The Day After Cosmetic Surgery
The extent of recovery required after cosmetic surgery depends
on many factors--most importantly the type of surgery. In this
article we'll focus on what to expect after facial procedures.
Facial surgeries tend to cause a lot of swelling, and it is
crucial that you keep ice packs on the surgical sites as
instructed by your plastic surgeon (probably for the first 24
hours). Patients who don't use ice packs as instructed often
come into the office the next day with their heads resembling a
basketball. The difference in swelling with or without ice packs
is extreme.
The doctor will remove the bandages and maybe some packing to
examine the surgical sites. He or she will clean the wounds,
check for any usual bleeding, redness, swelling, or other
concerns. You will be given instructions on how to care for the
wounds at home. If you have sutures that will need to be
removed, you'll be given an appointment for 3-7 days post op.
Keeping facial sutures in longer can increase the visibility of
scars, so they will be removed very soon and the wound openings
will be held shut with a special reinforced tape (called
steri-strips) until complete healing occurs.
Depending on the surgery, you may not be allowed to wash your
hair for a few days, so be prepared to feel grungy and try not
to let it get to you. You can help keep your hair clean by
applying powder to the roots away from surgical sites and
brushing it through your hair. You will probably be instructed
to forgo cosmetics for several days as well. Cosmetics are an
excellent breeding ground for bacteria, so take these
instructions seriously.
If you are undergoing nasal surgery, be mentally prepared to be
miserable for a few days. Your nose will be tightly packed with
gauze and surgical dressing, which can be pretty uncomfortable.
It's difficult to breathe, and your throat may be uncomfortable
from drainage. Just remember that it is only for a short
time...and keep focused on the results that are making the
process worthwhile.
The most important variable to recovery that you can control is
attitude. For example, one week I saw two ladies who had
undergone identical breast surgeries. One came into the office
the next day dressed nicely with makeup on and a smile on her
face. She was very sore and uncomfortable, but chose to enjoy
the day anyway. The next day the other lady came in literally
pushed in a wheelchair by her husband. She was wearing a robe
and slippers, and she moaned and groaned like she was dying.
Both patients ended up with excellent results, but it's obvious
that one had a pleasant recovery and one did not. We choose our
attitudes every day, sometimes in spite of what is happening to
and around us. Your frame of mind and perspective can actually
affect the level of pain you experience. We can make ourselves
sick, and we can make ourselves hurt, just by using our brains
and minds destructively. This is a good lesson to learn for
every day life--not just for the day after cosmetic surgery.