TürkçeThings to Consider After Eyelid Surgery; certain rules must be followed to reduce swelling and bruising, prevent the risk of infection, and accelerate healing. During the first days, cold compresses should be applied, the head should be kept elevated, and the medications prescribed by the doctor should be used regularly.
Postoperative care after eyelid surgery includes keeping the surgical area clean and dry. During the first week, makeup should not be applied around the eyes, contact lenses should not be used, and pressure should not be applied to the area. Paying attention to hygiene rules until the sutures are removed reduces the risk of complications.
Managing swelling and bruising after blepharoplasty is considered a natural part of healing. Edema is generally noticeable during the first 72 hours and gradually decreases over time. Avoiding strenuous exercise, limiting salt consumption, and protecting the area from the sun positively affect the recovery process.
After eyelid aesthetics, although the recovery period varies from person to person, most patients can return to daily life within 7–14 days. If sudden vision changes, severe pain, or signs of infection develop, a physician should be consulted immediately. Regular follow-up appointments increase treatment success.
| Initial Recovery Period | After eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), mild pain, a feeling of tightness, bruising, and swelling may be expected during the first days. These symptoms generally decrease over time. |
| Cold Application | Applying intermittent cold compresses during the first 24–48 hours as recommended by the surgeon may help reduce swelling and bruising. The cold application should not come into direct contact with the skin. |
| Head Position | Keeping the head above heart level during the first few days and, if possible, lying on the back with an additional pillow may contribute to reducing edema. |
| Eye Hygiene | The area around the eyes should be kept clean, and dressing and wound care should be performed only as recommended by the surgeon. |
| Medication Use | Prescribed antibiotics, painkillers, eye drops, or ointments should be used at the specified dose and for the specified duration. Additional medication should not be used without the doctor’s recommendation. |
| Not Rubbing the Eyes | Pressure should not be applied to the surgical area, the eyes should not be rubbed, and the sutures should not be touched. |
| Contact Lens Use | The period permitted by the surgeon should be waited before using contact lenses. It is recommended not to use lenses until healing is complete. |
| Makeup Use | Eye makeup and cosmetic products to be applied around the eyes should not be used until the wound has fully healed and the surgeon permits their use. |
| Facial Cleansing | During the first days, the surgical area should be carefully protected while washing the face, and hot water and vigorous rubbing should be avoided. |
| Showering | The surgeon’s recommendations regarding the timing of showering and contact of the wound area with water should be followed. |
| Physical Activity | Strenuous exercise, lifting weights, bending, and activities that increase intra-abdominal pressure should be avoided during the first weeks. Returning to normal activities should be planned according to the surgeon’s evaluation. |
| Driving | Driving should be avoided until vision becomes clear and while the medications being used affect attention. |
| Screen Use | Looking at phone, tablet, or computer screens for long periods may increase eye dryness. Taking regular breaks may be beneficial. |
| Sun Protection | Protection from sunlight is important during the recovery period. UV-protective sunglasses should be worn outdoors, and direct sun exposure should be avoided for the period recommended by the surgeon. |
| Smoking and Nicotine | Smoking and nicotine products may negatively affect wound healing and increase the risk of complications. It is recommended not to use them for the period advised by the surgeon. |
| Alcohol Consumption | Alcohol may affect healing and interact with the medications being used. It is recommended not to consume alcohol for the period specified by the surgeon. |
| Nutrition and Fluid Intake | Adequate fluid intake and a balanced diet rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals may support the recovery process. Excessive salt consumption may increase edema, so limiting it may be recommended. |
| Suture Removal | If there are sutures that do not dissolve on their own, they should be removed by a healthcare professional during the scheduled follow-up visit. |
| Follow-Up Examinations | Attending all scheduled follow-up appointments on time is important for evaluating the recovery process. |
| Expected Findings | Mild tearing, sensitivity to light, a feeling of tightness, and temporary blurred vision may be seen during the early period. The duration and severity of these findings may vary from person to person. |
| Situations to Avoid | During the initial period, lying face down, activities requiring intense eye movement, saunas, Turkish baths, very hot environments, and environments such as swimming that may increase the risk of infection should be avoided. |
| Returning to Work and Daily Life | The time required to return to daily activities and work varies according to the scope of the procedure performed, the recovery status, and the surgeon’s recommendations. |
| When Should a Healthcare Institution Be Consulted? | If sudden or severe vision loss, progressively increasing pain, excessive bleeding, high fever, intense redness, foul-smelling discharge, significant unilateral swelling, or unexpected vision changes develop, a healthcare institution should be consulted without delay. |
| General Recommendation | All instructions given by the surgeon should be followed as a priority during postoperative care and recovery, and medications or products that have not been recommended should not be used. |
What Process Does Our Body Go Through Within the Scope of Things to Consider After Eyelid Surgery?
The thinnest, most delicate, and most transparent skin structure in the human body is found on our eyelids. Immediately beneath this thin skin lies an extremely rich, dense, and complex capillary network. This unique and sensitive anatomical structure offers a much faster healing potential after surgery compared with other parts of the body, while at the same time making the tissues extremely sensitive to fluid accumulation and bruising. The first forty-eight hours following surgery are an active phase in which the body initiates tissue repair, the immune system becomes active, and significant activity occurs at the cellular level.
During this early healing phase, the blood vessels in the surgical area dilate as a natural defense mechanism. This dilation increases blood flow and accelerates the flow of cellular fluid carrying healing factors, clotting cells, and repair proteins to the area. Although the noticeable swelling around your eyes may frighten you slightly when you first look in the mirror, it is actually a completely natural, expected, and healthy part of the body’s mechanism for mobilizing healing cells to the wound area. Feeling concerned when you see swelling or bruising on the eyelids is a human reaction; however, this is not a complication or error but rather the tissues’ effort to repair themselves. The main important point here is to control this cellular fluid accumulation with the correct methods, thereby reducing mechanical pressure on the sutures and relieving blood circulation. Allowing the swelling to increase uncontrollably may cause tension on the sutures and prolong the recovery process.
How Should Swelling and Bruising Be Managed?
The most basic, cost-free, and effective way to manage tissue swelling after surgery is to cooperate with physics, or more precisely with gravity. While resting, watching television, and especially sleeping at night, the head should be kept approximately thirty to forty-five degrees above the body axis. Lying on the back in a semi-upright position or supporting the head with two or three pillows accelerates the downward drainage of excess fluid accumulated around the eyes through the effect of gravity. This drainage process occurs through the body’s lymphatic drainage system.
Lying completely flat on a surface without a pillow may cause fluids to pool in the head area and lead to swelling so intense that you may be unable to open your eyes upon waking in the morning. This simple posture and sleeping position is almost a gold standard, particularly in controlling fluid accumulation that tends to move toward the cheeks after lower eyelid surgery. Gravity helps excess fluid move toward the lymph nodes, making it easier for the body to eliminate it. Sleeping in this position during the first few days may make your neck slightly tired, but its contribution to the speed of recovery is invaluable. U-shaped neck pillows, especially those used during air travel, may greatly help maintain this position by preventing the head from falling from side to side.
What Essential Materials Should Be Kept at Home?
Some essential materials that should be readily available to ensure that the recovery process is spent at home in an extremely comfortable, hygienic, and safe manner are as follows:
- Sterile gauze pads
- Saline solution ampoules
- Cold compress gels
- U-shaped neck pillow
- Artificial tear drops
- Cotton swabs
- Wide-framed sunglasses
- Paper towels
How Should Cold Application Be Performed?
After the strategy of keeping the head elevated, our second most powerful tool is cryotherapy, commonly known as cold compress application. During the first forty-eight hours, regular cold compress application outside sleeping hours is not merely a simple method that relieves pain or provides a cooling sensation. It is also a highly important medical intervention that constricts the capillaries in the tissues, physically stops cellular fluid leakage, and slows bleeding. Cold application slows the rate of tissue metabolism in the wound area, reduces oxygen demand, and thereby minimizes secondary tissue damage.
However, there is a vital detail that requires great care. Ice packs, frozen gel pads, or cooled masks should never come into direct contact with bare skin. Eyelid skin is already very thin and has become sensitive due to surgery. Direct ice contact may cause serious thermal damage called an “ice burn,” leading to loss of skin vitality and complete disruption of healing. To prevent this, the application must be performed over sterile gauze, a clean and ironed thin cotton cloth, or a thin towel. Short but effective cold applications lasting ten or fifteen minutes every hour while awake will significantly shorten both the darkness and the duration of possible bruising on the face.
How Should Wound Cleaning and Hygiene Be Maintained?
Keeping the surgical incision area free from germs and maintaining hygiene are the most important factors directly determining the aesthetic quality of the scar that will remain after the operation. One of the most common mistakes that may be made during the recovery process is trying to clean a bleeding or crusted wound with tap water, wet wipes, or non-sterile cotton. Tap water carries a serious risk of infection for an open wound due to invisible microorganisms and chlorine in its content.
Cleaning the suture line and its surroundings should be performed very gently using only sterile saline solutions available from pharmacies and sterile cotton swabs. Small blood leaks accumulated on the sutures or crusts formed after drying should be lightly moistened with saline solution and left until softened, then wiped with small touches without rubbing. Crusts should never be picked off by hand or rubbed vigorously with a towel; otherwise, the wound edges may separate prematurely, and the wound, which should heal in a smooth line, may widen and leave an unfavorable scar. The medical rule regarding water contact is very clear. During the first forty-eight to seventy-two hours, water should never come into contact with the eye area or the sutures. From the third day onward, the face may be washed with lukewarm water without rubbing, provided that strong water pressure does not reach the suture lines.
What Is the Role of Medication Use?
In modern postoperative recovery protocols, medications prescribed after surgery are not selected randomly; they are chosen to perform highly specific tasks such as preventing infection, dispersing edema at the cellular level, and maintaining the moisture balance of the eye surface. Strictly following the timing and method of medication use is essential for achieving a stable and trouble-free recovery process. In particular, antibiotic creams that are requested to be applied in a very thin layer over the suture lines prevent the wound from becoming infected by bacteria in the external environment while also keeping the area continuously moist and preventing hard crust formation. This moist environment ensures that the removal of sutures is completely painless and almost imperceptible for the patient.
In addition, during the first days after surgery, the eyelids may not close while sleeping or blinking due to intense swelling. This very normal and temporary condition is medically called lagophthalmos. Incomplete closure of the eyelids may cause the cornea, the outermost transparent layer of the eye, to come into contact with air and dry rapidly, leading to a stinging sensation and redness. Frequent use of artificial tear drops is vitally important to prevent this condition and keep the eye surface moist.
What Types of Medications Are Used?
The main medical products that may be included in your prescription and that should be used regularly at the doses specified by your doctor during the recovery process are as follows:
- Oral antibiotics
- Antibiotic eye drops
- Steroid eye creams
- Painkiller tablets
- Anti-edema pills
- Ophthalmic moisturizing gels
Which Physical Activities Should Be Avoided Regarding Things to Consider After Eyelid Surgery?
After eyelid tissues have undergone surgical trauma, it takes time for hundreds of microscopic capillaries inside to reconnect and heal. During this period, preserving the blood supply balance of the tissues and keeping intravascular pressure stable are very important. Any action that suddenly increases blood pressure, meaning the pressure inside the blood vessels, and intracranial pressure may cause leakage, bleeding, and consequently separation at the suture sites in these delicate vessels that have not yet fused and are still healing.
For this reason, strenuous activities that greatly accelerate the heart rate should be avoided for a while. Bending forward at the waist to pick up something from the floor or tie shoelaces, in particular, causes all the blood to rush toward the head under the effect of gravity. This sudden rush creates high pressure in the vessels around the eyes. Similarly, movements that increase internal body pressure, such as lifting heavy objects, coughing violently, or straining during bowel movements, may trigger unwanted internal bleeding by creating an effect known medically as the Valsalva maneuver. Carefully avoiding such pressure-increasing movements for at least the first ten days is essential for the safety of the wound area.
What Actions Should Be Avoided Within the Framework of Things to Consider After Eyelid Surgery?
Actions that may damage newly formed sensitive tissues and sutures by suddenly increasing blood pressure during the first weeks of the recovery process are as follows:
- Lifting heavy objects
- Bending forward
- Coughing violently
- Straining during bowel movements
- Performing strenuous exercise
- Taking a hot bath
- Going to the sauna
How Should the Diet Be?
After a surgical procedure, your body needs much more cellular energy and biological building blocks than usual to repair damaged tissues, establish new vascular networks, and reconnect the incised skin. You can greatly improve the speed and quality of your recovery by making the right choices in the kitchen. Cells need high-quality protein for wound sites to close strongly, flexibly, and quickly.
In addition, vitamin C is an indispensable aid for collagen bonds, which provide the skin with elasticity and strength, to be tightly woven beneath the skin. The most important and most common dietary mistake to pay attention to is salt consumption. Sodium, meaning table salt, is a mineral that, due to its molecular structure, retains and traps water in the body. Consuming high amounts of salt prevents edema fluid accumulated between the tissues from being eliminated from the body and causes the swollen appearance around the eyes to persist for weeks. Extra salt should never be added to meals, and packaged ready-made foods containing hidden salt should be avoided. On the contrary, drinking at least two and a half to three liters of clean water per day actively stimulates the kidneys and lymphatic system, making it easier for swelling to be eliminated from the body much more quickly through urine.
Which Foods Are Recommended?
Foods that accelerate tissue repair, support collagen production, and biologically assist in the elimination of edema are as follows:
- Eggs
- Fish
- Kiwi
- Strawberries
- Green peppers
- Walnuts
- Oats
- Plenty of water
What Should Not Be Consumed?
Factors that cause fluid retention in the body, impair the quality of blood circulation, and slow cellular healing are as follows:
- Excessive salt
- Packaged foods
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Excessive caffeine
- Processed meats
Which Symptoms Are Emergency Warning Signs?
Although eyelid surgeries are extremely safe procedures with very high patient satisfaction when performed by skilled hands under appropriate sterile conditions, they inherently carry certain rare risks, just like every surgical procedure. Monitoring the condition of the tissues while recovering at home, knowing certain important warning signs, and creating the opportunity for early intervention when necessary are critical for your eye health.
In particular, possible accumulation of bleeding in the posterior areas of the eye, in the space behind the eyeball, may place pressure on the optic nerves and threaten vision. Although this condition is very rare, it is time-sensitive and requires emergency intervention. If pain is experienced that differs from ordinary healing pain, does not respond in any way to the painkillers being used, progressively worsens, and is felt as a throbbing sensation directly behind the eye, this should be taken seriously. Likewise, sudden darkening or curtain-like visual changes, or the eyeball becoming hard and protruding outward as though pushed farther forward than normal, are alarm conditions requiring immediate contact with your surgeon or a well-equipped emergency department.
Which Complaints Require Emergency Intervention?
Critical findings indicating that the recovery process has deviated from its normal course and requiring immediate medical support are as follows:
- Sudden vision loss
- Severe blurred vision
- Throbbing eye pain
- Protrusion of the eye
- Bleeding that does not stop
- Excessive swelling inside the eye
Frequently Asked Questions
After eyelid surgery, it is important to follow the doctor’s recommendations, use medications regularly, and protect the area around the eyes. These precautions may support the recovery process and help reduce the risk of complications.
Applying cold compresses as recommended during the first days and keeping the head elevated may help control swelling. Bruising and edema generally decrease on their own over time.
The rules regarding face washing and showering may vary depending on the surgical technique. The doctor’s instructions should be followed to protect the surgical area and prevent wound healing from being affected.
The incisions should have healed sufficiently before makeup is applied around the eyes. Since applying makeup during the early period may cause irritation, the doctor’s recommendation should be obtained regarding the appropriate timing.
Contact lens use may need to be suspended for a while after surgery due to sensitivity around the eyes. The time to return to wearing lenses should be determined by the doctor according to the recovery status.
Sunlight may have negative effects on the skin during the recovery process and may cause scars to become more noticeable. Therefore, wearing sunglasses and avoiding direct sun exposure are recommended.
Although light activities may be performed within a short time, strenuous exercises and activities such as heavy lifting require a waiting period. The return to physical activities should be planned according to the doctor’s evaluation.
Temporary eye dryness, tearing, or sensitivity may occur during the recovery process. These symptoms often decrease over time and may be controlled with eye drops recommended by the doctor.
The incisions are generally hidden within the natural folds of the eyelids. Scars that may be more noticeable during the initial period fade as healing progresses and become quite difficult to notice in most patients.
If severe pain, sudden vision changes, excessive swelling, bleeding, or signs of infection are noticed, a doctor should be consulted without delay. Regular follow-up appointments also ensure that recovery is monitored properly.
He completed his medical education at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine in 1996 and his specialty training between 1996–2002 at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery.
Between 2002–2009, he worked at Süleyman Demirel University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery.
Since 2009, he has been working at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. He received the title of Associate Professor in 2011. Dr. Nasır became a Professor in 2019 and continues to work as a faculty member in this position.
Between 2006–2008, he conducted studies on composite tissue transplantation at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, USA, together with Dr. Siemionow, who performed the first face transplant in the United States and the second in the world.
In 2012, he successfully performed Turkey’s second face transplant, which was the third among full face transplants in the world and the 22nd overall. Simultaneously with this face transplant, the world’s first quadruple limb transplant was carried out at Hacettepe University by a large team under his leadership.
He won second-place awards in the experimental and clinical specialist competitions at the 31st and 32nd National Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Congresses. In 2023, he completed his doctorate in Hand Surgery at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine.
He is a member of the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Plastic Surgery Research Council, Turkish Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Reconstructive Microsurgery Association, and Turkish Society for Surgery of the Hand and Upper Extremity.
