You go into plastic surgery with high hopes about the outcome of your procedure, but before those results become evident, you need to survive the recovery process. Whether you undergo a facelift, a tummy tuck or a combination of procedures, the time and space you give yourself to heal will have a great impact on how satisfied you are with your results. Dr. Andrews Plastic, Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery has a few tips for an ideal recovery routine that will give you the greatest chance for success.
Plan Ahead for Recovery Time
Prepare for your recovery time before you have your procedure. The weeks leading up to your surgery offer the time to get your house cleaned and stock up on a few meals in your freezer. Make sure you have plenty of healthy liquids for hydration after surgery and give yourself a few enjoyable quiet activities that will make that time at home a lot more pleasant. Fill your prescriptions prior to your surgery so they are ready and waiting for you when you get home.
Enlist Help for the First Week or Two
While you will likely be able to return home the same day as your surgery, you will not be up to caring for yourself for those first few days. It is important to have someone with you full-time for the first 24-48 hours to ensure you don’t experience any complications after your procedure. Having someone to bring you food and drinks or to provide for other basic needs after that time is also a good idea. If you have small children or pets at home, you will want to line up someone to care for them for a number of days until you are feeling like getting back into the swing of things.
Understand and Follow All Instructions
You will be given a list of instructions to follow before and after your procedure. It is imperative that you understand all of these instructions and follow them as closely as possible. These instructions have been provided to ensure your procedure is as safe and successful as possible. From stopping certain medications before surgery to wearing compression garments after your procedure, all of these instructions are important and necessary for your full and healthy recovery.
Keep Appointments, Ask Questions
You will have a number of appointments with your surgeon after your surgery so that your recovery process can be closely monitored. Each of these appointments is scheduled to ensure your body heals properly and to address concerns that may arise. Keep your follow-up appointments and reschedule if something comes up that prevents you from making an appointment. If any questions arise about your recovery, don’t hesitate to call your physician’s office to get answers.
Practice Patience, Get Plenty of Rest
Recovery from plastic surgery can be a challenge for some patients. While you expect to look better after your procedure, you will probably look worse first as a result of bruising and swelling. You will also likely have some discomfort after surgery that can be discouraging for the first few days. Patience and rest is the best way to survive those early days and weeks of recovery, knowing things will continue to improve until you are able to enjoy your full results.
Plastic surgery may be by choice, but it is still a surgical procedure that requires proper recovery time to heal fully. By forming a recovery plan before your surgery, your downtime is more likely to be successful and as pleasant as possible. To learn more about preparing for plastic surgery or the recovery time afterward, contact Dr. Andrews Plastic, Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery at 855-338-0261.
