There’s a lot of information out there for those looking to recover quickly from a plastic surgery procedure. To help you separate fact from fiction, here’s a list of 10 Do’s and 10 Don’ts when recovering from a cosmetic procedure.
Do:
- Allow the proper time to recovery, in order to get the most out of the procedure
- Listen to your body
- Communicate with your doctor about any questions or concerns you have
- If your doctor has prescribed any medication, be sure to take it exactly as prescribed
- Take the time to rest and give your body a chance to recover
- Get plenty of sleep, which is when your body makes the majority of its repairs
- Keep hydrated, which promotes the health and healing of your skin
- Stick to a healthy diet that gives your body the nutrients it needs to recover quickly
- Get a friend or loved one to help out around the house until you’re able to return to your normal day-to-day activities
- Call your doctor right away if something doesn’t feel right
Don’t:
- Try to get back to your normal lifestyle before you’re ready
- Overexert yourself, especially the part of your body that underwent the procedure
- Exercise too vigorously
- Lift heavy objects, which can cause strain and undo your stitches
- Rest too much, as your body does need to slowly get back to the challenge of your normal lifestyle to recover properly
- Take hot showers, which can lead to skin irritation, dryness, and a slower recovery
- Attempt to take off your bandages unless instructed to do so. This can interfere with the recovery plan your doctor has created.
- Drink alcohol, which will dehydrate your body and interfere with recovery
- Smoke, which has also been proven to interfere with recovery time. Even if you are a smoker, the best thing you can do for your body is to refrain from smoking during the recovery period
- Do any activity that causes pain in the healing region, or feels “wrong”
The main thing to remember when recovering from a cosmetic procedure is to keep the lines of communication with your doctor open. If you have any additional questions about the recovery from a particular procedure, contact St. Charles Plastic Surgery’s Dr. Ghaderi to set up a consultation.
