Hello, I am Dr. Jeong Yeon-kyo, director of 1mm Plastic Surgery.
After double eyelid surgery, many people look in the mirror and immediately worry about a few things:
‘Is this much swelling okay?’
‘One line looks thicker; could it be asymmetry?’
‘The bruising seems to be lasting a long time; is there a problem?’
‘My eyes feel stiff and there's a foreign body sensation; could a stitch have come out?’
These are the most common questions I hear in the consultation room.
Indeed, immediately after surgery, the eyes are still in the recovery process, so most changes are often symptoms that appear during normal recovery. However, there are also cases where not all symptoms should be dismissed as a simple recovery process.
Many people search for various reviews online and end up feeling even more anxious. Since recovery speed and the degree of swelling vary from person to person, it's difficult to make an accurate judgment by simply comparing yourself to others. Therefore, today I will explain what many people are most curious about: ‘What constitutes normal recovery, and when should it be considered a side effect requiring a doctor's visit?’
If you are currently worried about swelling or bruising after surgery, or feel anxious because your left and right eyes look different, please don't jump to conclusions too quickly and read to the end. Through this article, you will be able to understand more easily whether your current eye condition is a normal recovery process or a symptom that requires a visit to the hospital.
Three Most Common Symptoms After Double Eyelid Surgery
There are three main symptoms that most commonly appear after double eyelid surgery:
① Swelling
② Bruising
③ Temporary left-right asymmetry
These three are mostly included in the common recovery process.
Especially for about 2-3 days after surgery, swelling is at its peak. Your eyelids may appear thick, to the point where they feel like ‘sausage eyes,’ as patients often describe. The swelling during this period is a natural inflammatory response caused by the surgery itself, so there's no need to worry excessively. While there are individual differences, swelling and bruising can usually persist for about 2-3 weeks, and then gradually subside over time. Many people consider the immediate post-operative appearance to be the final result, but this is not the case. Sufficient recovery time is needed for the double eyelid line to fully settle. Generally, at least 2-3 months are required, and in cases where the skin is thick or the incision area is wide, it may gradually stabilize naturally over 6 months or more.
Next, a common concern for many people after surgery is left-right asymmetry.
In reality, swelling and bruising do not progress identically in both eyes after surgery. Tissue reactions can differ, and blood vessel distribution and recovery speed can also vary slightly between the left and right sides. Therefore, it's common for one double eyelid line to temporarily appear darker or thicker, giving the impression of asymmetry.
However, in most cases, as recovery progresses, the swelling on both sides gradually becomes similar, and the lines naturally even out.
📍If there are no other specific abnormalities, it's important to observe the progress for at least one month to monitor the recovery process.
If you feel a foreign body sensation after non-incisional double eyelid surgery, has a stitch come out towards the conjunctiva?
Among those who have undergone non-incisional double eyelid surgery, some occasionally report a foreign body sensation inside the eye.
The most common question asked at this time is:
‘Could a stitch have come out towards the conjunctiva?’
However, actual stitch exposure is very rare. In most cases, the foreign body sensation is due to temporary dry eyes or conjunctival irritation that occurs after surgery. Additionally, some people worry about slightly blurry vision. This is also often caused by conjunctival edema, which is a temporary swelling of the thin membrane covering the white part of the eye.
💊 Treatment Method
Most cases improve naturally over time, and depending on the severity of the symptoms, antibiotic eye drops or steroid eye drop treatment may be helpful.
🚨 Visit the hospital in these cases!
Of course, not all symptoms are part of a normal recovery process.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, it's advisable to get an accurate diagnosis from a doctor rather than assuming it will simply get better with time.
✅Extreme pain, eye pressure
A certain degree of discomfort after surgery is a natural symptom. However, if severe pain persists to the point of being unbearable even with painkillers, or if you feel pressure deep within the eye, it must be checked. Also, immediately after surgery, vision may temporarily blur due to eye ointment or swelling, but if vision becomes blurrier over time or suddenly you can't see well, it may require emergency attention.
✅Inability to close the eye properly
Initially, you might feel a slight stiffness or awkwardness.
However, if your eye doesn't close completely or if severe dryness and pain occur together, medical attention is needed.
✅Weakened eye-opening strength
Although rare, if you feel that your eye-opening strength is weaker than before, or if this symptom persists for a long time, it's good to identify the cause.
✅Hard, red scars
If the incision site becomes hard and red and protrudes over time, it may be a hypertrophic scar reaction.
Starting treatment early often helps with scar management, so it's best not to neglect it.
✅Feeling a small lump or recurrent inflammation
If you feel a small lump around the suture site or experience recurrent swelling and inflammation, it could be a granuloma or a foreign body reaction to the stitch.
In such cases, it's also advisable to get an accurate check-up at the hospital.
Normal Recovery vs. Side Effects: The Most Important Distinguishing Factor is ‘The Passage of Time’
Normal process vs. side effect distinguishing criteria?
Everyone can experience some degree of swelling, bruising, and left-right differences after double eyelid surgery. The important thing is to check whether the current symptoms are gradually improving over time, or if they are worsening. Most normal recovery processes involve swelling gradually subsiding, bruising fading, and the line naturally settling over time.
Conversely, if pain persists for several months, or if discomfort with eye opening and closing continues, and the shape deformation does not improve, it's better to seek an accurate diagnosis at the hospital rather than worrying alone.
Rather than being overly anxious about small changes after surgery, understanding the normal recovery process and seeking appropriate medical attention when needed is the most important way to achieve satisfactory results. We will continue to provide accurate and easy-to-understand medical information so that you can feel at ease throughout your post-operative recovery.
Go to Double Eyelid Side Effects Video 🎬
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‘Apro Square’ located diagonally behind 1mm Plastic Surgery.
Parking lot name: Apro Square
Address: 55 Seocho-daero 77-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul
