During and after your surgery

Blepharoplasty is usually done as a day case procedure, meaning you can go home the same day.

It is usually done under local anaesthetic, which means you are awake throughout the surgery but will not feel anything. Sometimes, the surgery is done under general anaesthetic, or sedation.

The whole treatment lasts about 90 minutes, and both eyelids are usually treated at the same time.

During the surgery 

You will lie on a couch in the operating room and anaesthetic drops are put in your eyes. Your face will be cleaned with antiseptic solution, and a sterile cloth will be placed around your face. The surgeon will use a pen to mark out the skin to be removed. Local anaesthetic is then gently injected under the eyelid skin, which causes a sharp, stinging sensation for few seconds.

When the anaesthetic starts to work, the eyelid will be numb and the surgery will not hurt. The excess skin is cut away and the skin wounds are then closed with stitches. This might also involve strengthening the natural eyelid crease in the eye.

If dissolvable stitches are used, they will fall out in a few weeks, otherwise they have to be removed 7 to 14 days later.

At the end of the surgery, ointment is put on the wounds, and eye pads applied to the lids. If you have surgery on both eyes, 1 of the eye pads will be removed after about 1 hour.

Pain during surgery 

Anaesthetic is injected under the eyelid skin, which causes a sharp and stinging sensation for few seconds. After this, you should not feel any pain, although you might be aware of some pulling sensations.

Leaving hospital

Your eye might be slightly painful for 24 to 48 hours after surgery. You can take your regular painkillers, such as paracetamol to help with this. Always follow the instructions on the packet. 

You might be given antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops. This is to minimise the risk of infection and reduce the redness and inflammation in the eye. It is important to wash your hands before using these, to prevent infection. 

Stitches can be left in place (if they are dissolvable) or removed after 1 to 2 weeks. You will be given an appointment for this in the outpatient clinic. 

Your vision might be blurred for a few days and you might not be able to wear contact lenses.

When to get help

Getting back to your routine 

You might want to take a few days off work depending on your circumstances.

You should not resume any strenuous activity, including swimming, for 2 weeks.

It is best that someone stays with you to help you for a few days after the treatment.

Follow-up appointment

A follow-up appointment, for a few days after your surgery, will be booked for you before you leave the hospital. It will take place in the eye department at St Thomas’ Hospital.