Short answer: after eyelid surgery, stitches usually come out within the first one to two weeks, and bruising and swelling typically last 10 to 14 days, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The NHS advises not flying for 7 to 10 days after facial cosmetic procedures. For a trip to Korea, plan to stay at least until your stitch-removal visit, which often means about two weeks.
The first two weeks, day by day
These stages apply to most upper eyelid surgery, including incision double eyelid surgery. The society guides do not cover buried-suture (non-incision) methods, which usually involve less swelling, so ask your clinic for its own schedule.
| When | What usually happens | What it means for your trip |
|---|---|---|
| First 24 hours | Swelling can get worse during the first day (AAO). Serious bleeding behind the eye is rare, and most cases happen in the first hours. | Rest at the hotel. Use cold packs for the first 48 hours if your clinic recommends them (The Aesthetic Society). |
| Days 2 to 7 | Stitches come out between day 2 and day 7 in The Aesthetic Society’s guide. The NHS says about one week. | Expect a clinic visit. Book it before you book your flight. |
| Around day 7 | Contact lenses can usually go back in at about one week (AAO). AAFPRS advises waiting one to two weeks. | Pack your glasses. |
| Days 7 to 14 | Bruising and swelling typically last 10 to 14 days (AAO). Some people need until day 14 for stitches (AAO). | Light outings with dark sunglasses, if your clinic agrees. |
The bleeding risk is small but important for travel. A survey of 269,433 eyelid operations found serious bleeding behind the eye in 0.055 percent, about 1 in 2,000. Most cases began within three hours, the risk fell sharply after 24 hours, and a few happened several days later (Hass et al., 2004). This is one reason to stay near your clinic for the first days.
Swelling after double eyelid surgery in East Asian patients
Swelling can last longer for some people. In a US study of 217 upper eyelid surgery patients, East Asian patients had about eight times higher odds of significant, long-lasting eyelid swelling than White patients (Zhang-Nunes et al., 2023). In a study of 132 Chinese patients who had partial-incision double eyelid surgery, most swelling faded in two weeks and was gone within a month for most people (Chen and Ma, 2023). That study came from a single surgeon using one technique.
So the crease you see when you fly home may still look higher or puffier than the final result. Plan photos and any judgment about the result for a month or more later.
After you are home
- Activity: avoid straining, heavy lifting, swimming and strenuous exercise for 10 to 14 days, or three to four weeks for some procedures (The Aesthetic Society).
- Sun: wear dark sunglasses for the first two weeks (The Aesthetic Society).
- Work: most people take about two weeks off (NHS). AAFPRS says seven to ten days for work and light activity.
- Numbness: upper-lid numbness typically resolves over two to four months (AAO).
- Redness and scars: bruises and redness may take several weeks to fade, and scars can feel tight for a few months (NHS).
What travel guidelines say about flying home
Two UK sources give advice for people who have surgery abroad. Neither comes from a trial, and both leave the final decision to your surgeon.
- NHS: air travel and major surgery both raise the risk of a blood clot. The NHS recommends not flying for 7 to 10 days after facial cosmetic procedures.
- British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), 2023: when total travel time is around four hours or more, which covers any flight home from Korea to Europe, North America or Australia, people having a general anaesthetic of up to three hours should arrive at least 72 hours before surgery and stay one to two weeks after it. For operations over three hours, surgery on several areas, or a higher clot risk, BAAPS advises arriving a week before and staying two to four weeks after. BAAPS labels this guidance expert opinion.
- Before you leave: BAAPS asks for at least one review by the surgeon who operated on you before you travel home, and phone or video follow-up once you are back.
- On the plane: BAAPS recommends an aisle seat, plenty of water, walking during the flight and compression stockings.
Eyelid surgery is often done under local anaesthetic with sedation and can be short. In BAAPS terms that may put it in the group with no extra stay required, but the NHS advice still applies. Ask your surgeon which applies to you.
A sample 12 to 14-day plan for Korea
| Days | Plan |
|---|---|
| Arrival, then Day −1 | Arrive at least a day early. Consultation and design of the crease. |
| Day 0 to 2 | Surgery, then rest at the hotel. Cold packs and eye care as instructed. |
| Day 3 to 7 | Stitch removal visit. Quiet indoor time: cafés, a museum, a shopping mall, with sunglasses. |
| Day 8 to 11 | Light outings in shade if your clinic agrees. Ask for your cleared-to-fly date and records. |
| Day 12 to 14 | Earliest realistic flight home in this example, after a final check. |
Replace every date with the ones your clinic gives you. The Clinic KR trip planner lays them out day by day and flags a flight that is booked too early.
Questions to ask your clinic before you book flights
- Is my operation incision, partial-incision or buried-suture, and how does that change the recovery?
- On which day will the stitches come out?
- When can I wear contact lenses and eye makeup again?
- From which date am I cleared to fly?
- Can I have my operation record and prescriptions in English?
- Who do I contact after I am home if my vision changes or one eye swells suddenly?
FAQ
How long should I stay in Korea for double eyelid surgery?
Long enough to attend your stitch-removal visit and reach the date your surgeon clears you to fly. With stitches out in the first week or two and NHS advice of 7 to 10 days before flying, many plans come to about 10 to 14 days.
How long does swelling last after double eyelid surgery?
Most bruising and swelling settles in 10 to 14 days. Some swelling can last a month or longer, and studies suggest it lasts longer in some East Asian patients.
When can I fly after blepharoplasty?
No study sets a safe day. The NHS advises waiting 7 to 10 days after facial cosmetic procedures. Your surgeon decides.
When can I wear contact lenses after eyelid surgery?
Usually at about one week (AAO), though some surgeons ask for one to two weeks (AAFPRS).
Sources
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty. Checked October 9, 2026.
- The Aesthetic Society. Eyelid Surgery Aftercare and Recovery. Checked October 9, 2026.
- NHS. Eyelid surgery. Checked October 9, 2026.
- American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Eyelid surgery. Checked October 9, 2026.
- NHS. Cosmetic surgery abroad. Checked October 9, 2026.
- British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. BAAPS Cosmetic Tourism Guidelines, September 2023, v1.
- Hass AN, Penne RB, Stefanyszyn MA, et al. Incidence of postblepharoplasty orbital hemorrhage and associated visual loss. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2004;20(6):426-32. PubMed 15599241.
- Zhang-Nunes S, Guo S, Li J, et al. Demographic and physiological factors associated with clinically significant eyelid edema in patients following upper eyelid surgery. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2023;78:4-9. PubMed 36680851.
- Chen B, Ma L. Small-incision, mini-dissection, orbicularis-preservation, and orbicularis-levator aponeurosis fixation technique: A modified partial-incision double-eyelid blepharoplasty. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2023;76:308-313. PubMed 36428197.
This guide gives general information, not medical advice. Read how we research and check these guides.