What is typical downtime and recovery like?
Most patients have significant bruising and swelling for 2-3 weeks. The majority of bruising and swelling goes down after 2 weeks. Two weeks is also the rough time period after which patients are considered socially presentable (where a passerby would not do a double-take). For some, this initial recovery period is more rapid (1 week) and others more delayed (3-4 weeks), all depending on the individual patient and their propensity for bruising and swelling.
The remainder of post-operative swelling typically goes down over the next 1-6 months, however, if a patient has allergies or sleep apnea or other inflammatory conditions, it can take longer for the swelling to go down.
There is typically no pain and very little discomfort after the surgery. The first two days patients must rest and keep their head elevated above their heart to reduce swelling. The less they do during the first two days after surgery, the less bruising and swelling the patient will have.
For two weeks after surgery, there is no heavy lifting, straining, bending, or exercise of any kind due to risk of bleeding and straining the delicate wounds. There is also no swimming in water of any kind, going in hot tubs, or sitting in saunas, due to increased risk of infection with these activities.
What are the risks of surgery?
Risks with the surgery typically include infection, bleeding, poor cosmesis, scarring, and need for additional procedures. The risk of bleeding and infection are very low, as is the risk of scarring. The need for potential other procedures depends on the patient and type of surgery performed. Dr Satterfield will discuss your specific risks during your surgical consultation.
How will my scars heal?
Incisions will be placed in locations that hide well, such as the eyelid crease or the smile lines. Dr. Satterfield will discuss the expected incision locations with you during your consultation.
Regarding healing, the incisions made in the surgery will be pink and firm for 3 months (the immature phase) and then will soften and fade as the wound matures. Once fully healed, scars are typically barely visible. Note that full wound healing takes 6-12 months. It is important to minimize direct sun on the visible surgical incisions for the year following surgery, as scars exposed to sun may permanently turn lighter or darker than the patient’s natural skin tone.
How Long Will My Surgery Take?
The surgery itself typically takes 1-2 hours, and patients go home the same day. Depending on the surgery, the surgery may be done in the office under local anesthesia (numbing by injection), oral sedation, or IV sedation in the operating room. Because patients typically have some type of sedation they will need a driver to take them home and stay with them for the first evening after surgery until they fully recover. Patients will be instructed to use cold compresses the first 2+ days after the surgery, in order to minimize discomfort and swelling. Patients will also be given ointment to be used on the incisions and in the eye(s).