Let’s Make Sure to Know This Before Surgery! - Upper/Lower Eyelid Surgery

Upper eyelid and lower eyelid surgery

may seem like a procedure that simply

involves making an incision in the skin,

but because it deals with the sensitive area around the eyes,

thorough preoperative preparation

is especially important.

Even if you follow just a few basic precautions

before surgery,

you can reduce side effects

and recover more quickly,

which can ultimately help you expect

a more satisfactory

surgical result.

The information below is something

you should definitely know

in order to undergo surgery safely

and return to daily life quickly.

✅Preoperative Precautions

Common items (applies equally to upper/lower eyelid surgery)

1. No smoking or drinking for 1 week before surgery

→ Nicotine constricts peripheral blood vessels

and reduces oxygen delivery.

As a result, blood flow to the surgical area decreases,

slowing recovery

and increasing the risk of infection.

→ Alcohol dilates blood vessels,

which increases the risk of bleeding,

and can worsen bruising

during the recovery process.

2. Consult in advance about whether to stop taking anticoagulants, thrombolytics (e.g., aspirin), and similar medications

→ Medications that thin the blood

can increase bleeding during surgery,

and may worsen bruising, swelling, and hematoma

after surgery.

In particular, because the area around the eyes

contains many blood vessels,

if you are taking anticoagulants or aspirin,

be sure to inform the medical staff

before surgery

and consult them about whether you should stop taking them.

3. No eye makeup or contact lenses

→ If makeup is on the skin,

it may be difficult to completely cleanse it

during preoperative disinfection,

and residues left on the skin surface

can lead to infection at the incision site.

Also, the process of removing makeup

can irritate the skin,

which may place unnecessary

stress on the eyelids just before surgery.

4. Check the management status of underlying conditions such as blood pressure/diabetes

→ If high blood pressure is not controlled,

during sleep there may be

an increased heart rate, headache, dizziness,

and even fainting.

→ If blood sugar levels are high,

wound healing is delayed,

and bacterial infection can more easily occur

in the skin incision area.

5. Having a guardian accompany you is recommended

→ Upper/lower eyelid surgery is

relatively simple, but considering that

sedation anesthesia or incision site care

may be necessary,

having a guardian accompany you is recommended.

After surgery,

dizziness, blurred vision, and similar symptoms

may make it risky to go home alone,

and if a guardian accompanies you,

understands the precautions,

and helps you,

it can contribute to safer and faster recovery.

Things that are easy to brush off thinking,

"It’s not a big deal,"

can end up making the biggest difference

after surgery.

For results that suit you

and a comfortable recovery,

please be sure to follow the preoperative precautions!