Blog
Dec 04

How long after eyelid surgery can I resume exercising?

One of the common questions asked about eyelid surgery  is when can I exercise again?  Some patients use a more rigorous regime and wonder about the best waiting period.  With the doctor’s guidance,  a patient’s workout schedule can be resumed in phases.

Pre-Operative Steps

Before scheduling blepharoplasty, it’s important to meet with the chosen surgeon to go over:

  • Medical history: The surgeon will ask questions about previous surgical treatments and present or past conditions, such as dry eyes, glaucoma, allergic reactions, circulatory issues, thyroid issues and diabetes. The physician will likewise ask about any use of medications, vitamins, organic supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
  • Our expectations: A truthful conversation about surgical treatment will help set the stage for a satisfactory outcome. The surgeon will talk about whether the treatment is most likely to work well or not.

Before our eyelid surgical treatment, we’ll undergo:

  • A physical examination: Our cosmetic surgeon will conduct a physical exam. This exam might include checking our tear production and measuring parts of our eyelids.
  • A vision examination: Our eye doctor will analyze our eyes and evaluate our vision, including our peripheral vision. This is needed to support an insurance claim.
  • Eyelid photography: Our eyes will be photographed from different angles. These photos help with preparing the surgical treatment, examining its long-lasting and instant impacts, and supporting an insurance claim.

Expectations After Surgery is Completed

Slight to moderate bruising and inflammation is not uncommon after eyelid surgery.Occasionally patients will encounter mild discomfort and blurred vision. It’s important to apply ice to your eye area in order to manage inflammation and help lessen any pain.

Any surgical injuries will be stitched up and the use of medications and antibiotics help prevent infection.

The Early Recovery Process

A rise in blood pressure can prevent proper recovery, so it’s recommended the patient stay away from heavy exercise for the first few weeks.

While the patient should take it easy, walking is often allowed throughout the early phases of the healing process. This should not be the vigorous, workout kind of walking to which one might be accustomed. Instead, it should be a light exercise that is easy on the body.   It’s vital to avoid any exercises that require the patient to run, flex, lift heavy weights or engage in any contact sports for as much as three weeks.

Returning to Exercising

It’s normal that by the third week of the post-surgery healing process that any pain, bruising or swelling will lessen. If the doctor provides the thumbs-up at this point in time, we can return to our regular workout routine.

Begin slowly and pay attention to how the body reacts. If anything hurts, bleeds or swells, we should stop our workout and call our surgeon for their professional input. Healing from a blepharoplasty procedure continues for a few months after the surgery. This should be kept in mind as we work out.  In terms of weight lifting after blepharoplasty, it’s normally expected that the patient should wait at least one month before returning to this type of exercise.

Final Considerations

After the procedure, the eyelid skin needs careful care for the first few days. Vision may also be slightly affected during this time.

Avoid any type of exercise that requires wearing protective safety glasses, such as skiing, swimming or any kind of contact sports. Stay away from these activities up until your doctor clears you for these activities.  Any impaired vision also contributes to our capability to work out after blepharoplasty. Taking part in any workout that requires locating balls or other moving items might not be the best type of activity until our vision has actually gone back to its normal state.

Exercise after eyelid surgery is possible!  Simply follow the above guidelines, as well as the advice of your doctor, and everything should go well during the post-surgery time-frame.