5 Things You Need to Know About Plastic Surgery Aftercare

1. Follow Doctor's Orders

Rest and recuperate according to your plastic surgeon's instructions. Most major procedures such as rhinoplasty, require a few days of hospital care before the patient can go home. Doctors sometimes prescribe antibiotics or painkillers if plastic surgery recovery involves extensive healing time.

2. Daily Activities to Avoid

Your doctor may recommend nixing all strenuous activities after plastic surgery, such as contact sports, major housecleaning like scrubbing floors and lifting heavy objects. You should also avoid drinking alcohol and smoking, as they impede the body's healing ability. It's also hard to predict how your body will respond to the simplest cosmetic procedure until its over, so a friend or relative will need to drive you home. You should take it easy for two to three weeks after the surgery. Avoid air travel and any stressful activities during this time.

3. Care for Bandaged and Bruised Areas

Change bandages and dressings every so often to prevent infection. You may dab any stitches with a healing ointment if your doctor recommends it. Change dressings carefully and keep the area clean. Use an ice pack on swollen or bruised areas, and consult your surgeon if it takes longer than two weeks for the swelling to subside.

4. Get Back on Schedule

You'll need to rest for a while after plastic or cosmetic surgery, but it's important to get out of bed and walk as soon as possible after the procedure to get your strength back. Have someone help you out of bed, if necessary, and increase your time out of bed until you feel strong enough to resume a moderate daily schedule. If your work a desk job, you can return to work in a week or two. If you job requires physical stamina, like a singer, bus driver, etc. you should wait three weeks before resuming work.

5. Be Patient, Then Beautiful

It usually takes about six weeks for the body to fully recover from plastic surgery before you can resume normal activities. If you have scars from the surgery, they sometimes take up to a year to heal. Use one of the scar fading creams on the market to diminish the appearance of a scar, or ask your doctor for advice on fading the scar quickly. You should take showers for the first week or two following cosmetic surgery, then resume taking baths.