In this guide14 sections
- Key Points
- How Long Is Blepharoplasty Recovery?
- Blepharoplasty Recovery Timeline: Day by Day and Week by Week
- Upper vs Lower Blepharoplasty Recovery
- Bruising and Swelling After Blepharoplasty: What’s Normal?
- When Can I Exercise After Blepharoplasty?
- Sleeping, Contact Lenses, Make-Up and Driving After Blepharoplasty
- Dry Eyes and Watery Eyes After Blepharoplasty
- Blepharoplasty Scars: How They Heal
- Blepharoplasty Aftercare: What Not to Do After Eyelid Surgery
- When to Contact Your Surgeon After Blepharoplasty
- Blepharoplasty Recovery FAQs
- Blepharoplasty in London
- References
Key Points
- How long is blepharoplasty recovery? Most people are back at desk work in one to two weeks, back to full exercise in four to six weeks, and the scars keep fading for up to 12 months.
- How long do bruising and swelling last? Both peak around days 2 to 3. Most bruising fades within two weeks, and most swelling within three to four weeks, with a little lingering for six to eight weeks.
- Is lower blepharoplasty recovery longer? Usually a little. Lower eyelid surgery tends to bruise more and can cause chemosis, a harmless watery swelling of the white of the eye that takes a few weeks to settle.
- When are the stitches removed? Usually at five to seven days, at your first review. Dissolvable stitches do not need removing.
- When can I sleep on my side after blepharoplasty? Sleep on your back with your head raised for at least the first week, and only go back to side sleeping when your surgeon is happy, usually from around two weeks.
- When can I wear contact lenses and make-up? Contact lenses from about two weeks, face make-up from about two weeks, and eye make-up such as mascara from three to four weeks.
Blepharoplasty recovery is one of the quicker recoveries in facial surgery, but because the eyelids are so visible, normal healing can look more dramatic than it is. Most people take one to two weeks off work after blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), return to the gym at four to six weeks, and see the final result once the last swelling has gone, with the scars continuing to soften for up to a year.
Upper blepharoplasty on its own is usually done under local anaesthetic, with or without sedation, while lower eyelid surgery and combined upper and lower surgery are usually done under TIVA (total intravenous anaesthesia). Your surgeon and anaesthetist decide which suits you, and our guide to blepharoplasty under local anaesthetic or asleep explains the options. This guide covers the blepharoplasty recovery timeline day by day and week by week, the differences between upper and lower eyelid recovery, bruising and swelling, sleeping, exercise, contact lenses and make-up, and the warning signs to look out for. For advice that applies to every operation, see our recovery after cosmetic surgery hub, and to see what eyelids look like once healed, browse our blepharoplasty before and after photos.
How Long Is Blepharoplasty Recovery?
It depends on what you mean by recovered. Eyelid surgery recovery has three milestones: looking presentable and back at desk work at one to two weeks, back to full exercise at four to six weeks, and mature, faded scars at six to 12 months. That matches the NHS guidance on recovering from eyelid surgery ↗, which says most people take about two weeks off work and that bruising and redness can take several weeks to fade.
Upper blepharoplasty recovery time is usually the shorter of the two. Recovery after lower blepharoplasty tends to take a little longer, mainly because of more bruising and, in some people, chemosis. If you have both at once, plan around the lower eyelid timeline.
Your blepharoplasty recovery dates
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Blepharoplasty Recovery Timeline: Day by Day and Week by Week
Eyelid skin is thin and has a rich blood supply, so it heals quickly, but it also bruises and swells easily. Knowing what is normal at each stage makes the first fortnight much less worrying. Timings vary with your anatomy and the technique used, so always follow your own surgeon’s instructions.
Day of surgery
Blepharoplasty is a day case, so you go home the same day once you are comfortable. A responsible adult must take you home and stay with you for 24 hours; the Royal College of Anaesthetists’ advice for the person looking after you ↗ explains what that involves. Blurred vision is common for the first few hours. It is usually caused by the protective ointment placed in the eyes, not by a problem with the surgery. The eyelids feel tight and swollen, and discomfort is usually mild. Rest with your head raised on two or three pillows. You are given your surgeon’s direct number for the first 24 hours on your discharge summary.
Days 1–3
Swelling and bruising increase over the first two to three days and are usually at their worst around day 2 or 3. Use cold compresses and keep your head raised. Your eyes may water, feel gritty or feel dry, and may be sensitive to light. Use the drops and ointment you have been given exactly as directed. Avoid bending, lifting, straining and anything else that raises your blood pressure.
Days 4–7 and stitch removal
The swelling starts to go down and the bruising changes from purple to green and yellow. The incisions may look pink and slightly raised, and the eyelids can feel numb or tight. Non-dissolvable stitches are usually removed at five to seven days at your first review; dissolvable stitches do not need removing and fall away on their own. Some people feel ready for desk work from the end of the first week, but most take the full week off.
Week 2 (10 days after blepharoplasty)
By ten days after blepharoplasty most of the bruising has faded or can be covered with make-up, and most people are back at work. Gentle walking and light exercise are fine. Contact lenses can usually go back in at around two weeks if your eyes feel comfortable and your surgeon agrees.
Weeks 3–4
The eyelids look settled to other people, although you will still notice some swelling, especially first thing in the morning. Eye make-up can usually be used again from three to four weeks. Exercise can be built up gradually.
Weeks 4–6
Most people are back to their full exercise routine, including the gym, between four and six weeks. The shape of the eyelids is close to the final result, although after lower blepharoplasty a little swelling at the lid-cheek junction can take longer to clear.
3–12 months
The scars continue to mature, soften and fade for up to a year. Upper eyelid scars settle into the natural crease, and lower eyelid scars, where there is one, sit just below the lashes.
Upper vs Lower Blepharoplasty Recovery
Upper and lower eyelid surgery are different operations, and our guide to upper vs lower blepharoplasty explains which one treats which problem. Their recoveries differ too.
Upper blepharoplasty recovery time
Upper eyelid surgery removes excess skin, and sometimes a little muscle and fat, through an incision hidden in the natural eyelid crease. The work is relatively superficial, so swelling settles quickly and most people feel largely back to normal within about two weeks. Upper eyelid surgery healing time to a fully faded scar is still several months.
Lower blepharoplasty recovery
Lower eyelid surgery treats under-eye bags by removing or repositioning fat, either through an incision inside the lower eyelid (transconjunctival, with no external scar) or just below the lashes. It works closer to the eye, so bruising tends to be heavier and can track down onto the cheek. In a series of 224 lower blepharoplasty operations, the most common after-effects were swelling of the eyelid and cheek and chemosis, all of which settled on their own, and most people were back to full activity and exercise at about six weeks[1].
A typical lower blepharoplasty recovery day by day looks like this:
- First 24 hours: tightness and tenderness, with cold compresses for short spells.
- Days 2–3: bruising and swelling at their most noticeable. Rest and keep your head up.
- Days 5–7: any skin stitches are removed and the bruising starts to fade.
- Week 2: most people feel ready to go back to work, with any remaining bruising easy to cover.
- Weeks 3–6: some people feel fully recovered by four weeks, others closer to six, particularly if they have had chemosis.
Chemosis after lower blepharoplasty
Chemosis is swelling of the conjunctiva, the clear membrane over the white of the eye, which makes the eye look watery or jelly-like. It is much more common after lower than upper eyelid surgery, and it usually settles over a few weeks with lubricating drops, while stronger treatment is needed only when it persists[2]. Bleeding under the conjunctiva can also leave a bright red patch on the white of the eye. It looks dramatic but is harmless and fades on its own.
Once fat has been removed during lower blepharoplasty it does not come back, so the improvement is long-lasting, although the skin continues to age. Our guide to how long blepharoplasty lasts explains what to expect over the years.
Bruising and Swelling After Blepharoplasty: What’s Normal?
Bruising and swelling are expected parts of eyelid surgery recovery, not complications. They often start within a few hours and are most visible around days 2 to 3.
Stages of bruising after blepharoplasty
Bruising is usually the quicker of the two to go. It moves from purple to green and yellow and has mostly faded within one to two weeks, although it can occasionally last up to a month, especially after lower blepharoplasty.
Swelling after blepharoplasty
Swelling takes longer: most has settled by three to four weeks, and a small, largely invisible amount can last six to eight weeks. Swelling can occasionally pull the lower eyelid slightly away from the eye for a short time. This usually settles as the swelling goes down, but tell your surgeon if your lower lid looks pulled down or your eye will not close fully.
How to reduce bruising and swelling
- Keep your head raised on two or three pillows, including when you sleep, for at least the first week.
- Use cold compresses for the first two to three days. Wrap a cold pack or frozen peas in a clean cloth, never put ice directly on the skin, and apply for 10–15 minutes at a time, several times a day. In a 2025 systematic review of 29 randomised trials ↗ in eyelid and periocular surgery, cold compresses gave short-term relief, while herbal remedies such as arnica and bromelain showed no significant benefit[3].
- Stay hydrated and keep salty, processed food to a minimum, because salt encourages fluid retention.
- Avoid medicines that increase bleeding. Do not take aspirin or anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen unless your surgeon advises it, and use the painkillers you have been prescribed. If you take aspirin or a blood thinner for a medical condition, only stop it on medical advice.
- Avoid strenuous activity for at least two weeks, because raised blood pressure increases swelling and bruising.
When Can I Exercise After Blepharoplasty?
Exercising too soon raises your blood pressure, which can worsen swelling and increase the risk of bleeding from the incisions.
- Week 1: rest, with gentle walking around the house to keep your circulation moving.
- Week 2: light cardio such as walking or an easy static bike, for up to about 30 minutes.
- Week 3: gradually increase the intensity. Avoid heavy weights, high-intensity classes and anything that involves straining or holding your breath.
- Weeks 4–6: most people return to their full routine, including the gym. Yoga and Pilates are usually fine from about four weeks, avoiding long head-down positions until your surgeon is happy.
Swimming, saunas and steam rooms should wait at least three weeks and until the incisions have fully healed. Our guide to exercising after cosmetic surgery explains how to build back up safely.
Sleeping, Contact Lenses, Make-Up and Driving After Blepharoplasty
When can I sleep on my side after blepharoplasty?
Sleep on your back with your head raised for at least the first week, using two or three pillows or a wedge. This reduces swelling and keeps pressure off the incisions. Most people can go back to sleeping on their side from around two weeks, once the swelling has settled and your surgeon is happy, but avoid pressing your face into the pillow until the eyelids feel comfortable.
Contact lenses and glasses
Wear glasses rather than contact lenses for at least two weeks. Putting lenses in means pulling on the eyelids, and the surface of the eye is often drier than usual straight after surgery. Glasses are fine from the start, provided they do not press on the incisions.
Make-up
Face make-up away from the incisions can usually be used from about two weeks, and eye make-up such as mascara and eyeliner from three to four weeks, once the incisions have fully closed. Use new products rather than old ones. Our guide to wearing make-up after eyelid surgery has more detail.
Screens, reading and TV
You can watch TV and use your phone, but your eyes may tire quickly, feel dry and be sensitive to light for the first week or two. Take frequent breaks, blink often and use your lubricating drops as directed.
Driving
Do not drive for at least 24 hours after sedation or TIVA. Most people drive again at one to two weeks, once their vision is clear, swelling no longer narrows their view, they are not taking painkillers that cause drowsiness and they can wear their usual glasses or lenses. Our guide to driving after blepharoplasty explains how to judge when you are ready.
Going back to work
Most people return to work one to two weeks after blepharoplasty, depending on how visible the bruising is and how much screen work the job involves. Jobs involving heavy lifting or dusty, dirty environments usually need longer.
Flying
Avoid flying for the first few days. Short-haul flights are usually fine from about two weeks and long-haul flights from about four weeks, but check with your surgeon first. Bleeding behind the eye is most likely in the first few hours after surgery, which is one of the main risks of blepharoplasty abroad with a flight home the next day.
Dry Eyes and Watery Eyes After Blepharoplasty
Dry, gritty or watery eyes are common in the first few weeks, because swelling affects how the eyelids close and how tears drain. Use your lubricating drops and ointment as directed, usually for the first week or so and longer if your eyes still feel dry. Wear sunglasses outdoors to protect your eyes from wind and sun.
In the longer term, upper blepharoplasty does not usually leave people with dry eyes. In a 2025 meta-analysis of 12 randomised trials in Aesthetic Surgery Journal ↗, dry eye symptoms were less common after upper blepharoplasty than before it. Removing muscle as well as skin did not change the rate of dry eye but was linked with more cases of incomplete eyelid closure, which is one reason surgeons tailor how much tissue they remove[4]. If watering persists, our guide to watery eyes after blepharoplasty explains the causes and treatments.
Blepharoplasty Scars: How They Heal
Eyelid skin is thin and heals well, so blepharoplasty scars are usually discreet. Upper eyelid incisions sit within the natural crease and are hidden when the eye is open. Lower eyelid incisions, where an external approach is used, sit just below the lash line and can extend slightly into the crow’s feet. A transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty leaves no external scar.
Scars look pink and may feel tight for a few months, then gradually soften and fade over up to 12 months. A systematic review of 26 studies found that people were generally satisfied with both the result and the scar after upper blepharoplasty[5]. Once the incisions have fully closed, a silicone scar gel can help, but only start it when your surgeon advises, and protect the scars from the sun. Our guide to blepharoplasty scars shows how they change over time.
Blepharoplasty Aftercare: What Not to Do After Eyelid Surgery
Following your surgeon’s instructions closely is the biggest single factor in a smooth recovery after blepharoplasty.
Do
- Prepare before surgery. Stop smoking and nicotine at least four weeks before and four weeks after surgery, stop aspirin two weeks before only if your doctor agrees, and collect your prescribed drops and painkillers in advance. On the day, wear front-fastening clothes, no make-up or jewellery, and bring glasses rather than contact lenses.
- Use your eye drops and ointment exactly as directed.
- Wear sunglasses outdoors to protect healing eyes from sun, wind and dust.
- Eat well, with protein for tissue repair, fruit and vegetables, and plenty of water.
- Rest your eyes and take regular breaks from screens and reading in the first week or two.
- Wash your hair from a couple of days after surgery, tipping your head back so shampoo and water stay out of your eyes.
Don’t
- Rub your eyes or pull on the eyelids at any stage of recovery.
- Wear contact lenses for at least two weeks.
- Smoke or use nicotine. Nicotine restricts blood flow and slows wound healing.
- Drink alcohol for at least the first week, because it can worsen swelling and should not be mixed with some painkillers. Our guide to drinking alcohol after cosmetic surgery explains why.
- Lift, bend or strain, or do strenuous exercise, for at least two weeks, and longer after lower eyelid surgery.
- Swim or use saunas until the incisions have fully healed, usually at least three weeks.
When to Contact Your Surgeon After Blepharoplasty
Serious problems after eyelid surgery are rare, but the most important one needs urgent treatment. In a 2004 survey covering 269,433 cosmetic eyelid operations ↗, bleeding behind the eye (orbital haemorrhage) affected about 1 in 2,000 cases and permanent loss of vision about 1 in 22,000. Most bleeds happened within the first three hours and the risk fell sharply after 24 hours; high blood pressure, aspirin, vomiting and physical exertion were common factors[6]. Contact your surgical team straight away if you have:
- severe or increasing pain in or behind the eye
- sudden swelling, a bulging or tense eye, or bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure
- any loss or sudden change in vision, or double vision that is getting worse
- a temperature, or spreading redness, heat or discharge from the incisions
- a painful, swollen calf or breathlessness (call 999 for chest pain or difficulty breathing)
For the first 24 hours, call your surgeon on the direct number on your discharge summary. After that, call the clinic on 020 7993 4849, 9am–6pm Monday to Saturday, and NHS 111 out of hours, or 999 in an emergency. Any sudden loss of vision is an emergency: go to A&E straight away.
Blepharoplasty Recovery FAQs
How many days should I rest after blepharoplasty?
Plan to rest for the first three to five days, with your head raised and plenty of short breaks from screens. Gentle walking around the house is encouraged. Most people take seven to ten days off work, and up to two weeks if they want the bruising to have faded.
How long after blepharoplasty will I look normal?
Most people look presentable to others at around ten days to two weeks, once the bruising has faded or can be covered. By four to six weeks the eyelids look settled, although the scars continue to soften for several months.
Will people notice I have had blepharoplasty?
For the first week or two, yes, because of the bruising and swelling. Once healed, the aim is for you to look rested rather than operated on, and the scars sit in natural folds where they are hard to see.
Why can’t you watch TV after eyelid surgery?
You can, but in moderation. The eyes are often dry, tired and sensitive to light after surgery, and staring at a screen reduces how often you blink, which makes dryness worse. Short sessions with regular breaks and lubricating drops are fine.
How long do I use ointment after blepharoplasty?
Usually for about the first week, applied to the incisions and sometimes into the eye at night, as your surgeon directs. Lubricating drops are often continued for longer if your eyes feel dry.
When can I wash my hair after blepharoplasty?
Usually after a couple of days. Tip your head back so that shampoo and water do not run into your eyes, and pat the eyelids dry gently.
Is blepharoplasty recovery painful?
Most people describe tightness and mild discomfort rather than pain, managed with the painkillers they are prescribed. Dryness, grittiness and light sensitivity are more common than pain. Pain that is severe or getting worse is not normal and needs checking straight away.
Do arnica or bromelain help with bruising?
The evidence does not support them. A systematic review of randomised trials in eyelid surgery found no significant benefit from arnica or bromelain, while cold compresses gave short-term relief[3]. Keeping your head raised and avoiding exertion matter more.
Where can I see real blepharoplasty recovery photos?
Our blepharoplasty before and after gallery shows results from our own patients. We do not publish day-by-day recovery photos, because healing varies so much from person to person that one case can be a misleading guide to your own recovery.
Will I need a revision blepharoplasty?
Most people never need further surgery, and results usually last many years. The skin keeps ageing, so some people choose a touch-up procedure much later. We also offer revision blepharoplasty for people correcting the result of surgery elsewhere.
Is recovery longer if blepharoplasty is combined with other surgery?
Usually a little, because there is more swelling overall. If you have a brow lift or facelift at the same time, plan around the longer of the two recoveries; our brow lift recovery and facelift recovery guides explain those timelines.
Blepharoplasty in London
Blepharoplasty at Centre for Surgery is performed by GMC-registered surgeons at our CQC-regulated Baker Street hospital, rated Good overall by the CQC. The consultant who assesses you at consultation is the consultant who performs your surgery, and you have a follow-up review at about one week to check healing and remove any stitches. We offer upper and lower blepharoplasty, Asian (double eyelid) blepharoplasty and male eyelid surgery. If your concern is mild, such as fine lines or early skin laxity rather than excess skin, your surgeon may discuss whether a non-surgical option such as SmoothEye laser treatment could help without the recovery of surgery. Your initial consultation is £100, redeemable against the cost of surgery if you go ahead; our blepharoplasty cost guide explains what the price includes.
Phone: 020 7993 4849 | Address: 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone, London W1U 6RN
Contact us to schedule a consultation
References
- Tran BNN, Luthringer M, Reed L, et al. Addition of “septal window” to lower blepharoplasty for the management of fat of the lower eyelids. Annals of Plastic Surgery 2022;88(3 Suppl 3):S214–S218. doi:10.1097/SAP.0000000000003129
- Ní Dhubhghaill S, Faris C. The management of chemosis after blepharoplasty. Facial Plastic Surgery 2023;39(1):53–56. doi:10.1055/a-1967-6050
- Alamoudi A, Albishry AM, Alnabihi AN, et al. Interventions for reducing bleeding and swelling in eyelid and periocular surgeries: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Orbit 2025;44(6):913–927. doi:10.1080/01676830.2025.2581622
- Todorov D, Mitchell S, Al-Hashimi M, et al. Functional and aesthetic outcomes after upper blepharoplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials. Aesthetic Surgery Journal 2025;45(6):554–562. doi:10.1093/asj/sjaf022
- Hollander MHJ, Schortinghuis J, Vissink A, et al. Aesthetic outcomes of upper eyelid blepharoplasty: a systematic review. International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 2020;49(6):750–764. doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2019.10.014
- Hass AN, Penne RB, Stefanyszyn MA, et al. Incidence of postblepharoplasty orbital hemorrhage and associated visual loss. Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2004;20(6):426–432. doi:10.1097/01.iop.0000143711.48389.c5
