Just like any other surgical procedure, eyelid surgery requires at least two weeks downtime to fully recover. And just like any other post-surgery downtime, it’s pretty boring. The downside to blepharoplasty, though, is that the recovery is more boring than for a, say breast augmentation or a tummy tuck.
Why? Because it involves resting your eyes for more than you’re used to. That means no movie marathons, no surfing the internet, no computer and mobile use, and certainly no reading for hours. You also can’t go to the beach or any place that’s dusty or windy because you don’t want to dry your eyes or expose them to dirt. Yeah, bummer.
However, don’t be sad because there are still other ways to pass the time while you’re recovering. After all, most eyelid surgeries usually take two weeks to recover. As long as you plan your downtime early on, you’ll hardly notice days and before you know it, you’re already out with your BFFs shopping. Here are some activities you can do:
- Meditate
Meditation is a great way to unwind and reduce your stress levels. Undergoing an operation is stressful to the body, and meditating can help you relax and ease the pain. In turn, it increases your body’s ability to heal quickly. It’s also an opportunity for you to evaluate your life, plan for the future and decide on changes that you want to make.
Just remember to keep your head elevated while meditating to prevent post-operative swelling and bruising. If you’re lying down on the bed, make sure to raise your up by putting an extra pillow or two to maintain elevation.
- Listen to Music
If you’ve bought lots of music albums but never had the time to listen to all of them, now is your chance to catch up. Listening to music is a fun way to make the time pass by quickly. You can even use this downtime to make a list of songs to add to your iPhone as soon as you can use your computer again. Listening to music, especially classical, is also a great way to relax.
- Eat Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables
As you know, healthy foods can strengthen your immune system to prevent any infections and speed up healing. So if you tend to eat a lot when you’re bored, make sure that they’re healthy, like apples, nuts, lettuce and many others.
- Sleep
When all else fails, but we’re sure they won’t, just sleep. It’ll do your eyes a lot of good as this will help in recovery. Just be sure to sleep with your head elevated to prevent swelling.
Now that you have an idea on what to do after getting a blepharoplasty, you can now look forward to your personal downtime. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to talk with Dr. Ben Lee. He’ll be happy to address any concerns or questions you might have about your upcoming eyelid surgery.
