After Surgery, Care Determines the Results! - Upper and Lower Eyelid Surgery

Among eye plastic surgeries,

upper and lower eyelid surgery is

a procedure that can improve both

functional recovery and appearance

at the same time.

But just as important as the surgery itself

is post-recovery care. Swelling, bruising, pain,

scarring, and whether revision surgery is needed…

All of these can change depending on

how you take care of yourself after surgery.

<Recovery Period and Common Symptoms>

1. Initial swelling is

at its worst between days 3 and 5,

and then gradually goes down.

2. Bruising varies from person to person,

but it usually subsides in about

1 to 2 weeks on average.

3. Tightness,

a foreign-body sensation, or slight stinging

are natural recovery responses.

4. Sutures are

typically removed between days 5 and 7,

and full recovery takes

about 4 to 6 weeks.

<Precautions in Daily Life>

1. Do not rub or touch the surgical area

2. Avoid bending your head down

(such as bending over to wash your face or do laundry)

3. Avoid excessive exercise, sauna, jjimjilbang, alcohol, and smoking for about 2 weeks

4. Contact lenses should be stopped for 2 weeks,

and makeup is allowed only from 3 days after suture removal

→ When putting on or removing contact lenses,

you need to pull on or rub the eyelids.

Right after surgery,

there are sutures at the incision site,

so these actions can

lead to wound opening, bleeding, or infection.

→ If makeup products seep into the

incision site before it has fully closed,

recovery may slow down,

or it may leave pigmentation or scars.

✱A quick note here!✱

🔍 Why shouldn't you bend your head down?

1. Worsening swelling and bruising due to increased blood flow

When you bend your head down,

blood flow moves toward the head,

which can make swelling or bruising

at the surgical site worse.

2. Risk of bleeding

Right after surgery, blood vessels

have not yet fully stabilized,

so if blood pressure rises suddenly,

bleeding around the sutures may occur

or it may lead to internal bleeding (bruising).

3. Risk of wound opening and scarring

When you bend forward,

pressure is placed on the eyelids,

which can cause the wound to open

or put tension on the stitched area,

making scars more noticeable.

4. Discomfort due to increased intraocular pressure

Bending your head down or

performing movements that strain the eyes

can temporarily raise intraocular pressure,

causing eye stinging, a foreign-body sensation, pain, and more.

<Taking Prescribed Medication and Cold/Hot Compresses>

1. Take the prescribed antibiotics and pain relievers

without skipping any doses

2. For the first 2 to 3 days after surgery,

use cold compresses, and after that switch to warm compresses

to help reduce swelling

→ Compresses constrict blood vessels,

suppressing bleeding, bruising, and swelling.

In particular, immediately after surgery,

an inflammatory response begins,

so cold compresses are very effective at

reducing worsening swelling or bruising.

→ Once recovery has progressed to some extent,

it is important to switch to warm compresses

to promote blood circulation.

This helps tissue recovery and

faster removal of waste products

within bruising and swelling.

3. When applying ointment, wash your hands well,

and apply only a small amount to the prescribed area

→ Applying more ointment

does not make it work better.

Instead, too much can form a barrier on the skin,

which may interfere with wound breathing or medication absorption.

In particular, because eyelid skin is

thin and sensitive,

the risk of side effects such as pimples,

heat rash, or irritant contact dermatitis may be higher.

Conclusion: More important than the surgery itself is 'recovery care'

Upper and lower eyelid surgery is

not just about improving the eye shape;

it is a procedure that can even change quality of life.

But the results depend on

how you care for yourself after surgery.