Do’s And Don’ts Of Plastic Surgery: A Guide

A lot of people who decide to have some plastic surgery done have a lot of questions before the big day. Your surgeon wants you to be at ease and to feel comfortable before your surgical appointment. Read on to find out some main do’s and don’ts of cosmetic surgery.

☑ Do’s

1. Get a complete physical and medical history. Before surgery it’s important to visit your family doctor to have a physical and to go over your complete medical history. His or her opinion should be heavily considered to decide if you are healthy enough for the procedure(s).

2. Have realistic expectations. You may want Angelina Jolie’s lips but it’s really not realistic to think you’ll end up looking like your favourite celebrity. It could be that Angie’s lips just wouldn’t look good on you given the anatomy of your face. A good plastic surgeon will be able to look at you and tell you the best options that will give you the most natural-looking results. Your goal is to have the new feature look in proportion to the rest of your face.

3. Maintain a healthy weight prior to surgery. If you plan on losing some weight, do it before the surgery. Fluctuations in weight after surgery can cause volume changes, which can wreak havoc on surgery results. It’s also important to maintain a healthy weight after your surgery in order to get the best results.

4. Plan to have time off. You could technically go back to work after a long weekend, depending on the procedure, but most patients prefer to take at least a week off, and sometimes more. After the first week, your bandages and stitches will be gone but it can take up to two weeks before someone close to you won’t be able to tell you had anything done.

5. Don’t make the price the primary factor. Many plastic surgeons have had to fix the mistakes of cheaper “economy” cosmetic surgeons. If price is stopping you, save for the procedure or look into financing options.

6. Drink plenty of water. Drink at least four litres the day before your surgery. After surgery, keep up with your fluid intake because you will feel much better if you are properly hydrated.

7. Be careful while showering after the surgery. Shower the night before your surgery and in the morning of the surgery. Washing with soap will reduce the amount of bacteria on your skin, which will help lower your risk of infection. Gently shower the day after surgery to keep your incisions clean and dry. Don’t scrub the incision; just let the water gently fall on the area.

8. Use ice properly. Apply an ice bag with water to the area after surgery to help reduce your swelling, pain, and bruising. For more resources on plastic surgery, you may like to visit Plastic Surgery Info for additional resources and information.

☒ Don’ts

1. Do not use ice after fat graft injections because it will reduce the graft survival.

2. Don’t take aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid or ASA) or ibuprofen. These medications reduce the functions of the platelets in your blood, which can cause more bruising and bleeding.

3. Don’t smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol in the two to three weeks before or after surgery. Cigarettes and anesthesia don’t mix well. Smoking impacts the ability of your blood to carry oxygen, and can decrease blood flow to the surgical area. This can prevent proper healing. Alcohol dehydrates you, which can cause extra swelling, and acts as a blood thinner, which can cause more bleeding.

4. Don’t tan your scars. Contrary to what you might think, tanning will make your scars stand out even more.

5. Don’t judge your results for at least six months. Swelling is normal and will take some time fun disappear fully. Be patient for the final results.