Upper versus lower eyelid: recovery is not the same
Upper blepharoplasty is the quicker one. The incision hides in the natural crease, swelling is moderate, and bruising is usually contained around the lid itself.
Lower blepharoplasty involves more delicate tissue, drains downwards, and bruises more dramatically — plan on an extra week at every milestone and on bruising that can reach the cheekbone before it clears. Combining upper and lower in one operation is common and does not double the recovery, but it does make the first week harder than an upper alone.
When can you fly home?
Partner surgeons generally clear flying from around day 7, after the stitches are out and the eyes have been checked. Cabin air is very dry, so bring lubricating drops, use them every hour or two in the air, and keep sunglasses on. Flying carries a small clot risk after any surgery: walk the aisle, drink water, skip the alcohol, and tell your surgeon about any history of clotting so the advice can be tailored to you.
Warning signs that need a doctor, not a wait
Most recoveries are uneventful. Contact the clinic or a local doctor the same day if you have sudden or worsening pain, any loss of vision or double vision, one lid swelling far more than the other over hours rather than days, bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure, spreading redness with heat or discharge, or a fever. Dry eye and difficulty closing the lids fully can happen and are usually temporary, but they should be reviewed rather than quietly tolerated.
What actually speeds recovery up — and what does not
Four things reliably help: sleeping with your head raised through the first week, using cold and then lukewarm compresses at the right stages, not smoking, and taking the full time off instead of half of it. Nicotine is the single biggest avoidable factor in poor eyelid healing.
Arnica, supplements and expensive scar creams are marginal at best. And if your real concern is puffiness rather than loose skin — especially if you are under forty — say so at the consultation. Filler, a skin-tightening treatment or simply doing nothing may suit you better than surgery, and a good surgeon will tell you so.
How long does bruising last after blepharoplasty?
Most bruising fades within 10 to 14 days. It usually turns yellow-green before it clears, and it travels downwards with gravity, so bruising that appears on the cheek in week one is normal rather than a complication.
When can I wear eye makeup and contact lenses again?
Eye makeup at roughly two to three weeks, once the incisions have closed and your surgeon confirms it. Contact lenses often from two to three weeks, though dryness may make glasses more comfortable for a month or so.
Will the scars be visible?
Upper eyelid scars sit inside the natural crease and are usually hard to see once faded. Lower eyelid incisions are placed just under the lashes or inside the lid. The scars are permanent but normally inconspicuous, and no surgeon can guarantee how any individual will heal.
How long should I stay in Istanbul after eyelid surgery?
Plan seven nights. That covers the pre-operative checks, the surgery, the swollen days and stitch removal, with the flight home only after your surgeon has seen how you are healing. All-inclusive blepharoplasty packages from €2,550 are built around that length of stay and include the hotel and airport transfers; flights are never included.
The honest summary: about two weeks to look normal to other people, about three months to look finished to yourself. If you want to know whether your eyelids need surgery at all — and how many days off you would realistically need — send us a photo and a short description for a free assessment, and we will come back with a plan and a personalised quote.
