Eyelid Surgery recovery, day by day
What happens after Eyelid Surgery, from the procedure itself to the day the result is final. Everything here is what we tell our own patients, in the order they need to hear it.
Safe to fly
Day 6
Back to work
Day 10
Back to training
Day 21
Final result
Day 180
The timeline
Days are counted from the procedure. Where a range is normal, the earlier end is shown — ask your surgeon before taking it as the date.
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Day 0 · Procedure
Surgery day
One to two hours, usually under sedation with local anaesthetic. You go back to the hotel the same day.
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Day 1 · Daily care
Cold compresses
Twenty minutes on, twenty off, for the first forty-eight hours. Sleep with your head raised.
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Day 5 · Check-up
Stitches removed
Fine sutures come out at the clinic. The incision sits in the natural lid crease.
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Day 6 · Travel
Safe to fly home
Travel once the stitches are out.
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Day 10 · Work
Back to desk work
Bruising is usually coverable with makeup from around day ten.
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Day 14 · Daily care
Bruising gone
Residual yellowing clears. Scars are pink and will pale over months.
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Day 21 · Exercise
Light exercise
Light cardio; no swimming until the scars are fully closed.
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Day 90 · Result
Scars settling
The incision line becomes hard to find in the crease.
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Day 180 · Result
Final result
Shape and scar maturity are complete.
Recovery varies between people. Smoking, diabetes, how big the case was and how carefully the aftercare is followed all move these dates, usually later rather than earlier.
How long to stay in Istanbul
The package allows 5 nights, which covers the procedure, the checks and the final review before you fly. Staying one extra day is the cheapest insurance against a flight that gets moved.
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