Many people get plastic surgery during the holiday season due to the cold weather and time off from work. The cooler temperatures make staying indoors more comfortable and convenient, and most employers allow vacations during this time.
However, if you’re planning to have any cosmetic surgery during the holidays, you should know the proper after-surgery home care to heal it faster. This guide to recovery will walk you through different tips to take care of yourself at home after surgery.
Holiday Recovery Tips for Plastic Surgeries
Whether you need a nose job, facelift, or Brazilian butt lift recovery, the following post-op recovery tips will help you heal over the holidays.
Stay in Touch With Your Doctor
Work closely with your doctor for your plastic surgery recovery by keeping in touch while at home. Make sure to know how and when to contact your doctor if you have any questions, concerns, or emergencies.
If your doctor is also away for the holidays, ask for another physician to contact in case anything happens. Also, take note of any follow-ups or check-up tests you need to take after your surgery.
Follow Your Doctor’s Post-op Recovery Instructions
Your best guide to recovery is your doctor’s instructions. Side effects, bruises, or pains can take effect immediately after your operation. So, take note of post-operative instructions, and follow them diligently to avoid any issues during rest.
Depending on the gravity of your surgery, you could receive highly detailed and restrictive instructions. For example, some instructions require you to avoid full baths or only do deep-breathing exercises.
Meanwhile, the most common instructions include cleaning the wounds or scars, covering them with a clean cloth, keeping them dry, and taking your medications on time. If some instructions are unclear or questionable, don’t hesitate to ask and clarify your concerns. Most surgeons will also recommend you wear a compression garment while you recover.
Wear a Compression Garment
Compression garments are essential for your recovery. These medical-grade garments optimize the healing process, and there’s basically no end to the benefits they provide.
The benefits of the ContourMD compression garments include maximizing the healing potential and providing increased comfort and circulation. They help prevent the formation of fluid (also known as seromas) to heal down the underlying tissues. Compression garments give support as well as control the body’s natural healing ability by compressing the layers of skin, so they can properly heal together. And, they can improve the appearance of scarring and help your body adapt to its new shape while reducing the risk of your body developing a lax appearance. Overall, compression garments provide smoother, tighter, and more attractive surgical results.
Prepare a Recovery-Ready Home
Having proper after-surgery home care relies on a well-prepared environment. Ideally, you want to prepare your home ahead of time so that it’s ready once you leave the hospital. If that’s not possible, seek the help of your family and friends to arrange a recovery-ready home.
Some of the things to prepare beforehand include:
- Restocking your pantry with groceries and supplies
- Buying your prescribed medicines
- Getting a wound care kit, blood pressure device, thermometer, and other equipment you’ll need
- Having a cane or wheelchair
- Decluttering your home
- Placing non-skid mats
- Preparing clean and comfortable bedding
If possible, you may want to transfer to a room nearest to the bathroom while recovering. It’ll make bathing and going to the toilet more convenient, especially if you can’t move well.
Ultimately, make your home safer and more comfortable to prevent accidents and keep you stress-free.
Have Someone Care For You
Moving around or functioning for your daily needs can be difficult, depending on your surgery. It’s better to ask a family member or friend to help take care of you for a stress-free and speedy cosmetic surgery recovery.
Right from the start, you’ll need someone to drive you home and help you settle down. When you feel sore, it’s convenient to have someone apply medication or help you ease it. You’ll also need support for cooking, cleaning, bathing, dressing up, and running errands in the following days.
If you don’t have anyone to help you, consider getting home care services from your hospital or local caregiver service.
Drink Plenty of Water
Keeping yourself hydrated after the surgery is essential to replenish the fluids you lost during the procedure. Aside from this, drinking more water allows you to flush out the anesthesia left in your system.
If you’re also taking pain medications, you’ll feel constipated. More water intake will help stimulate bowel movement, soften stool, and relieve constipation.
Ultimately, water will keep your digestion working normally and reduce any discomfort post-surgery. So, aim to drink at least 8 ounces (2 liters) of water or more each day for better recovery.
Similarly, try to eat healthy and balanced meals during this period to give your body enough nutrients and energy to recuperate.
Avoid Direct Sun Exposure
One important plastic surgery recovery tip you should follow is avoiding direct exposure to the sun. The UV rays from the sun can damage your skin or scar tissue. Also, exposing your skin incisions to sunlight can create hypertrophic scarring.
Minimize sun exposure by wearing sunblock, staying indoors, covering the incisions with a cloth if possible, and closing your curtains or windows.
Also, if you’re wearing compression garments, avoid excessive heat to prevent yourself from sweating in your clothes. Too much sun exposure can also dehydrate you, so staying indoors is highly recommended during your recovery.
Don’t Push Yourself and Relax
During cosmetic surgery recovery, rest is the most important part of your healing process. Unless your doctor says so, avoid overexertion and intense exercise. Strenuous physical activity can irritate or damage fresh wounds, sutures, or incisions.
Instead of moving around, allow your body to recuperate by relaxing. If your body craves physical activity, stick with walking, deep-breathing exercises, or any light activity permitted by your doctor.
If you’re bored, try to read a book while resting or finally watch your favorite series or movies on Netflix. Overall, you should take this time to relax and keep your mind off of things as you recuperate.
To Wrap Up
After surgery, you’ll notice some scarring or swelling. So, proper after-surgery care is necessary for a painless and fast recovery. As long as you follow your doctor’s instructions and our tips above, you don’t have to worry about complications, and you’ll see your surgery’s full results in no time.
However, remember that healing time varies depending on your surgery. So, take time to rest for a complete recovery. We hope these tips will help you heal faster and become more confident with your new look.
