When patients decide to move forward with plastic surgery, they’re always excited to see the results. Understandably, they also have questions and concerns about recovery. It’s true that recovery has its challenges – but the good news is that those challenges can be managed and minimized with careful preparation.
At the Florida Center for Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, we craft a personalized treatment plan for every patient. That treatment plan begins long before your surgery date. From your very first consultation, we strategically work not only to achieve your goals, but to do so in a way that leaves you feeling supported, cared for, and comfortable every step of the way.
Every patient is different, but here are some of the key preparatory steps we tend to suggest with our most popular procedures.
1. Facelift
The facelift has long been one of the most popular and sought-after plastic surgeries, and for good reason: it works. A facelift can address a wide variety of age-related skin concerns, including double chins, a sagging neck, and sagging cheeks.
Sometimes, patients put off a facelift because they’re nervous about the recovery. But more often than not, patients who take the proper steps to prepare are surprised by how quickly they recover, and also by how dramatic their results really are. We hear the words “I wish I did this years ago!” so often.
If you’d love a younger and more toned look, here’s what we suggest. Schedule a consultation for a facelift, and then follow our personalized preparation suggestions to a “T.” We often recommend:
- A Good Skincare Routine: Healthy skin heals faster. Make sure you’re using a mild cleanser, moisturizing daily, and applying sunscreen every morning.
- A Healthy Diet: Eat your fruits and vegetables, drink plenty of water, and avoid overly processed foods when possible. Healthy skin is built from the inside out, and good nutrition will help you heal after surgery.
- Minimizing Sun Exposure: The sun is not kind to skin. While it’s always good to minimize sun exposure, doing so is especially wise before any facial surgery, including a facelift.
- Taking Time Off: You’ll heal faster and with less pain if you take the time to relax and let your body heal after a facelift. It’s not “just your face” – it’s skin and muscles that you use every minute of every day, and they deserve a rest.
- Asking for Help: Even after a facelift, it’s wise to have a friend or family member around to help you, even if only for a few days. Having someone else prepare your meals, help you change bandages, and accompany you to post-op appointments is key to a smooth recovery.
2. Tummy Tuck
You use your abdominal and core muscles more than you realize. This becomes immediately obvious when you are recovering from a tummy tuck. You reach for a drink by your bedside, try to change your shirt, or even attempt to brush your teeth, and suddenly notice your core is involved in all these daily movements!
While tummy tuck recovery does present challenges, we cannot over-emphasize how life-changing this procedure is for many of our patients:
- Mothers who thought their bodies were forever changed are able to reclaim their self-confidence.
- Patients who have lost dozens of pounds or more are able to fully realize the results of their weight loss once their excess abdominal skin is removed.
But with all that said, recovering from a tummy tuck is serious business. We always start planning for recovery the very same day we start planning for surgery.
Following a tummy tuck, you will need to take at least several weeks off from work, and more if you have a physical job. We suggest planning ahead and keeping your employer in the loop from the beginning so that you can give your body the rest you need.
You will also need someone to help you at home after a tummy tuck. Make sure friends and family members are prepared to support you for at least a couple of weeks post-op. You’ll need a lot of help during the first few days, and then you’ll gradually regain your independence and abilities over the next few weeks. You’ll also have several post-op checkups after a tummy tuck, so make sure you have someone who can reliably drive you to appointments.
This is the most important of our plastic surgery recovery tips: maintain healthy habits.
If your doctor has set a weight loss goal for you to meet, treat it like your top priority. Eat nutritious meals and stay active. A well-nourished body is a well-healing body, and being physically fit really helps when healing from any major procedure. Fitness is associated with better circulation, lower blood pressure, and a reduced risk of infection, which are all desirable for tummy tuck patients.
3. Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation is sometimes written off as an overly vain or unnecessary procedure. But after working with countless patients over the years, we can confidently say it’s anything but. It’s incredible how much taller our patients stand after a breast augmentation. They enter the room with confidence. They interview with more presence. They’re able to transform both their personal and professional lives because they feel more comfortable and confident in their own skin.
Many breast augmentation patients feel a mixture of excitement and nervousness as their surgical dates approach. That’s normal. We encourage them to prepare for their recovery, which generally helps them feel more self-assured and positive about their decision.
Breast augmentation recovery is shorter than recovery from a tummy tuck, liposuction, or even a facelift. Many patients are back to work within a week, back in the gym within a few weeks, and completely back to normal within three months. Still, this procedure deals with a rather delicate part of the body, so some preparation is absolutely advised.
Compression garments will be your friend, especially during the early stages of recovery. Your surgical team can recommend a few options, which somewhat depend on your bust size and the type of augmentation you’ve chosen. We also suggest buying a few pieces of clothing suited to your post-surgical size. This not only ensures you have something fitting to wear after those first few days of bed rest, but also gives you something to look forward to. Seeing yourself in a top or dress that would once have looked too baggy can make the discomfort of recovery feel worthwhile.
Of course, we also suggest scheduling time off work, enlisting a few friends or family members to support you, and stocking up on nutritious foods to ensure a smooth recovery after surgery. Take care of any more physical tasks, like deep-cleaning your home or planting your garden, in advance of your plastic surgery. This way, you won’t be tempted to do these things when you really should be resting.
People often think of their plastic surgery journey as beginning on the day of the operation. We have a different perspective. We think of your surgical journey as beginning on the day of your consultation. Whether or not you ultimately schedule a procedure, that’s when Dr. DeMercurio and his staff start planning for the post-operative care plastic surgery requires. We want you to not only love your results, but be comfortable with the whole process, which is why we have the plastic surgery preparation Ormond Beach residents can’t stop talking about.
So, are you ready for a transformation? Whether you’re considering a tummy tuck, a facelift, breast augmentation, or even liposuction, we’d be happy to discuss your goals and options, including pre-operative tips for cosmetic surgery. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and discover for yourself why Dr. DeMercurio and his team are renowned not only for great results, but also for personalized care.