11 Apr Post-Op Recovery: 4 Ways To Reduce Pain & Speed Healing After Plastic Surgery
Ace Plastic Surgery Recovery With These Tips
For many people, cosmetic surgery is a big life decision. Whether to improve the body profile and boost confidence or fix an area of the body that causes insecurity, individuals should remember that plastic surgery is still a major operation. Depending on the procedure performed, recovery can look different for each individual. One of the biggest hurdles most recovering patients will face is swelling, followed by pain and discomfort in the initial post-surgical period. Still, there are a few smart tips people can incorporate during the recovery period to speed healing and bring relief.
1. Get plenty of rest
Just like recovering from an illness, rest is recommended. Attempting to get back to normal life too soon can lead to pain, make swelling worse, or even delay full recovery. Rest is considered one of the single most important tasks a recovering patient can do. Surgeons typically recommend that people avoid lifting heavy items or returning to intense activities like high-impact exercises or strenuous workplace roles prematurely. Depending on the operation performed, some patients may be limited to strict bed rest immediately following surgery. In most cases, people should also avoid side sleeping, which can worsen swelling, and instead shift to back sleeping while keeping the head elevated.
2. Don’t smoke
The average person knows that smoking, in general, is bad for overall health. However, when combined with post-surgical recovery, consuming tobacco products can prolong healing or lead to unexpected outcomes. A recent study conducted in Japan followed a cohort undergoing elective surgery that included nonsmokers as well as a segment that did smoke. The study lasted for a month, and in the end, researchers discovered that the smoking group had more post-surgical complications than the nonsmoking group. The moral of the story is that before undergoing surgery, consider quitting smoking to improve overall outcomes. If necessary, take advantage of any local smoking cessation programs or tools to help control cravings and the risk of relapsing.
3. Make ice packs a regular habit
Regardless of the type of surgery a person undergoes, swelling is an unavoidable part of the recovery process. Along with resting, icing the surgical site can be beneficial in two ways. Ice packs work like a numbing agent to reduce swelling, but also blunt pain. Be prepared to frequently apply ice in the early recovery phase. Some surgeons will recommend 40-minute increments with 20-minute breaks between each session. However, always use a towel or cloth to prevent placing ice or ice packs directly on bare skin.
4. Adopt a healthy diet
Don’t underestimate the importance a nutritious diet can play in speeding healing. Along with being tasty, a meal plan full of nutrient-dense foods can help boost the body’s ability to recover faster. Factors such as staying hydrated, limiting salt intake, and prioritizing whole foods that are baked or sauteed over processed or fried can do wonders. Likewise, cut back on alcohol while in recovery.
Be smart during recovery
Two factors that directly impact plastic surgery outcomes are the quality of the doctor and patient behavior during recovery. People are always urged to follow a doctor’s orders to avoid complications and return to normal life faster.