Choosing a board-certified facial plastic surgeon such as Dr. Olson helps to ensure that your recovery goes well. Dr. Olson will provide you with post-operative instructions to decrease recovery time and create results you can love. Avoiding certain medications that can increase bleeding and bruising before and after surgery is very important. If you are a smoker, you will be advised to quit. Smoking will affect both the results of surgery and the appearance of the eyelids over time. Discomfort in the first few days can be relieved with medication, and swelling and bruising can be minimized with the use of a cold compress. Dr. Olson recommends that his patients allow 7 to 10 days for rest, at which time swelling and bruising should begin to subside.