Recovering After Plastic Surgery

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Travel agent Becky Moreau had gained an excessive amount of weight from her pregnancies. After gastric bypass surgery, she turned to her plastic surgeon for assistance and underwent a tummy tuck, breast augmentation, and torsoplasty with fat transfers to the buttocks and breasts.

“The first 2 days were hell,” said Becky when describing the surgery. “The worst part was trying to find a comfortable position for I couldn’t lay on my back due to my butt, not on my stomach because of my breasts and it also hurt to lie on my sides because he did a tiny bit of lipo to take the bump I had on my outer thighs and also drains would get in the way and they hurt.”

Becky had extreme plastic surgery to enhance her lifestyle and beauty, but she also had a long recovery process that was hard for her to imagine.

Knowing What to Expect

Susan Gail, a respected author, cosmetic and surgery consultant and a former plastic surgery patient has strong opinions about the postoperative recovery period. In her experience, the plastic surgeon gives minimal information such as eat lightly; keep your head elevated, etc., but nothing comprehensive.

“After working with post-op patients for over 20 years, I thought I knew exactly what to expect, but I was wrong. My husband had to go to the store six times in 36 hours to buy things I wasn’t told I needed,” she said.

As a consultant in the field, Gail prides herself on giving sound advice for the person undergoing surgery—advice that includes what to have in the house upon return. She feels that gathering all the necessary items are a must and gives a list of things to have available for postoperative recovery:

  • Lots of pillows
  • Mouthwash
  • Safe skin care products
  • A stool softener
  • Over-the-counter sleeping aids
  • Soft foods and water
  • Flexible straws
  • Hand-held shower
  • Telephone with a speaker
  • Lubricating eye drops
  • All of your prescription drugs
  • Frozen compresses
  • Lots of patience and a sense of humor.

Recovery Time

Recovery time largely depends on the type of surgery performed. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, recovery periods for some of the more common procedures are as follows:

Eyelid Surgery—can be up and moving by the second day without help. With sunglasses you may get out of the house on the 3 rd or 4 th day-and with make-up return to work within 5-7 days.

Facelift Surgery—can get around independently by day 2. Don’t feel comfortable going out it public for 5-7 days and will probably take up to 2 weeks to get back to work.

Breast Surgery—in most cases can be moving on your own in 2 days. Can return to work between 5-7 days without any heavy lifting.

Liposuction—can get around on your own within 2 days depending on the area covered in surgery and return to work within 5-7 days.

Abdominoplasty—Patients will take between 2-4 days to get around. Recovery is almost identical to a C-section. One can return to a desk job within 5-7 days and all other jobs 10-14 days.

The Patient’s Role

The plastic surgeon gives patients instructions on eating, changing bandages and other related issues. Gail advises plastic surgeons to tell their patients “everything…no surprises please!”

Still, the patient is ultimately responsible for her/his own comfort after surgery and this often requires being prepared beforehand too!

(Article by: Donna Corrado)

Considering plastic surgery? Learn more about your options from a board certified plastic surgeon near you.


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