Recovery Tips for Eyelid Surgery
If you’re going to have eyelid surgery in Denver soon, you probably want to know what to expect as far as recovery is concerned, and it would be helpful, also, to learn some tips to make your eyelid surgery recovery go as smoothly as possible. Dr. Fante at the Fante Eye & Face Centre has performed eyelid surgery on people living in the Colorado, Kansas, and Wyoming area for many years now, and we’d like to offer some information to help your recovery from eyelid surgery in Denver be as comfortable and short-lived as possible.
Tips for Eyelid Surgery Recovery
The first recommendation is to have your surgery performed by a highly reputable cosmetic surgeon, such as Dr. Robert G. Fante. All surgeries, including all elective cosmetic surgeries, carry with them a number of risks, so it’s absolutely imperative that you entrust your care and your life to the most capable hands. Once you have chosen a cosmetic surgeon you trust and like, you can begin to prepare for the days and weeks following your eyelid surgery. Make sure you get all prescriptions filled before the day of the surgery because you’ll want to have the antibiotics and pain medications readily accessible as soon as you return home from the surgery.
Once you are home resting comfortably, be sure to keep your head elevated as much as possible. After eyelid surgery, it’s very helpful to keep your head above the level of the rest of your body especially when sleeping. Keeping your head elevated will reduce swelling, which will promote faster healing. You can use two to three pillows to prop up your head, or you can purchase an inclined foam wedge, which will also do the job of keeping your head up nicely. You will have some benefit from keeping your head elevated while recumbent for at least the first 3 to 7 days.
Keep a cold or ice compress on your eye area to help reduce swelling and bruising for the first 36 hours. Although you don’t need to do this while your sleeping at night, you should try for 20-30 minutes out of each hour you’re awake on the day of surgery and the entire next day. After that, some people find that alternating cold and warm compresses feels good and helps resolve swelling and bruising..
Another way to prevent or reduce bruising is to use homeopathic Arnica Montana. You can obtain this at our office or at a health food store. Details can be found in your surgery packet provided for your surgery.
Avoid putting your eyes through any unnecessary stress; usually it is OK to briefly work, or use a computer, and television or movies are fine.. You must avoid playing contact sports, strenuous physical exertion, wearing contact lenses and applying make-up for the first week. Keep your eyes clean at all times; hydrogen peroxide on a Q-tip will help with this. You may shower as usual on the second day after surgery. Apply the antibiotic ointment that was prescribed to the stitches twice daily. You will have a check-up appointment about one week after surgery. Dr. Fante and his staff will provide very specific instructions on how to care for your eyes following eyelid surgery in Denver.
Protect your eyes from the sun when you go out, and protect your eyes from dust and other particles by wearing some type of eyeglass protection when in dusty environments. Use artificial tears eye drops as necessary; your eyes may tend to get dry and itchy following surgery, and you must avoid rubbing them. Eye drops will help keep your eyes moist and will wash off any particles that get into your eyes. If itching and redness seem to be worsening, call our office for instructions since it is possible that you could be allergic to an eye drop or ointment.
Make sure you get plenty of rest in the days immediately following surgery, and be sure to following Dr. Fante’s post-op instructions to the letter. If you ever have any questions about your eyelid surgery recovery or if you experience any problems, please contact the Fante Eye & Face Centre immediately.
