Hello, this is Woori Plastic Surgery.
Today, I’d like to give you a detailed guide on how to care for yourself after under-eye fat repositioning surgery. The surgery itself is important, but post-operative care is just as important. In actual clinical practice, we repeatedly explain recovery care to patients just as much as the surgery itself, and today I’ll organize that information all in one place. In this post, I’ll focus on the care methods you must follow after surgery and the behaviors you should avoid.
After Under-Eye Fat Repositioning Surgery
Please take care like this
Because under-eye fat repositioning surgery is performed under sedation anesthesia, it is best to rest 충분히 at the hospital until the effects of the anesthesia have completely worn off immediately after surgery. After that, you must go home with a guardian, and while taking a taxi or public transportation is fine, you should avoid driving yourself. There are two main things to do at home on the day of surgery. The first is to rest with your upper body raised. Sit on a sofa or prop up one or two pillows in bed to keep your upper body slightly elevated. Even when sleeping, maintaining a semi-upright posture, like sleeping in an economy airplane seat, can help prevent swelling. The second is cold compresses. On the day of surgery, it is best to apply cold compresses to the under-eye area as much as possible until late in the day. However, if fat grafting was performed at the same time, cold compresses may be limited in consideration of fat survival, so you must follow the personalized instructions given to you.
Recovery care for the first 3 days after surgery
For about 3 days after under-eye fat repositioning surgery, we recommend getting plenty of rest. During this period, it is good to keep your upper body elevated, use cold compresses, and take light walks. Starting the day after surgery, a gentle walk that does not overexert you is allowed and may help reduce swelling. Please continue this care routine consistently for about 3 days. After 3 days have passed, most daily activities are possible. Once you remove the skin-colored tape that was attached to apply pressure under the eyes, you may return to your normal routine, and from that point on there is no special additional care required.
Please minimize irritation to the surgical area
After under-eye fat repositioning surgery, the most important thing is to avoid irritating the surgical area. Not only direct physical irritation, but also indirect stimulation such as increased intraocular pressure or blood vessel dilation should be avoided. Washing your face and showering are simple enough to do after returning home on the day of surgery. Because under-eye fat repositioning surgery is performed through the inside of the eyelid without a skin incision, it is fine to wash using lukewarm or cool water while standing. However, if the water is too hot, your body temperature may rise, blood vessels may dilate, and this can suddenly worsen swelling. Also, when washing your face or shampooing, bending your head down can increase pressure and cause swelling, so please be careful. When washing your face, take care not to rub or touch the surgical area directly. Forcefully blowing your nose after showering may also raise intraocular pressure, so it is better to avoid it. From 3 days after surgery, you may gently wash with shampoo or soap, but it is best to avoid long baths, saunas, and jjimjilbangs for about a month.
Behaviors that can delay recovery
Your posture after surgery also has a big impact on recovery. Please avoid sleeping face down or suddenly bending over to lift heavy objects, as this can increase intraocular pressure. Makeup is possible starting the day after surgery, but because removing makeup can irritate the under-eye area, we recommend avoiding eye makeup for about a week. Contact lens use can also irritate the eyes, so please refrain from wearing them for about a week. Light walking exercise is allowed, but exercise that makes your body feel hot should be avoided for a period of time. In the case of swimming, it is better to rest for about 6 weeks because, rather than the water itself, the swim goggles may press strongly around the eyes. In addition, smoking and drinking should be avoided for at least one month. Alcohol dilates blood vessels and reduces judgment, increasing the chance of irritating the surgical area, and smoking is one of the main causes of delayed wound healing.
There is a saying that to make delicious food, ingredients are 80% and the chef’s skill is 20%. Surgery is the same. Just as important as the medical team’s surgical skill is the patient’s post-operative care, which has a major impact on the results. Even if you undergo the same under-eye fat repositioning surgery, differences in recovery speed, swelling, and final results can occur depending on how you care for yourself afterward. If you follow the care methods and precautions explained today, your recovery is more likely to proceed smoothly and lead to a more satisfying result.
