How long does it take for swelling to go away after upper eyelid lift?

Approx 3-4 days: The worst swelling will occur 3-4 days after surgery with more improvement over the subsequent 3 weeks. By 3 months 90-95% of swelling will have resolved.

Not too long: Upper eyelids should recover relatively quickly. Unless you have had a small complication such as bleeding, and you did not take medications like Aspirin or Plavix (clopidogrel) before surgery, you should bounce back within a week. Try using arnica prior to surgery to minimize bruising. Be well.

Looks good in a week: Upper lids usually look pretty good in a week but all surgical incisions take a full year to fully heal. Most people take 5-7 days off work after surgery.