How Soon Can I Return to My Job After Blepharoplasty/Eyelid Surgery?
Blepharoplasty is an effective procedure for improving the appearance of your eyelids. It can also help you see better by preventing your eyelid from getting in the way. But what about recovery? When can you go back to work? Here’s what you need to know.
Typical Eyelid Surgery Recovery Period
Most patients recover from blepharoplasty within 14 days after their procedure. This doesn’t mean you have to wait two weeks to return to work, however. The recovery from this surgery is mostly about reducing bruising and swelling. When you decide to return to work is up to you and your personal comfort levels.
It can take between one and three months to fully recover your normal eyelid appearance and function. However, the majority of post-surgery effects should be manageable around the two-week mark.
How Many Days Should I Take Off Work?
When planning for your eyelid surgery, it’s important to get ahead of the clock and schedule your days off accordingly. It can be difficult to know how many days to take if you’ve never had eyelid surgery before.
On average, blepharoplasty patients take between five and ten days off from their jobs. Your situation may be different if you recover faster or need more time for the bruising and swelling to go down.
It’s a good idea to let your employer know that you’ll need at least five days off. That way, they can plan around your absence without causing unnecessary stress for anyone.
Deciding to Go Back to Work
Some patients get blepharoplasty for cosmetic purposes, while others need it for vision problems. After your surgery, you will be able to decide how well your eye functions in normal settings.
Since you need your eyes to accomplish almost every task throughout the day, it’s best to rest them as much as possible during your recovery period. And when you do decide to go back to work, make sure your eyes can function properly and aren’t strained, excessively swollen, or causing you pain.
How to Speed Up Your Recovery
The best way to have a speedy recovery from eyelid surgery is to follow all postoperative instructions from your surgeon. They may recommend resting for several days in a row to give your eye tissues time to heal and recover.
If you try to push yourself too hard before your recovery period is over, you risk causing complications and damage to your eyes. While it may sound contradictory, the best way to make recovery go faster is to allow yourself to fully rest and recover.
Keeping your head elevated for the first few days after surgery will help drain fluid and blood from your eyes. This can help recovery go smoothly and avoid buildup that interferes with your eyesight and comfort.
You should also use ice and other soothing tools that your surgeon recommends. These methods can help make the recovery process go faster.
Plan Your Time Off After Eyelid Surgery
Now that you know the approximate timeline, you can plan your time off work for your surgery. Get plenty of rest, and remember: recovery is all about taking it easy.
