5 Important Precautions to Take after an Eyelift Procedure

*This is contributed content.

Eyelift is a surgical procedure usually done on the upper or lower eyelids or both. It all depends on the results you want to achieve after the surgery. Eyelift helps reduce the bags and puffiness on the lower eyelids and remove excess and sagging skin. Another benefit of eyelift surgery is improving vision especially when the aging process creates excess skin on the upper eyelids which can interfere with your eyesight.

But with benefits also come concerns. One of the major worries for patients who are considering an eyelift is the recovery process. Depending on the extent of the procedure and the age of the patient, healing time will vary greatly. Many, if not all, patients seeking to undergo eyelift surgery are concerned about when they can resume normal daily activities as well as return to independent living post-surgery.

As with any invasive surgical procedure, there may be swelling and bruising around the eyes. Many patients will also experience irritation, discomfort, and dry eyes. If you are considering eyelift surgery or have recently had it done, you may find these 5 post-surgical precautions a helpful resource in your decision making as well as your recovery process.

1. Makeup

One of most frequently asked questions with regard to post-surgery is when the patient can safely and comfortably wear makeup again. According to blepharoplasty experts, patients should not apply makeup on the areas where the surgery was done for at least he first few weeks after surgery.

This precaution mostly applies to eye makeup such as mascara, eyeshadow, and eyeliner. Patients should also refrain from highlighting under their eyes. However, it is completely safe to apply other cosmetic products to the rest of your face, just taking special care to avoid the area on and around the surgical site. Applying makeup and creams on the surgery areas may cause some sensitivity which could in turn hinder the recovery process or even cause more damage.

2. Showers

Eyelift experts advise their patients to be very careful when taking full body showers immediately after the procedure. During the post-surgical recovery period, it is best to avoid fully immersing your face in water. Patients should shower from the neck down only during recovery.

Once you get clearance from your surgeon, then it is safe to take full body showers. In most cases, patients will be cleared for showering their faces about 5 days after the procedure. Until you can wash your face as normal, it is recommended that you use a soft washcloth or wipes to safely cleanse your face.

Patients are generally permitted to wash around their eyes as long as they do it gently. Once you have been cleared for regular showering, it is suggested that you use mild products such as dry shampoo or baby shampoo and sensitive soaps to avoid the risk of irritating the site. Using strong products that may be heavily perfumed when washing your face or hair could possibly cause eye sensitivity which will slow down the healing process. Washing too vigorously or with strong soapy products could also cause any stitches to come undone. Also be sure to use extra care around the areas of excess swelling.

3. Intense activities

It is essential for eyelift procedure patients to have peaceful and long rests for at least the first three to four days following the procedure. During this recovery period, you should not engage in any strenuous activities including working out, jogging, or even lifting objects heavier than five pounds.

It is also important to avoid bending at the waist for at least a few weeks after the procedure. If possible, patients should also bypass any activities that involve moving and using facial muscles in abundance. This would include chewing on hard foods and laughing in excess.

During the earliest part of the recovery process, there will also be dietary restrictions. Foods to consider to ease the stress at the surgical site include yogurt, soft vegetables, and fruits. It is also important to avoid things like sneezing, coughing, and vomiting as they can put too much stress at the site of surgery. Obviously, some of those things might be unavoidable in certain circumstances so it is very important to notify your doctor immediately if you do notice an increase in symptoms of that sort.

While you will be unable to resume your normal exercise routine immediately after surgery, mild activities like walking can help with the recovery process. However, keep in mind that any type of exercise can cause an increase in blood pressure. If your blood pressure goes too high, it can cause bleeding at the surgical site.

4. Glasses and Contact Lenses

Some patients who undergo this surgery may notice post-op issues with their vision. They may need the help of their glasses or contact lenses to see clearly. According to eyelift experts, it is safe to put on glasses immediately after surgery if the patients have blurry vision.

However, patients should not use their contact lenses for at least the first few post-surgery weeks. Contact lenses can cause irritation and additional damage to the eye if you do not allow the proper time for the healing process to complete. Inserting contact lenses into your eyes too soon also presents the risk of undoing stitches and slowing the recovery process even further.

Dark sunglasses are strongly recommended if you must be in the sun immediately following your procedure. However, eyelift surgery experts suggest that it is best for patients to remain indoors as much as possible during the recovery period. Too much light from the sun can cause irritation and sensitivity as well as swelling around the eyes.

5. Sleeping

Sleep is always important and essential especially after undergoing a surgical procedure. In the case of eyelift patients, sleep assists with the recovery process. However, you do need to be very cautious about the angle and level of your head while sleeping.

Experts advise patients to keep their heads elevated during sleep. Having two or three pillows to prop your head will help position it at the best angle and elevation for effective healing. Patients should sleep with their heads elevated in this manner for at least 2-3 weeks following surgery. Keeping your head elevated helps to reduce swelling around the surgical area.

Immediately following eyelift surgery, surgeons will prescribe eye drops and sterile gauze pads which should be applied to the eye area to help reduce swelling and irritation. It is also important to continue using the drops and gauze pads if you are experiencing blurred vision after surgery.

Eye drops should be administered every four hours making sure that you do not pull at your eyelids while applying the drops. Eyelid surgery experts also recommend the use of cold compresses to reduce swelling immediately after the surgery.

Cold compresses can be made from the saline solution provided by your surgeon combined with the sterile gauze pads. Be sure to store the saline solution in the refrigerator or freezer so that it is cold for the proper healing effect of the compresses.

After applying the cold solution to the gauze, place the compresses on your eyes for ten to fifteen minutes to help reduce any swelling on or around the eyes. It is also very important to thoroughly wash your hands before applying anything on or around your eyes or the surgical site.

Have you ever considered eyelift surgery? Or maybe you have had it done? I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

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