Eye Lift Before and After: Blepharoplasty Recovery Week by Week

"Eye lift" usually means blepharoplasty: surgery that removes extra skin, and sometimes fat and muscle, from the upper lids, the lower lids or both. The "before" is heavy, hooded or baggy lids. The "after" is not one photo but a sequence, and the lids usually look worse before they look better, because swelling and bruising are strongest in the first days and then fade.

A realistic way to read any eye lift before and after photo:

• Day 1–3: puffy, tight lids, often bruised; the lids may be hard to close fully.
• Week 1–2: bruising changes colour and fades; stitches or strips come out; the new lid crease is visible but still swollen.
• Weeks 3–8: redness and swelling continue to settle; the scar line may feel tight.
• Month 3 and later: numbness has mostly gone, the scar has faded, and your surgeon can judge lid height and symmetry.

If a before-and-after picture shows a flawless result "a few days after surgery", ask when it was taken and whether it was edited. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) says bruising and swelling after upper eyelid surgery typically last 10–14 days, so a clean-looking eyelid at day 3 is unusual.

Upper eye lift before and after, versus lower. Upper blepharoplasty removes excess skin (and sometimes fat) from the upper lid through an incision in the natural crease; lower blepharoplasty treats bags and loose skin below the eye. Recovery is similar but not identical, and the table later in this guide shows the differences. For the operation itself, see eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) in Turkey.

In the first week your eyelids are at their most swollen, and your job is to keep them clean, cool and lubricated.

Days 0–3. Expect puffy, tight lids and bruising. The NHS says your eyelids may be swollen and numb and hard to close, and that eyes may be sore, sensitive or watery. To reduce swelling, prop your head up with pillows for a couple of days and use a cold pack on the eyelids (NHS). Surgeons give slightly different instructions. EyeWiki, the AAO's clinical encyclopedia, advises ice compresses for the first 3 days after upper eyelid surgery and for the first 48 hours after lower eyelid surgery, then warm compresses. A 2012 review in Plastic Surgery International describes ice-water compresses used continuously for 3 days, apart from meals and sleep, with the head raised 45 to 60 degrees. Follow your own surgeon's written instructions, not a general rule.

Antibiotic ointment and lubrication. EyeWiki notes that antibiotic ointment is prescribed for the incision sites 3–4 times a day, with artificial tears or a night-time gel as needed. The same 2012 review says ointment blurs vision and suggests planning not to drive for a week. The NHS says only that you cannot drive for a number of days; your surgeon decides when it is safe.

Pain. Discomfort is expected and is usually managed with acetaminophen (paracetamol) according to EyeWiki.

Days 4–7. Swelling is often still visible, and bruises change colour. Stitches or suture strips come out in this window or a little later:

• the NHS says suture strips are usually removed up to a week later
• EyeWiki says non-absorbable stitches in the upper lid are removed 7–14 days after surgery, and in the lower lid 5–7 days after surgery

Activity in week 1. The AAO says most people can resume normal activities within 24–48 hours. That means light, ordinary tasks, not exercise. EyeWiki advises avoiding lifting, bending, straining and exercise for the first 10 days; the NHS says to avoid strenuous activity and swimming for a few days, not to rub your eyes, and not to wear contact lenses.

Call your surgeon straight away if you have severe pain, falling vision or swelling that keeps growing. These can signal bleeding behind the eye (see "When is it an emergency?" below).

Bleeding behind the eye (orbital or retrobulbar haemorrhage) is rare but needs urgent treatment. A survey of members of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery covering 269,433 cosmetic eyelid operations found orbital haemorrhage in 0.055% (about 1 in 2,000) and permanent visual loss in 0.0045% (about 1 in 22,000). Most bleeds started within the first 3 hours; the risk fell sharply after 24 hours, but bleeding was reported as late as several days after surgery. High blood pressure, aspirin use, vomiting after surgery and increased physical activity were linked with bleeding.

Before surgery, the 2012 review recommends stopping aspirin, anticoagulants, anti-inflammatory painkillers, vitamin E, ginkgo and herbal medicines up to 3 weeks beforehand if possible. Never stop a prescribed medicine without asking the doctor who prescribed it. After surgery, avoid bending and straining as your surgeon instructs.

If you travel for blepharoplasty, plan your stay around stitch removal and your surgeon's check, not just the operation day. At Laser Istanbul Clinic, eyelid surgery is led by Prof. Dr. Ahmet Satıcı, an ophthalmologist who has operated on eyes and eyelids since 1992. He examines your lids, brow position and eye surface before surgery, which takes place in a fully equipped, Ministry of Health–licensed operating theatre in Istanbul.

1. Before you travel: send your photos and medical history for a free online assessment.
2. In Istanbul: examination and surgery, a check the next day, and removal of stitches or strips when your surgeon decides. Plan {{eyelid stay length}} days.
3. Your check before flying: your surgeon examines the wounds, tells you when you can fly and gives you written aftercare.
4. At home: your coordinator and surgeon follow your recovery remotely, by photo and video, at agreed intervals. If you need to be seen in person, we help you arrange it locally and share your surgical records.

Price, what is included and how to book are on the eyelid surgery page.

If you are over 45 you may also need lens or cataract surgery. We explain how to do both in one trip, and what that means for recovery, in a separate guide.