When can I go back to work after blepharoplasty?

General information about typical recovery, not medical advice. Every eye and every surgery is different, and your surgeon's instructions override anything on this page. Read our full disclaimer.

Short answer

Desk work is often possible within a few days, but most people wait 1 to 2 weeks for anything public-facing, since AAO says bruising and swelling typically last 10 to 14 days.

The limit is usually appearance and comfort, not capability. AAO states that bruising and swelling typically last 10 to 14 days after upper eyelid blepharoplasty, and StatPearls says bruising and swelling may last up to 2 weeks. If your job puts you in front of clients, plan around that window.

For physical capability, AAO notes patients may usually resume normal activities within 24 to 48 hours after upper eyelid surgery, and ASOPRS states that most patients are able to return to regular activities within several days. That fits people who work from home or in a low-visibility role and can tolerate blurry vision from ointment.

Screen work has its own catch. Antibiotic ointment blurs vision, per StatPearls, and dry eye is a common complication after upper lid surgery, so long hours of staring at a monitor may be uncomfortable before it is unsafe. Artificial tears and breaks help.

Jobs involving lifting, bending, or straining are different. EyeWiki advises avoiding lifting, bending, straining, and exercise for the first 10 days, so physical work usually waits at least that long and needs surgeon clearance.

When	Typical guidance
Days 1 to 3	Most people are home. Blurry vision from ointment and peak swelling make work hard.
Several days out	ASOPRS: most patients return to regular activities within several days. Reasonable for remote or low-visibility work.
Days 10 to 14	Bruising and swelling typically resolve in this window per AAO, so client-facing work usually resumes here.
Physical or heavy-lifting jobs	Wait past the 10 day no-lifting window from EyeWiki and get explicit clearance.

Call your surgeon now if you notice any of these

Sudden severe pain in or behind the eye, especially with swelling that keeps getting worse. AAO states that severe pain, decreased vision, and progressive swelling may represent retrobulbar hemorrhage and should be brought to immediate medical attention. Go to an emergency room now.
The eye pushing forward or bulging, or lids so tight and swollen you cannot open them. Proptosis is a documented sign of retrobulbar hemorrhage, which EyeWiki describes as a rapidly progressive, sight-threatening emergency.
Any decrease or loss of vision, or vision getting worse over hours instead of better. Loss of vision is listed by AAO among the possible complications of eyelid surgery, and EyeWiki notes intervention for retrobulbar hemorrhage needs to happen within about 2 hours of onset.
Nausea and vomiting together with eye pain and pressure. StatPearls lists pain, proptosis, nausea, vomiting, and reduced vision as the presentation of retrobulbar hemorrhage, which it calls a surgical emergency.
New double vision. Double vision is listed among the complications of lower eyelid and transconjunctival blepharoplasty by StatPearls. Call your surgeon the same day.
Signs of infection: spreading redness, warmth, increasing swelling after the first few days, yellow or green discharge, or fever. Infection is listed by AAO among the possible complications of eyelid surgery.
Bleeding from an incision that does not stop with gentle steady pressure, or a firm lump under the skin that is growing quickly.
Not being able to close the eye fully once the early swelling has gone down, or an eye that feels raw, painful, and very light sensitive. Early incomplete closure is common and usually resolves within days per StatPearls, so closure that is not improving needs to be checked.
Any wound that opens or separates, or a suture that has come loose and is scratching the eye.

These warning signs after blepharoplasty can point to problems that need same-day care. Do not wait for your next scheduled visit. If you cannot reach your surgeon's office, use their on-call line, or go to an emergency room.

Sources: American Academy of Ophthalmology; American Academy of Ophthalmology (EyeWiki); StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf

Sources

Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty American Academy of Ophthalmology. Accessed 2026-08-25.
Eye and Brow Lift American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Accessed 2026-08-25.
Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf. Accessed 2026-08-25.
Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty (EyeWiki) American Academy of Ophthalmology (EyeWiki). Accessed 2026-08-25.
Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf. Accessed 2026-08-25.

When can I go back to work after blepharoplasty?

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