoplasty Recovery, Day by Day

Upper eyelid surgery has one of the kindest recoveries in plastic surgery — but the first week looks worse than it feels, and knowing the sequence keeps it unremarkable. Here is the typical course.

Timeline

The typical course

  1. Days one to twoSwelling and bruising build; eyes feel tight and watery. Cool compresses (never ice directly on skin), sleeping with the head elevated, and prescribed lubricating drops or ointment are the routine. Reading and screens are fine in short stretches — your eyes will tell you.
  2. Days three to sevenBruising peaks then starts to yellow and fade. Blurriness from ointment and swelling is common and temporary. Sutures are typically removed around day five to seven — a quick, simple visit.
  3. Week twoMost people are comfortable in public, with or without glasses as camouflage; many return to desk work around day five to ten. Makeup can usually resume once sutures are out and the incision has sealed — confirm at your review.
  4. Weeks three to sixStrenuous exercise and swimming generally resume from about two weeks. Contact lenses usually wait about two weeks. Residual morning puffiness slowly disappears.
  5. Months two to twelveThe incision line, initially pink, fades into the natural crease. Final results are judged at several months, not several weeks.

What's normal

And when to call

Normal: asymmetric swelling day to day, watery or slightly dry eyes, tight blinking, small firm lumps along the suture line that soften with time.

Call promptly: significant pain not eased by simple analgesia, sudden swelling or bleeding, any change in vision, or an eye that cannot close. These are rare — and taken seriously, immediately.

Common questions

Questions patients ask

When can I go back to work after upper blepharoplasty?

Desk work commonly within five to ten days depending on how visible you need to be; camera-off video calls even sooner. Physically demanding work waits about two weeks.

When can I wear contact lenses again?

Usually about two weeks after surgery, once the lids are comfortable and the incisions are sealed — confirmed at your review.

When can I wear eye makeup?

Generally once sutures are out and the incision has fully sealed — often around two weeks. Ask at your suture-removal visit.

How long will I look bruised?

Visible bruising typically lasts seven to ten days and conceals well after the first week. Swelling takes longer to vanish completely but stops being noticeable to others within about two weeks.

Does upper blepharoplasty hurt?

Most patients report tightness rather than pain, managed with simple analgesia for a few days. Significant pain is unusual and should be reported.

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Next step

Enquiries & referrals

Consultations in Sydney CBD and North Sydney. Referrals from GPs, dermatologists and Mohs surgery specialists welcome. Phone 1300 911 151.

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