What to do if your eyelids swell after blepharoplasty?

Swelling after blepharoplasty is normal and common. This is the body's physiological response to tissue damage at the cellular level.

Swelling appears due to the release of plasma from the vessels into the tissue. It protects cells during the inflammatory response.

The severity of the swelling gradually subsides. The permeability of the walls of blood vessels decreases , and plasma stops leaking through them . To speed up recovery and minimize swelling, you need to follow the recommendations of doctors and take appropriate measures to eliminate them.

Features of edema after blepharoplasty of the upper and lower eyelids

During surgery, blood vessels are damaged. This is normal and inevitable. As a result, blood enters the tissues, forming bruises. The body fights the damage and sends large amounts of plasma to protect the blood from infection. This is how swelling appears after blepharoplasty .

The severity of swelling depends on several factors:

• Individual characteristics. With thick skin, swelling is less pronounced, but takes longer to go away.
• Age of patients. In younger patients, in whom tissue regeneration occurs more quickly, recovery will not take much time.

After blepharoplasty of the upper eyelids, swelling is less noticeable, but lasts longer. The skin here is thin and sensitive.

Swelling after lower blepharoplasty extends to the zygomatic part of the face. But they go faster.

The type of access for the operation is important. After laser correction, the blood vessels are restored faster, so bruises and swelling do not linger for a long time. In a skin excision operation, the injured part will take two to three weeks to heal, and full recovery can only be observed by the end of the second month. Although you can go “in public” earlier, and the traces of the operation will not be particularly noticeable.

How to remove

An important factor in recovery is the patient’s behavior in the first days after surgery. During the first day, cold compresses are constantly applied. Cold is a factor in the constriction of blood vessels, which helps reduce the intensity of blood flow.

If you do not apply cold, then with the restoration of blood supply to the vessels, blood through damaged capillaries will begin to enter the subcutaneous tissue and skin, which will cause the formation of a large bruise.

For the first 2-3 days, it is better to sleep half-sitting or on a bed with an angle of at least 45 degrees - in this position, blood does not stagnate in the tissues of the face. And this helps reduce the severity of edema.

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In the postoperative period, it is necessary to reduce the emotional stress in order to avoid sudden surges in pressure - this can lead to violations of the integrity of blood vessels, especially the first 3-4 days, while the capillaries are still being restored.

Giving up bad habits in the postoperative period will only have a positive effect. The absence of alcohol in the blood allows you to reduce swelling, and when you quit smoking, the speed of recovery processes increases.

In the postoperative period, at least for several days, it is worth minimizing bending and lifting heavy objects to reduce the likelihood of capillary damage. It should be noted that for the first 10 days it is better to wash your hair by tilting it back - this is how it is washed in hairdressers.

Separately, we should mention the correction of the diet - during recovery it is better to eat light, natural food. This allows the body’s energy potential to be spent only on the recovery process.

Drug treatment

Medications are also used during postoperative rehabilitation. Their use helps to have a local effect, thereby influencing a number of postoperative conditions:

• anesthesia;
• strengthening blood vessels;
• softening of the skin, reducing the formation of scars;
• cooling, which promotes vasoconstriction;
• warming up, which helps increase the activity of metabolic processes, thereby reducing the severity of the bruise;
• cosmetic masking effect.

Immediately after the operation, a bandage is applied to the bandages - it protects the incision from contact with bacterial microorganisms and helps minimize the risk of complications.

After removing the patches, homeopathic Traumeel ointment is often used. It helps soften tissue and speed up recovery. It is also possible to use Traumeel in tablets.

Important: Traumeel should only be taken sublingually. Oral administration significantly reduces the effectiveness of the drug.

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BruiseOFF ointment helps reduce the appearance of a bruise due to its local warming effect. It also has a masking effect.

10-12 days after blepharoplasty, you can begin a course of massage using hydrocortisone ointment or Contractubex gel. Their use helps reduce the formation of scar tissue, thereby preventing the formation of a scar.

How long do bruises and swelling last after blepharoplasty?

Swelling under the eyes and on the upper eyelids is noticeable for at least a week. After transconjunctival plastic surgery, bruises disappear in four days, after classical surgery - in a week and a half. But these are relative indicators. In each specific case, only a doctor will tell you when the swelling will subside, based on various factors:

• Patient's age. The older the person, the slower the tissue regeneration and, accordingly, the longer the recovery takes.
• Skin structure. On thick epidermis, swelling is less noticeable and there are not as many bruises as on thin epidermis, but recovery is slower.
• Blood circulation level. If the process is slow, it will not be possible to quickly remove bruises and swelling.
• Access method. After the transconjunctival sutureless procedure, swelling disappears completely within a week. After four days they become almost invisible.
• Site of invasion. Swelling after upper blepharoplasty disappears faster because the skin on the eyelids is thin. But it shows hematomas much more clearly.
• Infection. If during surgery or due to improper care bacteria penetrate into the inner layers of the epidermis, healing will be long and will not take place without taking antibiotics. In some cases, repeat surgery may be required.

In one eye, swelling may be more pronounced and last longer. This depends on individual characteristics due to the asymmetry of the capillaries. Infestation can also be different. If your eyelids swell unevenly after blepharoplasty, this may mean that more skin has been removed from one side.

How to relieve swelling after blepharoplasty with medications

Swelling and hematoma after surgery only increase in the first two days. At the same time, the eyelids itch because the incision line is healing. To prevent tissue infection, the doctor prescribes antibiotics. To eliminate discomfort associated with itching, bruising and swelling - ointments: Hydrocortisone, Lokoid, Liaton, Traumeel, Sinyakoff. The main thing is that the patient is not allergic to the components of the medications, otherwise the swelling will become even worse.

Ointment for bruises should be applied once or twice a day, without stretching the skin of the eyelids and without getting on the mucous membrane. The course of treatment is one week.

Additionally, from the first day you can take Traumeel tablets for puffiness under the eyes after blepharoplasty. They consist of plant components and have a diverse effect, significantly improving the condition.

What determines the duration of the disappearance of edema?

The first thing that affects the speed of recovery after blepharoplasty or any other plastic surgery is the state of the immune system. A strong immune system quickly copes with ongoing inflammatory reactions that increase swelling and speeds up recovery.

Other factors influencing the elimination of edema:

• presence of chronic diseases,
• size of edema,
• type of plastic surgery (for example, with laser plastic surgery, the tissue is less injured, so the swelling is relatively small and goes away faster),
• age (after 45 years the body takes longer to recover).

Traditional recipes for swelling after blepharoplasty

Herbal preparations are famous for their anti-inflammatory and disinfecting effects. relieve swelling and bruises after blepharoplasty . Sterile cotton pads should be dipped in the strained liquid, squeezed lightly and applied to the eyes for 15 minutes. Do the procedure 3 times a day.

It is better to prepare an infusion from one component to observe the skin reaction. Herbs can trigger allergies, which can cause increased itching.

You can use grated raw potatoes or finely chopped parsley as an applicator.

Since the body's reaction to the components may vary, an ophthalmologist's approval should be obtained for the procedure.

Is it possible to speed up the process of disappearance of hematomas and cyanosis?

Bruises are the result of blood accumulation due to injury to the skin and disruption of the integrity of the capillaries. Bruising is an integral part of the rehabilitation period after blepharoplasty, but, as a rule, passes quickly (after 6 - 7 days). Exceptions may be cases when the patient experiences severe swelling, since the accumulation of fluid puts pressure on the walls of blood vessels.

To relieve cyanosis, doctors prescribe medications, for example, Lyoton gel. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-edema effect, relieves pain, strengthens the walls of blood vessels. They may prescribe products containing Chinese mushroom extract, which improves metabolic processes in the operated area.

Chamomile decoctions have a slight anti-inflammatory effect. The main thing is to use all these remedies only after consulting a doctor.

Cosmetical tools

Non-medical creams should only be used after injured tissue has healed. The action of cosmetics is based on improving tissue regeneration and skin cell renewal.

Cream with retinol is good for removing puffiness under the eyes. Creams with lingzhi and shiitake mushroom extract have a high restorative ability. But you can use cosmetics only after approval from your doctor.

Additional recommendations

After blepharoplasty, bruises under the eyes will go away faster if all the conditions of the rehabilitation period are met:

• sleep only on your back with pillows raised high;
• do not lower your head down, even tilt it back when washing;
• do not watch TV, do not read;
• protect your eyes from bright light with dark glasses;
• try to blink less;
• do not drink alcohol, stop smoking if possible;
• Salt dishes less, eliminate hot seasonings;
• drink 1.5 liters of water per day;
• do not perform physical activity;
• apply cold compresses on the first day;
• Do not touch your eyes with your hands, except for mandatory procedures.

If bruises and swelling do not go away after blepharoplasty

Prolonged healing and pronounced signs of surgery require diagnosis. If swelling does not go away for a long time after plastic surgery, you should go for an unscheduled examination. Depending on the general condition, the doctor will prescribe one of the methods:

• In the absence of serious complications, use medications and cosmetics. After some time, the swelling goes away on its own.
• For severe headaches and blurred vision, you may need to take medications in combination with physical therapy.
• If the hematoma does not resolve for a long time, the surgeon spreads the edges of the incision and removes the blood clot. The vessel may need to be sutured.

The most dangerous thing is that after blepharoplasty, prolonged swelling may indicate such serious consequences as:

1. Infections. Tissue infection can begin during surgery if sterility is not maintained or during rehabilitation, which is more likely. The infection causes redness of the skin and additional swelling. The doctor decides how to remove it individually. In most cases, antibiotic therapy and antiseptic treatment are prescribed.
2. Inverted eye effect. Occurs due to excessive removal of skin on the lower eyelid. In this case, a massage, additional sutures or repeated surgery may be prescribed.
3. Retrobulbar hematoma. A complication occurs if a large vessel is affected and blood clots appear behind the retina. In this case, redness and persistent swelling are accompanied by pain when rotating the eye sockets. An additional operation solves the problem.

If you respond correctly to your condition and follow general recommendations, swelling will go away quickly. Blepharoplasty is not a complex operation and rarely causes complications.

Restrictions and contraindications

There is a list of indications for which blepharoplasty should be avoided:

• problems with blood clotting;
• suffered a heart attack or stroke;
• complex stages of diabetes mellitus;
• blood pressure problems;
• retinal detachment;
• tumor neoplasms;
• kidney and liver diseases;
• period of critical days;
• pregnancy or lactation;
• diseases associated with inflammation of the eyelids;
• infectious diseases;
• inflammation of the tear ducts;
• conjunctivitis.

Failure to comply with contraindications can lead to irreversible consequences.