It’s a terrific technique to guarantee the ideal outcomes and prepare for your rehabilitation beforehand.
It’s important to follow your plastic surgeon’s patient care instructions and contact them if you have any concerns.
Plan to have friends and family prepare easy-to-eat meals for you and stock up on couch-friendly activities like books, movies, and crossword puzzles. Having someone around to drive you to and from your appointments.
Rest and Recovery
Recovery from plastic surgery requires plenty of rest.
Patients will likely feel drowsy after their procedure, especially if they received sedation or general anesthesia. Having leisure activities on hand to help keep you busy can prevent boredom and allow you to stay awake.
A healthy diet is important for a smooth recovery, as well. Protein-rich diets of many kinds help hasten the healing process.
Patients should consult with their surgeons before increasing their exercise or activity level. However, many patients can return to moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercises a few weeks post-op as long as the cartilage has stabilized. Avoid putting pressure on the area of surgery until it is fully healed. This may include avoiding sleeping on that side, using a compression garment or lifting objects over 10 pounds.
Pain Management
One of the most crucial components of healing is pain management.
Patients will usually feel discomfort following surgery, but this is easily managed with over-the-counter or prescription pain medications.
In addition to taking the recommended medications, patients should keep the surgical site elevated for some time following their procedure. This will help drain the lymph back to the non-injured area and reduce swelling. Thus, choosing a reputable surgeon like Dr. Joel Aronowitz is essential for successful outcomes. Patients may also receive a compression garment in some circumstances to aid in reducing edema and accelerating healing.
Patients must follow the surgeon’s instructions closely to ensure a smooth and safe recovery. They should also avoid smoking, which can interfere with proper lung function and slow healing. Smoking is never healthy for anyone, but it’s especially harmful during recovery from plastic surgery.
Follow Your Surgeon’s Instructions
You must follow your surgeon’s instructions and avoid certain activities, medications, herbs, and foods hindering recovery. This is especially true if you take pain medication because these can interact with other drugs or herbs.
Ensure you have assistance in the first few days following surgery, including someone to drive you to appointments, help you cook and bathe, and care for any children or pets.
Arrange for this before surgery so you are not surprised by the need to enlist assistance. Keep all of your scheduled follow-up appointments. This is when your plastic surgeon, like Joel Aronowitz, MD, can ensure you are healing properly and that there are no signs of complications. Also, they can address any questions or concerns that you may have at this time.
Nutrition
Many plastic surgery procedures involve a recovery period that requires rest, pain management, and following your surgeon’s instructions. A nutritious, well-balanced diet will promote healing.
Eat a diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, such as fresh fruit, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, yogurt, and fish, since these foods assist your body in the production of new blood cells, bone healing, and tissue repair.
Additionally, consuming foods high in antioxidants is beneficial for your body. These foods can reduce inflammation and swelling caused by surgery. Drinking plenty of water is vital as well. This will prevent dehydration, which can impede the wound-healing process. It’s also important to avoid sunlight, as direct exposure can prevent scars from fading properly.
Avoid Sunlight
The skin on the face is extremely delicate after surgery, especially the incision sites. Excessive sun exposure can cause these scars to darken, leading to other issues like skin burns or tissue damage.
During a facelift, or rhytidectomy, excess skin is surgically removed, tightening the facial muscles and contouring the face for a more youthful appearance. This procedure can also help correct sagging in the jowls or droopy cheeks.
Following your surgeon’s instructions after a facelift is important, especially when avoiding sunlight. This will help speed up recovery and prevent potential negative side effects. It is also important to wear a hat or cover-up with clothing that will shield the skin from direct sunlight.
