Procedure prep

Fasting Before Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Blepharoplasty (an eyelid lift) removes loose skin or puffy fat from the upper or lower lids, either to clear droopy lids that block your vision or for a fresher cosmetic look. Whether you need to fast comes down to one thing: the type of anaesthetic your surgeon plans to use.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Saurabh Shukla, MBBS, DNB Anesthesiology · Last updated June 2026

Fasting for this procedure

The anaesthetic type decides whether you fast. Many blepharoplasties are done under local anaesthetic alone (numbing injections into the eyelid while you stay fully awake). If that is your plan, you usually do not need to fast at all and can eat and drink normally beforehand. However, if your surgery is done under sedation ("twilight" anaesthesia) or a general anaesthetic — more common with larger lower-lid work or if you are anxious — then standard fasting applies: stop solid food about 6 hours before your arrival time (this also means no milk, milky drinks, sweets or chewing gum) and stop clear fluids (water, black tea or coffee, clear juice — no milk) about 2 hours before. Because the plan can change, do not assume — confirm your exact anaesthetic with the clinic and follow the fasting time they give you. For a child having eyelid surgery, use the 6-4-2 rule (food and formula 6 hours, breast milk 4 hours, clear fluids 2 hours) and our child fasting calculator.

→ Get your exact fasting times with the calculator

Medicines to check

Blood thinners and aspirin: these are the big one for eyelid surgery because they worsen bruising and bleeding around the delicate eye area. Never stop them on your own — ask your surgeon well ahead and see medications to stop before surgery.
Fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo and high-dose turmeric: these supplements thin the blood and increase bruising, so most surgeons ask you to stop them about 1-2 weeks before. Mention everything you take, including "natural" products.
Anti-inflammatory painkillers (ibuprofen, naproxen and similar NSAIDs): these also promote bruising — switch to paracetamol for aches in the run-up unless told otherwise.
Diabetes tablets and insulin: only relevant if you are fasting for sedation or a general anaesthetic. If so, follow the sick-day plan in diabetes tablets before surgery and confirm your insulin dose with your team; if you are awake under local and eating normally, you can usually take them as usual — but check your insulin dose with the team.
Blood-pressure and heart medicines: most are continued, often with a small sip of water, but some are not — in particular ACE inhibitors and ARBs (blood-pressure pills whose names often end in "-pril" or "-sartan"), and sometimes water tablets (diuretics), are frequently paused on the morning of surgery if you are having sedation or a general anaesthetic, to avoid a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Do not stop or change them yourself — ask your anaesthetic team exactly which to take and which to hold, and when.
Bring a full list of every medicine, dose and supplement so the surgeon can spot anything that raises your bleeding risk before the day.

When this surgery may be delayed

You took aspirin, a blood thinner or fish oil too recently — operating with thinned blood risks heavy bruising and a lid haematoma, so surgery is often postponed until it has cleared.
You did not fast and your case needs sedation or GA — if the plan involves twilight or general anaesthetic and you ate or drank recently, it must be delayed for safety.
Active eye infection, conjunctivitis, a stye or a cold sore near the eye — operating through infected skin risks spreading it, so the lids must settle first.
Very dry eyes or an unstable tear film — eyelid surgery can briefly worsen dryness, so significant dry-eye disease may need treating or reviewing before going ahead.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure or new chest or breathing symptoms — these raise the bleeding and anaesthetic risk and are usually sorted out before rebooking.

Reports & documents to carry

Any eye reports or a visual-field test — for functional (droopy lid) surgery these prove the lids block your vision and are often needed for funding or insurance.
Your medicine and supplement list, including blood thinners, fish oil, vitamin E and anything herbal.
Recent blood results if you take a blood thinner (for example an INR for warfarin) or have them ready as requested.
Your referral letter, clinic notes and consent form, plus any before-photos the clinic has taken.
Glasses (not contact lenses), insurance or funding paperwork, and a list of questions — and arrange a responsible adult to drive you home.

What to ask your anesthesia team

Will my eyelid surgery be under local anaesthetic alone, sedation, or a general anaesthetic — and so do I actually need to fast?
Exactly how many hours before arrival should I stop food and clear fluids, if fasting applies to me?
When should I stop my aspirin, blood thinner, fish oil and vitamin E to keep bruising down, and who do I check this with?
Which of my blood-pressure, heart and diabetes medicines should I take or hold on the day — especially any ACE inhibitor, ARB or insulin?
How much bruising and swelling around the eyes should I expect, how long will it last, and when can I use cold compresses?
What type of stitches will I have, when do they come out, and when can I shower, wear make-up and drive again?

Your prep checklist

Tick things off as you sort them — saved on this device only, nothing is sent anywhere.

A general guide — your hospital's own instructions always come first.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I have to stop aspirin and fish oil before blepharoplasty?

The eyelids have a rich blood supply and very thin, delicate skin, so they bruise easily. Aspirin, other blood thinners, fish oil, vitamin E and ginkgo all reduce your blood's ability to clot, which can mean much heavier bruising, more swelling and, rarely, a blood collection (haematoma) under the lid. Stopping the ones your surgeon approves — often 1-2 weeks ahead — leads to a cleaner result and faster recovery. Never stop a prescribed blood thinner without medical advice.

How much bruising and swelling should I expect afterwards?

Bruising and swelling around the eyes are completely normal and often peak two to three days after surgery before fading over one to two weeks; some people look quite bruised, others much less. Cold compresses for the first 48 hours, sleeping with your head propped up, and avoiding bending or heavy lifting all help it settle faster. Any residual puffiness usually eases over a few weeks. Sudden severe pain or rapidly worsening swelling is not normal — contact your surgeon urgently.

Should I take my blood-pressure tablets on the morning of eyelid surgery?

Usually yes for most blood-pressure tablets, with a small sip of water — but not always. Some, especially ACE inhibitors and ARBs (names often ending in "-pril" or "-sartan") and sometimes water tablets (diuretics), are commonly paused on the morning of surgery if you are having sedation or a general anaesthetic, because they can cause a hard-to-treat drop in blood pressure under anaesthesia. If your eyelid surgery is under local anaesthetic only and you are eating and drinking normally, you generally take them as usual. Either way, don't guess — ask your anaesthetic team exactly which medicines to take and which to hold on the day.

Is this covered as functional surgery or is it cosmetic?

It depends on why it is done. If sagging upper-lid skin droops far enough to block your vision, the surgery is functional and may be funded by insurance or the health system — usually after a visual-field test and photos document the obstruction. If the aim is purely to look fresher or less tired, it is classed as cosmetic and you pay privately. Bring any eye reports and visual-field results, as these decide which category, and which fasting and anaesthetic setup, applies.

Calculate your exact fasting window Now get the precise times to stop eating & drinking before your surgery.

Surgery Fasting Calculator Medications to stop Types of anesthesia explained