Heal After Plastic Surgery

Though plastic surgery procedures are usually elective, it is just as important to follow close guidelines for an easy and prompt recovery. If patients do not follow doctor's orders and take care of themselves following surgery, complications such as infections, incisions re-opening, and increased swelling can occur. In addition, because patients look forward to the results of plastic surgery procedures, they often fail to prepare themselves for how they will feel and look during the first few days and weeks during the healing process. Learning how to heal after plastic surgery is an important step to achieving desired results after leaving the operating room.

Steps

Following Medical Steps for Healing

1. Know what to expect in terms of recovery. Some plastic surgery procedures only take days to recover from (the more minor ones), while others take weeks or even months. It is important to speak to your plastic surgeon prior to the procedure to know what to expect in terms of your recovery. It will likely impact many other spheres of your life, such as your work life and ability to go out with friends, so it is important to be able to plan for this.
2. Adhere to your plastic surgeon's recovery plan. It is key that you follow the specific instructions for recovery, which may include any of the following:
   • Medication use to control the pain and swelling, and to promote healing.
   • Icing the affected area as needed.
   • Elevating the affected area as needed, to diminish swelling.
   • Avoiding direct exposure to sunlight during the healing period.
   • Effective use of "drains" (tubes), which are sometimes inserted to help drain excess fluid in the initial healing phases, such as after cosmetic surgery to the breasts.
     • Follow your doctor's directions for how to use the drain effectively, which should include how often to empty the drain, and if the fluid coming out should be measured.
   • Attending follow-up appointments in a timely fashion.
     • In order to ensure optimum wound healing, and to make sure there are no complications or infections developing, it is important for your doctor to check on things and to receive his or her professional opinion. That way, if there are any issues with healing, they can be dealt with and resolved so that they do not become a problem later.
3. Consult your doctor about medication use. It is key to let your doctor know any regular medications or supplements that you generally take. Some medications, like blood thinners or aspirin, can be detrimental to healing and actually increase bleeding and swelling. There are also some natural remedies and supplements that can be concerning.
   • As long as you disclose everything you are taking to your doctor, she can evaluate the safety of your medication regimen and make sure that nothing conflicts with wound healing or worsens bleeding.
   • The doctor will tell you what medications need to be stopped prior to the surgery, when they should be stopped, and when to restart. Also, other medications may need to be continued straight through the surgery.
4. Be cautious and allow your body time to recover. For instance, do not try to get back to your usual routine or be too active too soon following plastic surgery. Over-exerting yourself can lead to complications and slow down the healing process.
   • Do not exercise until your doctor tells you it is okay to get back to your normal level of physical activity. Exercising too soon can prolong healing by causing swelling or bleeding, or an incision to break down.
   • When learning how to heal after plastic surgery, do not get upset if you are bruised or swollen for a week or longer following your procedure. Plastic surgery healing times vary for each procedure and each patient.

Following Other Strategies For Healing

1. Plan your healing process in advance of your procedure by eating properly and getting plenty of rest. Taking care of yourself weeks and even months prior to plastic surgery with good nutrition will help you to heal faster.
   • Also be sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat a balanced diet after surgery to help your body get the nutrients it needs to mend quickly.
   • Quit smoking to help speed up the healing process.
2. Manage your expectations. Plastic surgery is generally done in hopes of altering one's appearance. However, it is important to note that a perceived "improvement" in appearance will not equate to perfection. There is only so much that can be done surgically to change one's appearance, so if you are expecting perfection you will be setting yourself up for disappointment.
   • Be careful that you do not have unrealistic hopes for plastic surgery or for the anticipated change.
   • Some people inadvertently seek out plastic surgery in hopes that it will "solve problems" in other areas of their life — for instance, in hopes that it may save a bad relationship, help their career prospects, cause them to be more popular in their circle of friends, or cause them to be more appealing on the dating scene.
   • It is important to get honest with yourself about your expectations for the surgery, as well as the reasons you are doing it so as not to have your hopes too high and be disappointed.
3. Seek out the support of family and friends. Your family and friends can be an important moral support, especially during the initial stages of healing. You may have pain, trouble completing ordinary tasks around the house, and/or potential feelings of disappointment as the positive results of your surgery will often not be seen fully until some healing has taken place, potentially months down the line. (In other words, plastic surgery tends to look worse before it looks better, as your body needs to heal the wounds and get rid of the swelling, so support during this time is key).
   • Depending upon how major of a surgery you underwent, you may have activity restrictions for the first while as you are recovering. If this is the case, your family and friends can help you with the tasks of day-to-day life that you are unable to do.
   • They can also pamper you by cooking meals or otherwise tending to your needs and helping you to feel morally supported during what may be a challenging time.

Related Articles

• Talk a Friend out of Plastic Surgery
• Make Recovery from Surgery Easier

Sources and Citations

See also

• Recover From Liposuction
• Heal Breast Implants
• Choose Between Silicone and Saline Breast Implants
• Pay for Plastic Surgery

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• Heal Breast Implants