Recovery timelines by procedure
Typical recovery timelines for rhinoplasty, double eyelid surgery, upper and lower blepharoplasty and facelift — anaesthesia and surgery time, stitch removal, and when washing, make-up and exercise resume.
Each surgery has its own recovery schedule. These are Cejong's general guidelines and they vary with each person and the extent of surgery. Your exact schedule is explained at the consultation.
Rhinoplasty
- Sedation, usually about 1.5 hours, home the same day
- Splint and stitches off: around 5–7 days
- Washing and light daily activity: after about 2–7 days
- Major swelling: eases over 1–2 weeks
- Exercise, saunas, alcohol: after about 4 weeks
- Glasses: can be worn over the splint
Double eyelid and ptosis correction
- Sedation, usually about 1 hour
- Stitches out: around 5–7 days
- Eye make-up: after about 7–10 days
- Contact lenses: after about 1 week (buried suture), 2 weeks (incisional), about 1 month with ptosis correction
- Cold compresses: for about 72 hours after surgery
Upper blepharoplasty
- Usually about 1 hour
- Stitches out: around 5–7 days
- Back to daily life: often within a week
Lower blepharoplasty
- Sedation, usually about 40 minutes
- Washing: after about 5–7 days
- Make-up: after about 7–10 days
- Contact lenses: after about 1 month
- Cold compresses: for about 72 hours after surgery
Facelift
- Sedation, usually about 3–4 hours, home the same day
- Drain and compression band: 1–2 days
- Stitches out: around 7 days
- Office work and daily life: after about 3–5 days
- Major swelling: 1–2 weeks; fine swelling and tightness: about a month
- Hair colouring and perms: after about a month; exercise and saunas: after about 4 weeks
- No smoking: about 4 weeks before and after surgery
Planning around events
If you have an important event, leave a margin for the time it takes major swelling and bruising to settle. Mention it at the consultation and the timing can be planned together.
Frequently asked questions
If my recovery is slower, does that mean something is wrong? Recovery speed varies a lot. But if pain keeps worsening, one side swells markedly or anything else seems unusual, check Symptoms that mean you should contact the clinic and get in touch.