Eyelid Surgery FAQ

Questions About Eyelid Surgery

Is there a lot of pain associated with eyelid surgery?

Most patients find eyelid surgery, technically called blepharoplasty, to be a fairly easy procedure from which to recover. The majority of patients are off of narcotic pain medications by 3 days post op.

What is the typical recovery time? (Healing, back to normal activity and wearing make-up.)

Typical recovery time after a blepharoplasty is 1-2 weeks. Most people will be able to return to normal activities after 2 weeks. You should be able to wear eye make-up after your incisions are healed, which would also be after approximately 2 weeks.

Hi, I am interested in eyelid surgery and am impressed with your before and after photos. I would like to know if you have performed this procedure on any African American women?

Certainly, our plastic surgeons have performed eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) on African American patients.

Will smoking affect my recovery?

Smoking adversely affects wound healing. The small vessels that supply blood to the tissues shrink up and prevent the necessary nutrients for healing to get to the wound. The incidence of having a wound complication such as an open wound or skin death is much higher in smokers. Furthermore, the rate of wound infection is also significantly increased in smokers for the same reason of limited blood flow. Because of this, a patient must stop smoking for a minimum of two weeks prior to surgery to decrease the risk of these complications.

Where do you hide the scar on the eyelid? How long are your consultation appointments?

You can plan to spend approximately 1 hour at The Center for Cosmetic Surgery for an eyelid surgery consultation appointment with one of our plastic surgeons. When you come in for a consultation, the surgeon will first meet with you and go over the procedure in detail. You will then have a physical exam to address your individual needs. Afterwards, you will meet with our patient counselor to discuss pricing, financing options, and tentative surgery dates. The incision for upper eyelid surgery will be right along the crease line.

How much time passes between the initial consultation and surgery?

Once you have had your complementary consult with one of our surgeons, it is typically 2-4 weeks before surgery. However, this can vary significantly.

What can I do about my lower eyelid bags and dark circles?

A transconjunctival blephoraplasty, or reducing the fat pad from inside the lower lid, can decrease the lower eyelid “bags”. The dark circles are usually less noticeable when the contour of the lower lid is flatter. This surgery is done in our surgical suite under local anesthesia with sedation.

What can I do about the wrinkles around my eyes?

An eyelid tuck, both upper and lower, can be used to tighten the skin around the eyes and reduce wrinkling in these areas. This can be performed under sedation and recovery is not difficult. Often, a small amount of skin removal around the eyes makes a tremendous difference in giving the patient a more vibrant, awake, youthful appearance.