I thought it would be helpful to list some of the most asked questions I get on a day to day basis when consulting with new patients about cosmetic eyelid surgery. Here are a few and more to follow in future blog posts:
How long does it take to recover from an upper eyelid blepharoplasty?
For most patients, an upper eyelid blepharoplasty is a relatively easy procedure and recovery. There is some slight discomfort after the surgery. Most of my patients manage the discomfort with Tylenol. The day of the surgery you will need to ice for about 20 minutes per hour, but otherwise you can be up and about at home. You can be on your phone or watching TV. Stitches come out one week after surgery. You will have some mild bruising and swelling that will be mostly gone after 7 days.
What type of anesthesia is used for cosmetic blepharoplasty?
For a cosmetic blepharoplasty there are several choices for anesthesia. In my private surgical center we offer light IV sedation to general anesthesia. For the upper eyelids, some patients choose to be completely awake and others prefer IV sedation. When I am performing a lower lid blepharoplasty, general anesthesia is used to keep my patients safe and comfortable.