After having eyelid surgery, your eyes and face will remain swollen with varying amounts of discoloration for several days. The main thing to remember is that such swelling eventually subsides. You can help expedite reduction of swelling after blepharoplasty by taking the following steps:
1) Stay Upright
You should rest when you are tired, but otherwise, it is important to sit, stand and walk around.
2) Avoid Bending Over or Straining
You will want to avoid lifting over 5 pounds for 2 weeks. Besides aggravating swelling, this may raise your blood pressure and start hemorrhage.
3) Avoid Hitting or Bumping Your Face
For this reason, you might want to consider sleeping alone for 1 week after your operation.
4) Sleep With Your Head Elevated
For the first 2 weeks after your operation, you will want to sleep with your head elevated. Place 2-3 pillows under your head when you sleep. Try not to roll on your face. Some patients find a reclining chair placed at a 45-degree angle to be more comfortable.
5) Avoid Excessive Sunning
For 1 month, you will want to avoid tanning your face. Ordinary exposure to sunlight is fine, but be sure to wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or stronger to avoid getting burned.
Following this steps will help to mitigate swelling after blepharoplasty. For more information, we invite you to read our post operative blepharoplasty instructions ebook: https://www.beeson.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Beeson-Post-Op-Bleph-Instructions.pdf