Blepharoplasty Postoperative Instructions

POST OPERATIVE MEDICATIONS:

• Antibiotic Eye Ointment.  Apply 2 times a day for 1 week.
• Tylenol. Take as needed for pain.

* For 1 week, avoid blood thinning medications such as Aspirin, Motrin, Advil, Aleve, fish oil and herbal supplements, except for those deemed medically necessary by your primary care physician*

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER SURGERY :

• Your vision may be blurry for a few days from ointment and from eyelid swelling
• Some oozing from the incisions and/or bloody tears is normal
• Bruising and swelling is normal for the first 1-2 weeks after surgery
• The eyes may feel dry or irritated.  You may use over-the-counter artificial tear drops. Please take care not to manipulate the eyelids when instilling eye drops
• Sutures are removed at day 6-10 depending on type and location
• Incisions fade over 4-6 months

GENERAL CARE

Keep your wounds clean after surgery to prevent infection.   Do not rub your wounds.  If you have bleeding after surgery, first apply pressure with a clean towel and an ice pack to the site for 10-20 minutes.  If the bleeding fails to stop, contact the office.  

ICE COMPRESSES

Apply a cold eye mask or pack or a clean sandwich bag full of crushed ice or frozen peas to the area of surgery. For the first 1-2 days after surgery, apply ice compresses for 30 minutes each hour (except while sleeping). Thereafter, apply 4 times daily, or as often as desired. **Exception: do not use cold compresses if you have a skin graft**

ACTIVITY

Please refrain from bending, lifting, swimming, straining, nose blowing or any other strenuous activity for 2 weeks from surgery.  Contact lenses and makeup should not be used for 2 weeks. 

SHOWERING

You may start showering 24 hours after surgery.   In the shower, avoid getting your sutures very wet.  Some moisture is fine, but gently dab the area dry.  Do not rub your eyes after showering.

SLEEPING

Sleep on your back with your head elevated for 1 week after surgery. Do not sleep face down or put pressure on the operated site. We advise against sleeping on your side as this causes swelling to gather on the downward-facing side. 

CALL SURGEON’S OFFICE

If you have severe pain or if your wound site becomes increasingly red, swollen or is briskly bleeding, call the office at which you were seen. PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL IF YOU ARE HAVING A PROBLEM.

(For after hours assistance, please call 617-636-5114 (Tufts Boston) and ask for the ophthalmologist on call)