When Can You Wear Makeup After LASIK Eye Surgery?
Makeup is an incredible way to express yourself, and LASIK eye surgery makes it easier to transform your look with makeup. When you no longer have to take glasses into consideration, you don’t have to deal with your false eyelashes hitting the rim or your colorful makeup look being hidden behind your frames.
Similarly, without the need for contacts, you don’t have to worry about putting them in before doing your makeup or taking them off prior to using makeup remover. You also no longer have to wonder whether your makeup products will irritate your contacts or not. It’s clear that the freedom from glasses and contacts that LASIK offers can greatly simplify your makeup routine.
However, one of the important things to note before undergoing LASIK surgery is that you can’t wear makeup directly after the procedure. This is crucial to prevent irritation and to encourage a quick healing process as well as the best post-operative results. Below, we discuss when it’s safe to wear makeup again following LASIK as well as safety tips to protect your overall eye health.
When You Can Wear Makeup After LASIK
During your pre-operative consultation, you’ll be provided with a variety of instructions relating to your care post-procedure, including information on when it’s safe to wear makeup again and how best to go about it.
On the day of your procedure, you cannot wear makeup. It’s best to avoid wearing eye makeup for a minimum of 24 hours before your LASIK procedure. If you wear eyelash extensions, you’ll need to have those removed. Similarly, you likely won’t be able to replace or refill your eyelash extensions for a minimum of two months post-procedure. Speak to one of our experts for more information.
But it’s not only during the procedure that makeup must be avoided. You cannot wear makeup immediately after your LASIK procedure. Typically, you’ll be instructed to avoid eye makeup (such as mascara, eyeliner, or eyeshadow) for at least a week following the surgery to best support the healing process. You may be able to wear face products, like foundation or concealer, within a few days of your surgery, provided they’re not being applied close to the eyes. Our clinical staff will provide you detailed instructions on makeup use post-procedure.
If there’s a specific reason you’ll need to wear makeup following your LASIK procedure (such as a special event), you may want to consider postponing your surgery until a more optimal time. Our team of experts will be happy to discuss the options with your during your free consultation and will help you decide what’s right for your specific situation.
Tips For Wearing Makeup After LASIK
Even when you have the go-ahead to wear makeup following your LASIK procedure, it’s still important to take the following steps to avoid irritation and to protect your overall eye health, not just during the healing process but beyond. Keep the following tips in mind when applying makeup post-LASIK.
Stick with face makeup. While you absolutely must avoid eye products immediately after your LASIK procedure (like mascara and eyeliner), face products are generally okay. You can still apply foundation, blush, lipstick, and the like, so long as it’s not too close to your eyes. Make sure to ask our team of experts what makeup products are safe to use and when following your procedure, especially when you can re-introduce eye makeup back into your routine.
Avoid the waterline. If you wear eyeliner, then chances are you tightline your eyes, which is when you place liner on your upper water line to create a fuller, more wide-eyed look. But using makeup so close to the eye increases the risk of poking or irritating it. We encourage you to avoid using makeup so close to your waterline, at least in the first few weeks following your procedure.
Don’t rub too hard. When removing makeup, it’s best to be gentle. While it may mean you’ll spend extra time removing your waterproof eyeliner, it reduces the risk of irritation. This is especially important in the weeks following your procedure. Even when you can wear eye makeup again, choose makeup that’s easy to remove, at least in the beginning.
Wash your brushes. This tip is important regardless of if you’ve had LASIK or not. Ensure you wash your brushes regularly and carefully to prevent the build-up of bacteria. Not only can this improve your makeup application and prevent acne or skin irritation, but it helps prevent eye infections.
Never use expired products. Be sure to keep an eye on the expiry date of your makeup products. This is especially true for eye products, which often expire more quickly. Mascara, for instance, has a shelf life of only three months. Using expired makeup raises the risk of acne, eye infections, and other undesirable outcomes. If in doubt, throw it out.
If you're interested in learning more about how LASIK eye surgery or another vision procedure can transform your life, book a free, no-obligation consultation today.