By Dr. Asif Pirani

What distinguishes a successful cosmetic surgery from one plagued with complications? There are two factors that are massive contributors to your overall outcome:

Healthy Surgery Recovery

How skilled your surgeon is
How well prepared you are for post-operative care

If I were to ask you which one is more important, it’s likely that you’d automatically say “Oh, the surgeon of course!”. To a certain extent you are right, a skilled surgeon is crucial to the success of your operation.

However, what is more important is how prepared you are post-operation. Did you know that most surgical complications are caused by post-operative negligence, not mistakes in the operating room?

After undergoing cosmetic surgery, knowing what to do and when or how to do it is crucial for having a healthy and speedy recovery.

Before the operation your surgeon will walk you through the whole process, but here is a brief overview of what you should expect as part of your post-operative care:

Be Extra Gentle On Your Body

Avoid heavy lifting for 2-3 weeks.
A good rule of thumb is to not lift anything heavier than 9 pounds as it can cause your external stitches to break.
Engage in light exercise, such as walking, to reduce swelling and to avoid blood clots.
Keep the affected area elevated for 2-3 days in order to minimize swelling.

About Pain & Swelling

Your surgeon will prescribe pain medications to alleviate any discomfort or pain.
Taking your medications on time will help with soreness/stiffness.
Follow the daily incision-care routine as outlined by your doctor to prevent discomfort.

Nutrition

Make sure you stay hydrated – drink plenty of water and liquids such as Gatorade, chicken broth, and of course, water.
Avoid taking the following medications or supplements: Aspirin, Vitamin E, Ginkgo Biloba, St. Johns Wart, or Ibuprofen two weeks prior to or one week following your surgery, unless otherwise noted by your doctor.
Don’t smoke, drink alcohol or coffee as it may slow down the recovery process.
If pain medications cause constipation, you should take mild laxatives, stool softeners, prunes, or fruit juices.

Your Surgeon

It is essential that you have a good comfort level with your surgeon and other staff members.
Make sure they have answered all your questions and addressed your concerns.
Don’t forget to book a follow-up appointment one week after your surgery.

Healing

You should make proper arrangements – make sure there is someone to take care of you or people who are dependent on you.
Sleep! This is one of the best ways to speed up recovery.
Most important of all: Be prepared. Preparation not only lowers anxiety, but also improves the quality of your results and experience.

Are you ready to discuss how you might benefit from cosmetic surgery? Take the first step and book a confidential consultation with Dr. Pirani today!