What You Need to Know Regarding Laser Blepharoplasty Recovery
Sep 30th, 2010 by admin
Laser blepharoplasty recovery is, thanks to the miracle of modern medical technology, an extremely fast and painless process. If you’re looking at having eyelid reconstruction surgery due to sagging skin, puffy eyelids, or bags under your eyes, then laser blepharoplasty is the answer for you. Laser eyelid surgery – as opposed to the relatively archaic regular eyelid surgery – is now usually a quick, outpatient procedure that will take years off of your eyes in the morning, and have you out of the doctor’s office that afternoon.
Laser eyelid surgeries routinely take about one to three hours to perform, depending on the extent of the procedure, and are quite remarkable in rendering a completely new, youthful appearance. Some of the before and after pictures are simply astonishing.
How It Works
First, tiny, accurate incisions are made in baggy eye areas where sagging skin accumulates and wrinkles up. A huge advantage of laser vs. normal blepharoplasty is the the laser scalpel cauterizes as it cuts away and removes excess fat, muscle, skin, and tissue deposits. Once all these areas are removed, the incisions are sutured up, and the patient is sent into a recovery room with some comfy easy chairs, where patients are given cold compresses to keep swelling down.
Initial recovery time is, on average, several hours. Some patients’ bodies may react differently, and there may be more swelling involved. This is okay, and normal, and quite manageable with pain meds and anti-inflammatory medication, if need be. There is generally very little or no scarring with laser eye surgery.
Longer Term Recovery Time
In the weeks following the surgery, it is imperative that you refrain from doing anything to strain the eyes, such as reading, working on the computer, wearing contact lenses, in addition to anything that may strain the face. Wearing dark sunglasses for at least the first week when going outside is required. Try not to do any bending, lifting, exercising, or even crying, if possible, as well.
In the second week following the procedure, a follow-up visit to the doctor will allow you to get stitches removed. For the next week, plenty of naps and minimal physical activity to reduce eye strain are recommended. After 7 days, most in laser blepharoplasty recovery can return to work and normal life.
