Eyelid Surgery

Eyelid surgery is generally well-tolerated and associated with only mild discomfort. Most patients describe a sensation of tightness, mild soreness, or sensitivity around the eyes in the first few days following the procedure, rather than intense pain. Dr. Bitar’s approach minimizes trauma to the surrounding tissue, which helps reduce post-operative discomfort. Pain is typically managed with oral medications, cold compresses, and rest. Any discomfort usually subsides within the first week. Our team also provides detailed recovery instructions to help you stay comfortable during every phase of healing.

You’ll be scheduled for a personalized series of follow-up appointments to ensure your healing stays on track and your results are progressing as expected. Typically, these include:

• A next-day post-op visit to check incisions and answer early questions
• A 1-week follow-up for suture removal (if non-dissolvable stitches are used)
• Additional appointments at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year post-op

These visits are vital for optimal recovery and monitoring, providing an opportunity to discuss any concerns directly with Dr. Bitar.

While many patients notice an improvement within 10 to 14 days, especially as swelling and bruising subside, the final results of eyelid surgery typically become apparent around 3 to 6 months after the procedure. During this time, the skin continues to smooth out, incisions fade, and subtle swelling resolves. The timeline varies based on individual healing and whether upper, lower, or both lids were treated. Many patients report that their eyes appear brighter and more refreshed within the first two weeks, with the full transformation continuing to improve over several months.

One of the most common concerns with eyelid surgery is scarring, and the good news is that it’s typically minimal and well-camouflaged.

• Upper eyelid incisions are hidden within the natural crease of the lid and become virtually invisible once healed.
• Lower eyelid incisions, if placed under the lash line, fade into the natural contours of the eye and are rarely noticeable.
• When the transconjunctival technique is used for the lower lids (through the inside of the eyelid), there’s no visible scarring at all.

Dr. Bitar also offers scar-minimizing treatments, including medical-grade scar creams and laser therapy, for patients who wish to further optimize their results.

Exercise can elevate your heart rate and blood pressure, which may increase swelling or lead to complications during the healing process. For this reason, we advise all patients to avoid strenuous activities—including cardio workouts, weightlifting, yoga inversions, or any activity that puts pressure on the face—for a minimum of four weeks post-surgery.

Light walking is encouraged within the first few days to support healthy circulation, and most patients can resume more vigorous activity once cleared by Dr. Bitar. Returning to exercise too soon can increase the risk of poor scar healing or prolonged swelling, so it’s essential to follow our timeline closely.

Yes, eyelid surgery is frequently combined with complementary procedures to enhance facial harmony and maximize rejuvenation. Popular combinations include:

• Facelift or mini facelift to address sagging in the midface and jawline
• Brow lift to elevate the brow and reduce forehead heaviness
• CO2 laser resurfacing to smooth fine lines and improve skin texture
• Injectables like Botox or dermal fillers for volume restoration or wrinkle reduction

Combining procedures can offer more dramatic, yet natural-looking results with just one recovery period. Dr. Bitar will customize your surgical plan to your unique goals and timeline.

When searching for the best plastic surgeon in the greater Washington, D.C. area for eyelid surgery, look for a provider who is:

• Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS)
• Highly experienced in facial procedures, especially blepharoplasty
• Transparent about surgical techniques, risks, and outcomes
• Backed by consistent positive patient reviews and recognizable honors

Dr. George Bitar is one of the region’s most trusted and sought-after plastic surgeons, known for his expertise, artistry, and patient-first philosophy. Recognized by Castle Connolly and U.S. News & World Report, Dr. Bitar and his team provide the highest standards of safety, care, and surgical excellence.

At the Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute, we take pride in ensuring that we provide our patients with the best possible surgical experience, anticipating potential problems or setbacks and addressing them before they occur. This process encompasses preoperative preparation, the actual surgery, and postoperative care.

• General Complications
  General complications can occur with any surgery. Cosmetic surgery is typically a safe procedure performed on healthy patients and, like all surgeries, carries a low risk. To further reduce the risk of complications, we operate at a first-class surgery center with board-certified anesthesiologists and nurses. To avoid postoperative complications, we advocate for early mobilization – patients seen in our office one or two days after surgery- and active participation in their own postoperative care. When we create a partnership, the results invariably improve.
• Bleeding
  Bleeding around the eyelids is a serious matter. There have been few reports in the plastic surgery literature of cases of bleeding leading to blindness in an eye. Fortunately, it is extremely rare. Before surgery, our patients undergo testing to ensure they do not have any common bleeding disorders, as determined by their own physicians and through laboratory tests. Furthermore, at the outset of the procedure, we inject the eyelids with a solution that constricts the blood vessels and minimizes bleeding. The bleeding from this operation using this technique has been minimal and has never resulted in blindness among our patients.
• Infection
  The most important step in avoiding infections is to undergo surgery at a first-rate surgical facility with board-certified anesthesiologists and nurses. Patients are given the appropriate intravenous antibiotic coverage throughout the surgery. During the surgery, the patient’s skin surface is cleaned thoroughly. After the procedure, our patients are prescribed antibiotics to minimize infection. As a result of these extra precautions, our rate of infection after an eyelid lift is negligible.
• Pulling Down of Lower Eyelid (Ectropion)
  A risk of this procedure is swelling, scarring, and possibly aggressive skin removal to create a lower eyelid pull-down, resulting in a “sad puppy” look. In order to avoid this complication, we resect a conservative amount of skin from the lower eyelid and tighten the outer corner of the eye (a canthopexy) to counter the pull on the lower eyelid, thus having excellent results with lower eyelid lifts.
• Inability to Close Eyes Completely
  Due to swelling, scarring, and possible aggressive skin resection, especially when upper and lower eyelid lifts are performed simultaneously, the patient may be unable to close their eyes completely. To avoid this complication, we perform a very judicious resection of the upper and lower eyelid skin. The inability to close the eyes is usually temporary and resolves as the swelling subsides. Occasionally, we end up resecting more skin a year later to make a patient happy, but that is better than over-resecting skin during the initial operation.
• Smoking
  Smoking is an absolute contraindication for eyelid lifts. The carbon monoxide and nicotine in cigarette smoke cause a severe reduction in blood supply to the skin during healing. This results in delayed wound healing, wound separation, skin death, and a higher risk of infection. Cotinine testing is performed in patients with a smoking history to ensure that they are safe when having this procedure.