Tips For the Speediest Recovery From Plastic Surgery
If you’re planning a plastic surgery procedure (or two), you might have started scouring the internet to see how long it’ll take to recover. This is pretty normal. After all, you want to have some sense of what to expect.
You’ve probably also noticed in your search that there is usually a span of possible time for recovery (i.e. 3-5 days, 2-3 weeks, etc.).
Obviously, recovery times will vary based on the person as well as the procedure(s) performed. Still, there are things you can do that will give you the speediest recovery from plastic surgery.
1. Swallow Your Pride
Whatever your plastic surgery procedure, you can expect to need some help in the day or days that follow. Particularly in cases where the surgery is more complicated or there are multiple procedures performed.
So if you have trouble asking for help and think you’re better off doing everything on your own, you can expect a longer recovery time. On the flip side, you can arrange to have someone help you get to and from your procedure, as well as handle any child care, pet care, and/or chores around the house.
By gracefully accepting help, you’ll eliminate the stress and worry about getting your daily tasks covered. Allowing yourself to rest instead is only going to facilitate your recovery.
2. Eat Well and Hydrate
In order to optimize your body’s healing abilities, you need to give it the proper fuel. Lean proteins, fresh produce, and plenty of water are going to speed up the recovery process much faster than potato chips, Oreos, and cola.
You may also need to avoid or cut way back caffeine and alcohol while recovering. Both of these can cause dehydration which is detrimental to healing.
3. Get Moving… But Mindfully
Obviously, if you’ve had a major procedure such as a Mommy Makeover, you won’t jump on the treadmill and run two miles the next day. Chances are, you won’t even feel like doing that.
Yet, as inclined as you may be to revel in the comfort of lounging on your couch for days on end, it IS a good idea to move around a bit in the days that follow your surgery. Movement keeps blood circulating and this forwards healing. Your movement might be something as simple as just walking around your house, condo, or apartment. Over time, you may build to a light walk outside.
The key is to take it slowly. Ease back into regular movement – even if you think you’re ready to tackle that two miles on the treadmill. You don’t want to undo what you had done. Otherwise, you’ll be looking at an even longer recovery time.
4. Steer Clear of Tobacco
If you never use tobacco, you can skip this one.
On the other hand, it’s important to understand that you’ll have to go through the difficult task of quitting smoking or vaping tobacco for at least a month prior to having your procedure. Recovery is not going to be a free pass to light up again.
The nicotine in tobacco inhibits the body’s ability to heal and can lead to all sorts of complications during recovery. Knowing this, you may want to consider your plastic surgery procedure as the ideal transition to quitting smoking altogether.
5. Simply Put – FOLLOW YOUR DOCTOR’S ORDERS!
Here’s the deal.
Any quality board-certified surgeon will give you specific instructions for post-op care which should be followed to a T. These will include guidelines on diet, which medications and supplements to take, when and how long to wear a compression garment, proper ways to clean incisions, and the safest time to return to exercise.
What’s more, be sure you go to any scheduled follow-up visits. It’s important for your doctor to see that you’re healing properly and that there are no complications. S/he can also advise you on when you can return to your daily activities as well as more strenuous exercise.
By sticking with the protocol, you’ll have the smoothest and shortest road to recovery.
The Speediest Recovery From Plastic Surgery Is Up To You
Try not to get too bogged down in what the internet says. At the end of the day, you’ll have the speediest recovery from plastic surgery when you follow your doctor’s orders and give your body what it needs to heal.
Simple as that.
So if you’re ready to get started on your plastic surgery journey, contact us today. We guarantee you’ll never walk the path alone.