Eyelid surgery can reduce aging and brighten your most noticeable facial feature – your eyes. Moreover, it is a proven procedure that benefits thousands of patients annually.

After having the operation, many of our patients can’t wait to show off their new and refreshed look. Still, it is essential to follow all your post-operative care instructions, especially those pertaining to makeup. Wearing eyeliner, mascara, and eyeshadow too soon after eyelid surgery can irritate the area around the incisions.

In addition, you can pull on your skin by applying and removing cosmetics, which can interfere with healing. And, if some of your makeup makes its way into the incisions, you will increase your risk of developing an infection.

When Can You Start Wearing Eye Makeup After Eyelid Surgery?

Following post-operative care guidelines ensures you will enjoy the best possible results from your eyelid surgery. You will need to wait for a complete recovery to return to wearing eye makeup. We advise allowing your incisions to heal fully before you resume applying makeup, which can take up to two to three weeks.

Though you will likely return to work and other routine activities a few days after your procedure, you can expect it to take a bit longer for the incisions to close fully. You may be eager to share your dramatic results. Still, your friends, family, and colleagues will see a substantial improvement, even without using eye makeup during the first couple of weeks.

If your goal is to minimize bruising, applying cosmetics to your eyes when they’re still healing can cause irritation or, at worst, infection. For example, if you put on makeup too soon after eyelid surgery, you risk harmful chemicals getting trapped beneath skin and causing an unsightly tattoo effect.

Once your incisions have healed and your plastic surgeon clears you to wear eye makeup, be gentle when applying. It’s always wise to err on the side of caution and avoid stretching or pulling the delicate skin around your eyes.

Top Tips for Applying Eye Makeup After Eyelid Surgery

First, we recommend throwing out your old mascara, eyeliner, and eyeshadow, which can harbor bacteria. Then, use this opportunity to update your makeup selection and invest in a new product line.

Second, find all-natural, mineral-based products. Read the labels and look for words like “hypoallergenic” and “safe for sensitive skin.” Another term to check for is “non-comedogenic,” which means the product will not clog your pores.

Third, we recommend avoiding frosted eyeshadow, eyeliner, or mascara. The sparkles or glitter may flake and fall into your incision areas.

Finally, when removing makeup, avoid harsh products like alcohol-based cleaners. These can cause skin dryness and irritation. Instead, use natural cleansers, olive oil, or micellar cleansers. Apply gently, and be patient with your makeup removal to avoid stretching and pulling your skin.

Eyelid Surgery Should Change How You Apply Makeup

Having an upper and lower blepharoplasty may make a difference in how you apply makeup. In addition, you can experiment with different looks after the operation now that you have a smoother eyelid surface to work with.

Contact us today to book your eyelid surgery consultation and get started!