We all aim to grow old gracefully.

But as the years go by, it’s no surprise that they can catch up with us, leaving our skin not as firm as it used to be whilst also giving our body confidence a knock.

And very often, it’s the skin on our face that shows the telltale signs of ageing quicker than any other area of the body.

The reason for this is because the skin, particularly around the delicate eye area, is prone to losing its elasticity, which will cause the look of under-eye bags and sagging skin.

Paired with fine lines and wrinkles, we can soon start to look much older than we feel, causing us to lose confidence in our appearance and even impact our vision in more severe cases.

But this is where eyelid surgery can help you to get your confidence back.

So, what happens during eyelid surgery?

Eyelid surgery is a relatively straightforward procedure that involves removing excess skin and fat deposits from the eyelid area to achieve a more youthful look.

Medically known as a blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery is a popular procedure for both men and women looking to remove the look of sagging under-eye bags and wrinkles from the face.

As our eyelids consist of skin, muscle and fat layers, the skin around the eye can quickly lose its elasticity as we age due to external factors or genetics.

Fat pads that are located deeper in the skin accumulate forwards, which causes the eyelids to sag, giving that ‘eye bag’ look that many can experience as they get older.

As part of the eyelid surgery procedure, the surgeon will remove these under-eye bags by cutting along the crease of the eyelid, trimming the sagging skin and muscle, whilst removing any excess fat.

Once this part of the procedure has been completed, the surgeon will use small stitches to fix the skin back into place.

What are the side effects following eyelid surgery?

Just like any cosmetic procedure, you can expect to experience several small side effects as your body begins the healing process.

As eyelid surgery involves stitches around the eye area, a common side effect of the process is swelling.

Alongside this, you can expect the area to become quite severely bruised or swollen, as the delicate eye area is prone to side effects of this kind.

Although these side effects can be painful, the chances are these symptoms will only last for a short time.

With our experience in the eyelid surgery field, we would expect the patient, following a successful procedure, to be back to their normal routine in around 1-2 weeks post-op.

It’s important to note the bruising and swelling will take slightly longer to heal, along with the swelling around the cheeks and jawline, and can take around 2-3 weeks to repair itself fully.

Top tips to dealing with the eyelid surgery recovery process

As we’ve highlighted already, the eyelid surgery procedure has minimal risks and can see you back on your feet in no time at all.

But, as with any cosmetic surgery procedure, you must do the right thing for your body and ensure you look after it as it heals itself.

So, what can you do to ensure a swift recovery? We would recommend you to:

Invest in eye protection

Even if you need them, your doctor will recommend you steer clear of contact lenses for at least two weeks post-op.

This precaution means you’ll need to make sure you have a pair of glasses available to allow you to see during your day to day life within this period.

We’d also recommend using tinted sunglasses if you go out and about, as eye operations can cause increased sensitivity to light.

The tinted glasses will reduce your exposure to the sun and allow you to feel more comfortable and protected when you are out during the day.

Limit eye strain

You will notice that your eyes can get tired quite quickly.

If you have to go back to work at a computer when you’re able to, we recommend taking regular breaks away from your screen. This also includes when you’re back home watching television, reading or on your mobile phone.

Avoid exercise

You may also be required to steer clear of strenuous exercise during your recovery.

Whether that’s sports, heavy lifting or running, it’s best to avoid this at all costs during the first few weeks following your surgery, as it could cause potential injury and slow down your recovery.

Eating soft foods

As you can imagine, eating following an operation on your face can cause a great deal of discomfort for patients, particularly for the first few days following the procedure.

Your doctor will share information about what foods to eat, but they will most likely recommend a healthy diet of yoghurt, soft fruit, pasta and well-cooked vegetables.

Rest

Resting is a simple way to encourage your body to heal itself.

You may notice that your bruising and swelling is worse when you wake up in the morning following eyelid surgery. But this is completely normal and will subside during the day.

With this in mind, your doctor will also recommend keeping your head raised on two or three pillows for at least a week after your surgery.

We would also strongly recommend that you attend your follow up appointments with your doctor to ensure you’re on the right track to a speedy recovery.

If you’re considering an eyelid surgery procedure, you must do your research and find the right surgeon for you.

At MedicoTrips, we work closely with experienced surgeon Dr Abdullah Etöz, associate clinical doctor of Plastic Surgery at Acıbadem Hospital Groups in İstanbul.

With many years of training under his belt, we enlist Dr Etöz for our procedures due to his knowledge and experience in the cosmetic surgery field.

Alongside this, the team at MedicoTrips is highly trained and experienced in helping people achieve their dream look, putting patients minds at ease whilst being with them every step of the way.

If you’d like to discuss the eyelid surgery procedure in more detail with a member of the MedicoTrips team, feel free to give us a call on +44 (0) 121 288 4552.