Blepharoplasty Recovery: What the First Weeks Are Like
Updated: 10 hours ago
Medical editor: Dr. Semih Yıldız, plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon (FEBOPRAS) · Last updated: October 2026
Recovery from blepharoplasty is usually quick and only mildly painful. Swelling and bruising peak in the first 2–3 days, the stitches come out around day 5–6, and most people are back at a desk after 7–10 days. Most of the bruising has faded by weeks 2–3, and the final result shows at around 2–3 months.
The stages below follow the aftercare used for eyelid surgery in Istanbul, where most patients go back to their hotel on the day of surgery with cold compresses and eye drops. How quickly you heal depends on whether the upper eyelids, the lower eyelids or both were treated, on your skin, and on how closely you follow the routine of the first week.
The first three days: cool, upright and resting your eyes
Swelling and bruising build up over the first 48–72 hours. Your eyelids may feel tight and your eyes may water or feel gritty, but pain is usually mild and settles with the painkiller the team recommends, such as paracetamol. Aspirin, ibuprofen and similar anti-inflammatory painkillers can make bleeding more likely, so do not take them unless the team approves. Lower eyelid surgery tends to cause more visible bruising than upper eyelid surgery, and the bruising can spread onto the cheeks before it fades from purple to yellow.
Two habits make the biggest difference in these days:
Cold compresses: clean gauze pads cooled in iced water, laid gently over the closed eyes for short periods while you are awake. Ice should never touch the eyelid skin directly.
Head raised: rest and sleep on your back with two or three pillows, so fluid drains away from the eyes instead of collecting overnight.
Bending forward, lifting and straining raise the pressure in the small vessels of the eyelids, so keep them to a minimum. Swelling is often worse in the morning and eases as you move around during the day. This pattern is normal for the first couple of weeks.
Stitches, eye drops and clean incisions
The incisions are closed with fine stitches: in the natural crease of the upper eyelid, just below the lashes, or not on the skin at all when the lower eyelid was treated from the inside (transconjunctival technique). Until the stitches are removed, the incision lines can look slightly raised and crusted. Clean them only in the way the team shows you; gentle dabbing works better than wiping, and crusts should be left to come away on their own.
Eye drops keep the surface of the eye moist while the swollen eyelids do not close or blink as fully as usual. Use them as prescribed, and use lubricating drops whenever your eyes feel dry or gritty. Avoid rubbing your eyes, even when the healing skin itches.
Before surgery, Dr. Semih Yıldız assesses eyelid function and the health of the eye surface. A tendency to dry eye is one reason why some people need drops for longer than others.
Screens, reading and blurred vision
You can read and watch television from the first days, but your eyes will tire quickly. Concentrating on a phone or computer reduces how often you blink, and this makes swollen, slightly dry eyes feel worse. Short sessions with regular breaks and a few lubricating drops make screen time far more comfortable.
Slightly blurred vision in the first days is common. It usually comes from swelling, eye ointment or a tear film that does not yet spread evenly, and it clears as the eyelids settle. Blurring that keeps getting worse, or any sudden loss of vision, is different and needs urgent attention.
Contact lenses, glasses and make-up
Glasses: can usually be worn straight away. Sunglasses outdoors protect the healing skin from sun and wind and also hide the bruising.
Contact lenses: usually avoided for about 2 weeks, because putting them in and taking them out stretches the eyelids, and the eye surface is often drier than normal at first.
Make-up: light make-up away from the incisions is usually possible after about 10 days; eye make-up such as mascara and eyeliner usually has to wait about 2 weeks.
In each case, check with the team first, especially if your healing is slower than average.
Work, exercise and flying home
The practical milestones follow a fairly predictable pattern:
Days 1–4: rest at your hotel, short gentle walks, cold compresses and drops.
Days 5–6: stitch removal and, for most patients, clearance to fly home.
Days 7–10: return to desk work, once the bruising has faded enough for you to feel comfortable.
Weeks 2–3: most of the bruising has gone and normal activities resume step by step.
Month 1: most of the swelling has settled and the eyes look fresher.
Months 2–3: the final result appears and the scars continue to fade.
Running, heavy lifting and gym workouts raise blood pressure in the face and can increase swelling or cause bleeding, so they are reintroduced gradually from weeks 2–3. Leave swimming pools, saunas and steam rooms until the incisions have fully healed. Cabin air on the plane is very dry, so keep lubricating drops in your hand luggage. Smoking slows wound healing, which is why it should be stopped at least 4 weeks before surgery and avoided for at least 4 weeks afterwards.
Warning signs: when to contact the surgical team
Serious complications after eyelid surgery are rare, and most of what you feel in the first week is normal healing. Contact the team without delay if you notice:
pain in or behind the eye that is severe or keeps increasing, especially with a tense, bulging eyelid
a sudden change or loss of vision, or double vision that does not go away
swelling on one side that grows quickly and feels hard
bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure
fever, spreading redness, warmth or discharge from an incision
eyes that cannot close, or that become very red, dry and painful in bright light
Sudden loss of vision, or severe pain with a tense, bulging eyelid, can be a sign of bleeding behind the eye, which needs urgent treatment. If you cannot reach the team straight away, or you are already back home, call 112 in Turkey or your local emergency number.
Some difference in swelling between the two sides, watery eyes and a tight feeling when you close your eyes are common in the first weeks and usually settle without treatment.
The stay of about 6 days in Istanbul is planned so that the stitches can be removed before you travel, and follow-up continues by photos and video calls once you are home. The techniques, preparation and full recovery timeline are described on our blepharoplasty page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I wash my face and hair after eyelid surgery?
Gentle washing is usually possible within the first days, but water pressure, soap and shampoo should be kept away from the incisions until the team says otherwise. Tipping your head back in the shower helps, and the area around the eyes should be patted dry rather than rubbed. Until the stitches are removed, clean the incision lines only in the way you were shown.
When will I feel comfortable being seen in public?
Most of the bruising has faded by weeks 2–3. Many people feel comfortable at work or in public after about 7–10 days, especially with sunglasses or glasses, and light make-up can usually be used after about 10 days. Lower eyelid surgery often bruises more than upper eyelid surgery, so a combined operation may need a few extra days.
Is it normal for my eyes to look uneven while they heal?
Yes, swelling and bruising rarely settle at the same speed on both sides, so the eyes can look slightly different for several weeks. Small differences at this stage do not predict the final result. Symmetry is judged once the swelling has gone, at around 2–3 months; a difference that comes with pain, rapid swelling or changes in vision needs to be checked straight away.
If you would like to know how recovery would look for your own eyelids, you can send clear photos of your eyes, open and closed, for a free online assessment.
This article provides general information and does not replace a medical consultation. Results vary from person to person.
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