How do swelling and bruising change after lower eyelid surgery?

What should be ready on the day of surgery?

Before discharge, collect the prescribed drops or ointment, written care instructions and the next appointment. Ointment can temporarily blur vision after surgery. Arrange help with the journey and have your glasses available. NHS Royal Free eyelid aftercare, checked 4 November 2026

Set out a clean place to use medication at your accommodation. Check the name, treated side and instructions against the prescription. If an interpreter is helping, repeat the instructions back in your own words before leaving. Keep medication information and the clinic contact route together so a companion can find them too.

Does swelling decrease steadily from the start?

The appearance immediately after surgery is not the final contour. NHS guidance notes that swelling may increase through the first 3 days before starting to improve. When recording progress, use similar lighting, distance and head position so differences in photographs are easier to interpret. NHS Royal Free eyelid aftercare, checked 4 November 2026

Bruising changes skin colour; swelling changes thickness and contour. These features do not necessarily settle together. Returning to a desk, meeting clients, applying eyeliner and lifting luggage involve different activities. List the activities that matter to you instead of asking for a single date when all downtime ends.

What is chemosis?

Chemosis means swelling of the conjunctiva, the membrane over the white of the eye. It is different from bruising in the skin. NHS CUH guidance notes that it is associated with lower eyelid blepharoplasty and can persist for weeks or months. The eye surface may therefore need review after the skin looks less swollen. NHS CUH blepharoplasty information, checked 4 November 2026

At follow-up, describe how the eyes feel as well as how they look. Mention lid closure, tearing, dryness and whether the prescribed medicines are manageable. A brief written record helps you remember changes that may not be visible during a short appointment or in a photograph.

When can makeup and contact lenses return?

NHS Royal Free guidance advises avoiding eye makeup and contact lenses for 2 weeks. The operating surgeon sets the actual restart date after assessing the wound and eye surface. Permission for makeup and permission for lenses need not arrive together. NHS Royal Free eyelid aftercare, checked 4 November 2026

Be specific about the task: makeup around the cheek, eyeliner at the lash line and inserting a contact lens involve different contact with the operated area. Less visible bruising alone is not the deciding factor. Packing glasses and planning to use them removes pressure to resume lenses for the flight or an important event.

How should work and exercise be scheduled?

The NHS says many people take about 2 weeks away from work after eyelid surgery, depending on the job. A return to work is not necessarily a return to every usual duty. Customer-facing work, prolonged screen use and manual work create different practical demands. NHS eyelid surgery guidance, checked 4 November 2026

Tell the surgical team about your commute, screen use, lifting and whether duties can be adjusted. Ask your employer about a gradual return where possible. Remote work can reduce travel but still require sustained visual tasks, so it should be planned around comfort and the advice received at review.

NHS sources advise avoiding strenuous exercise for 2 weeks. Their swimming advice ranges from 2 to 4 weeks; the surgeon sets the restriction for your wound and procedure. NHS Guy’s and St Thomas’ aftercare, checked 4 November 2026 NHS Royal Free eyelid aftercare, checked 4 November 2026

Are stitch removal and fitness to fly the same milestone?

Even an inner-eyelid operation may use temporary external sutures to secure repositioned fat. Ask whether the plan includes skin stitches, fat-fixation sutures or both. The absence of skin excision does not answer that question.^[1]

For eyelid operations with removable stitches, NHS guidance gives 7–14 days. BAPRAS advises waiting 7–10 days before flying after facial cosmetic surgery. These are different kinds of guidance, and the flight advice is not specific to transconjunctival repositioning. Arrange the actual sequence with the surgical team. NHS Guy’s and St Thomas’ aftercare, checked 4 November 2026 BAPRAS overseas surgery guidance, checked 4 November 2026

When contacting a plastic surgery clinic in Sinsa-dong, Seoul, include your proposed flight and work-return dates. Confirm the review schedule before booking around them. Keep the appointment details accessible during the trip and make clear which bookings can still change.

Common recovery questions