Like any surgical procedure, Ptosis Surgery also comes with a set of risks for complications. Therefore, you will need to follow your oculoplastic surgeon or ophthalmologist’s guidelines to the latter if you wish to recover faster from this operation or get the results you hope for.
On average, you can expect your recovery to take up to 12 weeks. Other than taking good care of your eye hygiene-wise, there are a few activities your surgeon would also want you to put on hold for some time.
Usually, you will mostly need to keep off activities that may increase your blood pressure. Keep reading to know the activities you should avoid after ptosis surgery.
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What can you not do After Eyelid Surgery?
If your surgeon has approved that you are a good candidate for ptosis surgery, there are a few things they’d want you to be aware of beforehand. For instance, they will want you to expect some swelling after the procedure.
The swelling after ptosis surgery may be severe within the first few days after the treatment, and your eyes may even look worse before getting better. To manage the swelling, the surgeon may suggest using cold compresses on your eye.
They may also recommend that you sleep on your back after ptosis to relieve the pressure that may worsen your side effects. You may need to use a recliner or use pillows to prop your head up to make this easy.
Most patients also report feeling ‘tightness in the eye’ after ptosis surgery. If you feel the same, you may try blinking to manage this side effect.
Blinking will reduce the eye dryness and ‘scratchy’ feeling in the eye, which is a common side effect of this procedure. It can also help you get rid of fluid build-up in your eyes which may also worsen your side effects.
You will also need to rest your eyes. In this case, the plastic surgeon or ophthalmologist may recommend that you avoid watching TV for around 2 to 3 days. Other than watching the TV, you may also need to avoid reading or using your phone.
During the initial stages after your eyelid surgery, your eyes will often tire pretty fast, implying that the activities which require you to maintain focus or stare for some time may become uncomfortable. Besides, your eyes may begin tearing easily, and you’d get blurred vision.
You can substitute such activities with options that do not need you to use your eyes most of the time, for example, opting for podcasts or radio shows instead of watching the TV. Listening to audiobooks would also be a better alternative to reading.
Other than the activities that force you to use your eyes more, it is also advisable that you avoid activities that would force you to lower your head below your heart. Perfect examples, in this case, include picking things up or even bending.
Therefore, if you plan to have ptosis surgery, it will be a good idea to make early arrangements for someone who will be helping you with most of the house chores. When it comes to body hygiene, it would also be great to find someone to help you with bathing since you will be required to avoid bending for a couple of days as you recover.
Since you must not make your eyes wet during the recovery phase, your surgeon will also advise that you skip the shower for a few days and take baths instead. For meals to eat and those to avoid after ptosis surgery, you shouldn’t find maintaining your regular diet after the operation a challenge.
Ideally, you may need to use just light meals and soup for a couple of days after the procedure if you feel queasy after eating. Your surgeon will mainly advise against foods, drinks, and supplements that would thin your blood and cause complications like bleeding after ptosis surgery.
For instance, if you enjoy alcohol, you will need to scrape it off your diets for a couple of weeks before and after ptosis surgery. It may also be a good idea to avoid caffeine consumption after your ptosis surgery as there are chances it may hinder your wound healing process.
If you use makeup, you must be wondering if it is safe to continue using makeup even after ptosis surgery. First things, first: On the scheduled date for your surgery, you can have your bath as usual but do not wear makeup.
If you wear makeup to your operative appointment, the doctors will clear it first before proceeding as it may increase your risks of complications during or after the procedure. It may be tempting to cover up the bruising or swelling that would appear after the surgery.
It is usually not a good idea to use makeup as you recover, as it may increase your risks of infection or leave a permanent discoloration on your eye if the pigments from the makeup seep into your incision. Ideally, it is wise that you avoid using it for a couple of days or even weeks, most commonly, two weeks, to get the best results from your ptosis surgery.
It is also recommended that you avoid lotion or face cream. Just to be sure, discuss with your surgeon the perfect time to get back to wearing the makeup. Wearing black glasses would be a clever option of concealing the effects like swelling or bruising after ptosis surgery. Other than concealing these effects, they’ll also protect your eyes from harmful sunlight rays.
How do you Wash your Hair after Ptosis Surgery?
Note that; you can always wash your hair or shower your hair as you want. You can achieve this by sitting in an upright position and having someone pour the water on your hair for you or just use the shower.
When washing your hair, ensure the shampoo, water, or soap doesn’t get into your eyes for at least one week following the operation. You will also need to avoid having your hair permed or colored after ptosis surgery.
In Closing
Recovery after ptosis shouldn’t be complicated or take too long if you’ll be keen to follow your surgeon’s guidelines. To book a treatment or ptosis surgery consultation, send us an email and we’ll help you choose an ideal date for the appointment.
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