How to Rapidly Recover from Plastic Surgery

OP. DR. YUNUS DOĞAN

How to Rapidly Recover from Plastic Surgery

If you’re reading this and you’ve just had plastic surgery, something probably hurts. There’s an incision or some swelling or you can barely see over your rhinoplasty splint; whatever your ailment, your mind is on healing now. You want to get past the pain and get to the good stuff, the tight clothes, the new bras, being able to stand up straight… . Your list of desires now ranges from raising your arms above your head to showing off your new booty. And you want these things NOW.

In short, here’s how you do it:

• Lay off the sauce and smokes, at least temporarily.
• Feed your body the good stuff. Focus on nutrition.
• Listen to your doctor’s advice and follow that aftercare plan. Ask questions if you’re confused.
• Listen to your body when it tells you to rest.

Read further for more detail or just take the bulleted list and run/shuffle with it. You want rapid recovery so maybe you don’t even have the six minutes to read this whole article. Good luck either way.

Lay off the sauce and smokes

Hopefully you were told to stop drinking alcohol and smoking for some time prior to your surgery. Alcohol consumption prior to surgery can lead to complications during and after your procedure. It interferes with your blood’s ability to clot, increasing your chances of losing too much in the operating room.

Drinking alcohol after surgery can be dangerous in terms of interactions between the alcohol and your medications. It widens blood vessels, increasing your chance of swelling during a time when your body might already be swollen. Alcohol will also dehydrate you at the time when your body needs water the most.

Smoking decreases blood flow, which makes it difficult for surgical wounds to close, let alone heal properly. Smoking increases your risk of infection and it weakens your immune system at the exact time you need it the most, when you’re vulnerable and trying to heal. Smoking is associated with hypersensitive airway reflexes and may require you to use more anesthesia during surgery, which leaves you more susceptible to anesthesia-related complications.

It’s in your best interest to completely quit smoking altogether. It puts unnecessary stress on your heart, affecting your blood pressure. It reduces blood and tissue oxygen levels, which can lead to fatal heart and brain damage. Smoking can affect the way your body processes pain signals, resulting in an increased level of pain.

Focus on nutrition

Your body is a (newly upgraded) machine. It needs fuel, not junk food. While you might crave comfort food to get you through any pain you feel, patients who opt for good, lean protein heal faster. If you’re not vegetarian or vegan, this means eggs, chicken breast and other lean animal proteins. If you don’t eat meat, rely on your familiar protein sources such as beans, tofu, lentils, quinoa, nuts and seeds. If you’re not quite up for cooking yet, there are more convenient sources such as yogurt, protein shakes and bars. Read the nutrition labels and be mindful of how much salt and added sugar is included.

Protein aside, fill your plate with fresh fruits and vegetables. The Best Fruit - capital letters intended for emphasis - for you, regardless of your surgery, is fresh pineapple and 100% pineapple juice. Pineapple is an excellent source of bromelain, an anti-inflammatory agent. Fresh pineapple and pure juice will reduce pain and swelling. Again, read that juice label. If it has added sugar, opt for fresh pineapple instead.

You may have been told to “eat the rainbow” when it comes to vegetables and it’s solid advice. Different-colored vegetables have their own benefits. TheKey, a home-based caregiving company in the US has an excellent post about what to eat after surgery and why. It’s worth the extra time to read their article too. Trust.

You’ll need something to wash down all this delicious food and the best drink for your body is water. Aim to drink at least two liters of water a day. Water will keep your body hydrated; it regulates your body temperature, aids vital cell growth and flushes waste and toxins out.

Follow your doctor’s aftercare plan

Your doctor and his or her team will have a plan tailor-made for you to follow, based on the type(s) of surgery you’ve had. You may receive different instructions for a BBL compared to a tummy tuck so it’s important to read for detail. This plan will include medications you need for healing, timelines for how long to wear any compression garments and when you can begin or resume physical activity. Lymphatic massage may be recommended to help your body drain excess fluids. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your doctor’s plan, don’t hesitate to ask someone from the team.

Listen to your body

Unless it wants Doritos. Rest is very important for your body to generate new cells and repair any damaged ones. Structurally speaking, if you’ve had a repaired or enhanced body part, it might need some down time to heal before you start moving and shaking it. That being said, you do need to move your body every day to promote good circulation and reduce swelling. Very light to moderate walks help move that aforementioned lymphatic fluid around so it can drain from your body. Motivate yourself for daily walks and understand you may need to rest frequently. That’s ok. Moving your body is just as important as resting it.

The last stitch

You’ve already taken a big step toward a happier, healthier you by having surgery. Maintain that momentum by making better decisions and improving your health every day. If you can’t completely quit drinking alcohol and smoking now, make small but positive changes. Eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water. Adhere to that aftercare plan as if your new life depends on it. Find a balance between pushing yourself to be active and giving yourself grace to rest and heal.