ASPS-board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Susan Downey of the USC Keck School of Medicine has teamed up with non-profit National Women’s Health Resource Center to educate women about plastic surgery and how to prepare for their recovery.  This campaign launch coincides with the time of the year when plastic surgery is most popular: the late fall/early winter timeframe.  According to national statistics, 70 million surgeries are preformed each year in the United States, including both elective and medical procedures. 

This educational campaign is designed to teach patients that recovery from surgery begins before the procedure takes place.  “The general misconception is that recovery starts only after the surgery is complete.  In reality, recovery can be greatly affected by the steps women take to prepare for the surgery” says Amy Niles, president and CEO of the National Women’s Health Resource Center. 

The campaign is also meant to increase communication between patients and their physicians by providing them the tools to ensure a safe and swift recovery.  These tools include information about pre-surgical evaluation, medication review, surgery preparation, post-surgical pain treatment options, questions to ask your doctor, and other resources. 

Planning for optimal recovery before surgery is an essential element to creating a positive surgical experience.  Experts recommend patients begin this dialogue with their plastic surgeon during the very first visit.  Dr. Downey explains her approach to patient recovery: “In [our first visit] we discuss post surgical pain management.  The first 48 hours after surgery sets the tone for their post-surgical experience; if patients are able to effectively manage their pain, while reducing the need for narcotics, they may be able to get back to their normal lives much quicker.” 

This educational program has been developed to empower women so that they may experience plastic surgery informed about the full process in such a way that facilitates an optimal experience.