No matter how long she slept or how she felt, Marije always had bags under her eyes and drooping eyelids. That is why she went to plastic surgeon Drs. Paula Roossink for a consultation. Drs. Roossink advised her to have both an upper and lower eyelid correction. She did not have to think about this for long and she scheduled the procedure.
The procedure took place in February 2023 and in this article she shares her tips, from her perspective as a patient. Please note that these are not tips from a medical specialist, but that Marije wrote this article herself.
Before the operation
“If you are considering having an eyelid correction, it is important to be well prepared. For example, I was well aware that I would not look my best for a while after the procedure. With an upper eyelid correction, this is usually about 7 to 10 days, while with a lower eyelid correction it can take up to two weeks. So I took into account that I would not have any important appointments during that period. I also made sure that I was fit and rested for the operation. I like running and walking myself, and I did a lot of that in the weeks before.”
1. Schedule sufficient recovery time
“After my surgery I felt pretty good, except my eyes were quite swollen of course. The first few days I took it easy and my husband was home to take care of the kids. I took a week off and then I went back to work. I have an office job and that went really well. In my case it took about two weeks before I looked ‘detectable’ again. Until then I wore sunglasses outside to hide the swelling.”
2. Avoid exercising in the first few weeks
“After my eyelid surgery, I wanted to get back to running quickly, but it’s really important to be patient with exercise. Your body needs time to recover, especially with strenuous activities. My doctor recommended not exercising at all for the first four to six weeks. That means no intense workouts, weightlifting, or cardio. Once I started exercising again, I listened to my body. I started with walking and built up to running faster and faster. I also avoided activities that required me to bend over or that could put pressure on my eyes, such as weight training or intense yoga.”
3. Use cold compresses
“One of the best ways to reduce swelling is to use cold compresses. For the first few days after the procedure, I regularly applied them to my eyes, always with a tea towel around them. This not only helped with the swelling, but also relieved the feeling of pressure I had.”
4. Ensure a good sleeping position
“Another tip I can give you is not to lie flat after the operation. I slept with multiple pillows for the first few days, so that my head was a bit higher than normal. Because your head is higher, fluid can be drained better, which promotes healing and prevents your eyes from becoming extra swollen. This took some getting used to at first, but it is a simple adjustment that can have a big effect on the recovery process.”
5. Protect your eyes from the sun
“Sunlight can irritate your sensitive skin around your eyes and cause scars to darken. Especially in the first months after surgery, it is important to protect your skin well. That is why I applied factor 50 to the scars and always wore sunglasses on sunny days.”
Finally, be patient!
“It can take a while before you see the final result of the procedure. For me, it took about three months before I could fully see how beautiful the procedure had been. In between, I regularly took photos of my eyes. When I looked back at the photos a week or a few weeks earlier, I could clearly see the difference. I am extremely happy with the result of my procedure at Esthetisch Centrum Jan van Goyen. It has given my self-confidence an enormous boost and I feel fresh and rested again.”
Disclaimer: In this article, Marije shares tips from her perspective as a patient. Advice from our plastic surgeons may differ.
Are you looking for more tips after an upper and lower eyelid correction?
Our consultants are happy to help you. Contact one of our consultants via 020 – 3055 847.
Eyelid surgery at Aesthetic Center Jan van Goyen
- Repair the sagging skin around your eyes
- Personal treatment plan based on your complaints and wishes
- Customers rate us with an average of 9.0 Klinkiekervaringen.nl
- The operation will take place in our brand new operating centre
- Our plastic surgeons are affiliated with the Dutch Societies for Plastic Surgery NVPC and NVEPC
- Both male and female BIG-registered plastic surgeons
Because we are a subsidiary of OLVG, you have 24/7 access to care after the operation. With us, you not only get the benefits of a small clinic, but also the benefits of a large hospital.
