Can We Speed This Up, Please?

Saturday, 30 June 2018 07:46

Keystone Cosmetic Surgery Center

0 Comments

We like life to be easy. For the most part, the middle-aged and young adults of today grew up in an era where getting what they wanted was relatively easy. Hungry? Pop a pot-pie in the microwave! Even now, those who wish to address the signs of aging needn’t wait any longer than they would for lunch to be delivered to see a fresh new face in the mirror. The point is, life is easier today than it ever has been. It’s no surprise, then, to realize that plastic surgery patients are interested in know how they can speed up their recovery.

Surgery is surgery, so regardless of the technique used during any particular cosmetic surgery procedure, there will be some downtime for recovery. Sure, some procedures may need more time than others; a tummy tuck may ask you to do very little for the first few days and then will allow you to gradually recover over several weeks, whereas a mid-face lift may have you back to your usual routine within a week. However, because surgery is surgery, recovery is also recovery. Here, we offer some tips on maximizing your recovery no matter what procedure lies ahead.

One of the most important notes we can make about surgical recovery is that it actually begins before any work is done. Pre-op instructions aren’t mere suggestions; they are steps that will lead you into your surgery day with the fullest capability to heal well. Post-operative instructions are a complement to the initial guidelines, reducing the risks of complications after surgery.

If you are interested in reducing risks and promoting expedited healing, we encourage you to follow the instructions provided to you as strictly as possible. General tips for post-surgical healing include:

• Stop using tobacco. The more time you can avoid tobacco before surgery the better. Smoking inhibits oxygenation of tissues and is, therefore, one of the worst habits to continue, especially before surgery. In short, if you smoke, you will not heal as quickly from surgery, and you will face more significant risks for complications.
• Avoid alcohol. Ideally, alcohol consumption will cease a few weeks before surgery. Like tobacco, alcoholic beverages have been associated with slower healing times.
• Certain medications and supplements will also need to be avoided before and after surgery. We will provide you with a full list of products, which include vitamin E and aspirin, two supplements known to thin the blood.
• We cannot stress this enough. We live in a day and age where rest is hardly acceptable. After surgery, your entire recovery can go more smoothly if you allow a few days for the complete devotion to rest; that means mind and body.
• This may sound contradictory, but it’s really not. While the majority of your time after surgery should be spent catering to your need for rest, it is also beneficial to walk for short distances, as in around the house only. Moving every hour or so keeps blood circulating so blood clots do not form.

There are several ways to make the most of your surgical recovery. First, we need to discuss how to make the most of your appearance. Call our Pottsville or Hazleton office to learn more.