Blepharoplasty recovery — week by week

What healing actually looks like — week by week — for blepharoplasty.

Recovery timeline

1. Day 0
   Procedure under local + sedation, 1–2 hours. Iced eye masks immediately.
2. Days 1–3
   Peak swelling and bruising. Vision can be blurry from ointment.
3. Day 7
   Sutures removed. Most bruising fades enough for makeup camouflage.
4. Weeks 2–3
   Most patients return to work and social activities.
5. Months 1–3
   Scars mature from pink to skin-tone. Final eye contour visible.

Quick reference

Back to work

7–10 days for upper; 10–14 days for lower or quad.

What's normal vs. what to call about

Some swelling, bruising, asymmetry, numbness, and tightness are expected in the first weeks. Sudden severe pain, fever above 101°F, drainage, spreading redness, or one-sided swelling that worsens after improving warrant a same-day call to your surgeon.

See blepharoplasty results across the recovery curve on the main Blepharoplasty page.