Blepharoplasty Post-op Instructions

Wound management

Do not get your eyelids wet for the first two days after your surgery. After two days, you can get your eyelids wet in the shower and pat them dry with a clean towel afterwards.
After surgery, apply paraffin, vaseline or chlorsig to the suture lines four times a day to keep them moist. Continue this for the first two weeks.
Put two drops of lubricating eye drops in each eye, every two hours, for two weeks.
Elevate your head as much as possible for the first two days after your surgery to reduce the swelling

Please call us after your surgery to organise for your stitches to be removed by one of our nurses. There are no costs associated with having your stitches removed in our practice.
Your surgeon may have used dissolvable stitches only which do not need to be removed. If you are unsure what stitches your surgeon has used then please call us.
Sometimes a stitch is used to keep the eyelids partially closed (stitching the outside part of the upper and lower lids together) this generally is removed around 5 days post operatively

Pain following surgery is expected. Take 1g of paracetamol four times a day. After the first two days you can start reducing how much paracetamol you are taking if your pain is under control.
If the pain persists despite taking paracetamol, you can take 400mg of ibuprofen up to three times a day (we recommend taking this with food).
You may also be prescribed additional pain medication so please follow the instructions on the packet if this is the case.

Apply ice to the wound for the first two days after your surgery to reduce swelling – 10 minutes on, 20 minutes off, as many times as possible.

Bleeding from the wound site is expected. If this occurs, apply pressure for twenty minutes and elevate the area if possible.

Strenuous activity including heavy lifting and exercise for the first two weeks after your surgery. These activities increase your blood pressure which can make the wound bleed and lead to a poor result. These activities also put stress on the wound which can lead to the sutures breaking and the scar widening.
Pools/baths/spas/beach for the first two weeks after your surgery.
Direct sunlight for the first twelve months as this can make the scar red and more noticeable. If you cannot avoid direct sunlight then wear a dressing or sunscreen over the scar.

The scar will become thick, red and lumpy during the first six weeks after your surgery. This is normal. Massage will help to reduce this.
Start massaging the scar two weeks after your surgery for at least five minutes a day. Scar tenderness is normal but this will reduce with time. If you are taping your wound until the six week mark then you can start massaging your scar then.
You can use paraffin, vaseline, chlorsig or moisturiser to massage the scar.
Massage softly at first but gradually increase the pressure every day.
You should continue massaging the scar until it is soft.
Scars continue to improve for up to twelve months after surgery and it can take this long for some scars to settle down.

Applying silicone has been shown to improve the appearance of scars.
You can purchase silicone gel from the chemist without a prescription.
We have a silicone gel called Strataderm available to purchase in our rooms.
Silicone needs to be on the scar for at least twelve hours a day to have any benefit.
Start applying silicone to your scar two weeks after your surgery.

If you have been prescribed antibiotics, then continue these until the course is complete.

If you have any concerns and would like to book a follow-up appointment with your surgeon then please contact us.