Best Gifts to Celebrate Recovery After an Eyelid Surgery
Blepharoplasty, also known as ‘eyelid surgery’ is a surgical procedure to improve the eyelids.
It is a procedure that can be done either to improve the cosmetic appearance of a patient or to fix any functional problems.
Surgery can be done in the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both.
There are many reasons why patients get this type of surgical procedure, including fatty deposits in the eyelids, bags under the eyelids, excess skin or wrinkles, or anatomical problems that affect the patient’s vision.
As a person ages, their skin starts to sag and gradually loses elasticity. This excess skin will start to collect in the upper or lower eyelid, eventually leading to wrinkles.
This type of surgery is very common, and complications are rare.
However, it is important for a patient to surround themselves with close family members and friends that are willing to help out during the pre-operative process, post-operative process and recovery period.
There are things to consider and do when preparing for this surgery and recommendations that the caregivers should follow.
The patient will definitely need someone to drive them home after the surgery since they will not be able to do so themselves.
It is also important to coordinate for someone to stay at the patient’s house for a couple of days during the recovery period.
The patient will be expected to stay at home and not go to work for a few days and will need to limit sports, work and household chores.
Some things to look out for during recovery are dry eyes, which some patients tend to complain about. If the patient complains about dry eyes for more than two to three weeks, it is recommended to call the doctor as soon as possible.
Caregivers and patients should also look out for adverse effects such as infections, excessive bleeding or fluid drainage, sutures opening and blurry vision that won’t go away.
Other complications include abnormal folding of the eyelid and not being able to close the eyes. The worst case scenario would be vision loss.
One thing that caregivers should have ready when the patient arrives home is a bowl with ice cubes or ice packets in the freezer, a section in their home that has gauze pads, medical tape, alcohol, artificial tears and a set of washcloths. This way the patient has everything ready for when it’s time to clean and wash the eyes and the incision.
Medications should also be set aside and left on a kitchen counter or on the patient’s night table. Some pain and anti-inflammatory medications that could be taken are Naproxen, Aspirin, Aleve, Motrin and Advil.
It is also important for the caregivers to prepare the home in general by cleaning the house, preparing the bed sheets, preparing meals for the week, removing any rugs from the floor that might increase the risk of falls, and removing cords from the floor.
All of the above tasks will help the patient dedicate more time to their recovery.
After surgery, stitches on the eyelids may last from five to seven days, depending on the procedure.
The patient may have swelling and pain on their eyelids, including some bruising.
There are many ways to support the patient during the first few days of recovery by preparing and helping with the cool compresses, help to change bandages and gauzes, and help with showering and cleaning.
The goal is for the patient to worry only about their eyes and nothing else.
After seven to 10 days, most patients fully recover and return to their daily routine and usual activities, and after about two to three weeks, most inflammation and swelling disappear.
Caregivers should also remind the patient not to use contact lenses during this time and to avoid heavy impact and water sports such as weight lifting and swimming.
Almost every patient will express satisfaction with the surgery. Patients will look more youthful and their faces will have a rested appearance.
This will increase the patient’s self-confidence and make them feel better about themselves and their appearance.
Now, it is important to remember that some patients may experience eyelid drooping in the future and may need another surgery, but most patients have a long-lasting effect.
Other side effects that may occur include watery eyes, photophobia, blurry vision, pain, bruising and swelling.
There are many gifts to take into consideration during the recovery period. Such gifts include:
Gift another cosmetic procedure
Some patients just can’t get enough of certain procedures, while others are very satisfied with the results. A great option would be to gift another cosmetic surgery that they have been wanting to undergo.
Flowers/balloons
A traditional gift that is suitable for any type of patient is a balloon with a meaningful recovery message printed on it.
Sunglasses
The patient just had eyelid surgery, so there is nothing better than gifting them some protection for their eyes with a good pair of elegant and cute sunglasses. Not only will this help the patient with eye protection, making it easier for them to leave the house, but they will also look fashionable doing so.
Hats
Hats are a great accessory to gift. They also offer protection for the eyes and may help cover the bandages and eye patch in case the patient does not feel comfortable going out with it. An additional option to consider is to customize the hat with a message and the patient’s favorite color.
Cleaning services
Although friends and close family members are encouraged to help and support the patient, it is understandable that most have jobs and are unable to help 100 percent of the time. However, a good option would be to gift a cleaning service that specializes in going to your house for a couple of hours and completing household chores.
Eye ice pack patch
As mentioned earlier, some swelling and bruising might appear after the surgery, so an ice eye patch is a great idea. No need to prepare the bag of ice.
Makeup
Who doesn’t want to go out and celebrate with friends and family after a full recovery? Furthermore, why not show off a new look with some new makeup to make it stand out more? Makeup is a great option, just keep in mind that it is recommended to use only after a full recovery has been made and when indicated by the doctor.
Audiobooks
The patient may not be able to read perhaps for a couple of days. However, a great option for book readers is gift cards for audiobooks.
Gift Basket
A gift basket is very creative and almost anything can be put inside them. Some options are magazines, candy, cookies, word puzzles, games, coffee and even beer.
Skincare products
Eyelid surgery is most cases is done for cosmetic reasons and due to wrinkles. A good age defining cream and moisturizer is great for after recovery care. A good lotion will help keep the skin smooth and healthy.
Overall, eyelid surgery is very common and only in rare occasions presents adverse effects.
Whatever the reason for surgery, it is important to always follow the doctor’s guidelines and recommendations. Not only should the patient be aware of the instructions, but the caregivers should also be informed of all changes and updates. Having an updated team of caregivers is essential to a great recovery.
References
- Boxer, Brian S. “Eyelid Surgery.” WebMD, 15 May 2019, www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-eyelid-surgery#3.
- Khorasani, Hooman. 9 Tips to Speed Recovery after Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty). Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, www.drkhorasani.com/blog/9-tips-to-speed-recovery-after-eyelid-surgery-blepharoplasty.
- Naik, Milind, and Santosh Honavar. “Blepharoplasty: An Overview.” Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, vol. 2, no. 1, Jan. 2009, pp. 6–11. PubMed, DOI:10.4103/0974-2077.53092.
