July 11, 2024Once you have decided to have major cosmetic surgery, you may start to worry about what recovery will be like after your procedure. Your body will require extra pampering to heal well, but do not assume that your recovery time is going to be a miserable experience! One important trick to a great recovery is to prepare for it before your surgery. Good preparation helps avoid future difficulties.
It is ideal to know as much about the recovery process as you can. The staff and board-certified and board-eligible plastic surgeons at North Texas Plastic Surgery will gladly answer all your questions because we want you to feel comfortable and prepared.
Before Surgery
Being prepared for your recovery in the days before surgery can make all the difference when it comes to your physical and mental health.
Caretaking
Think of any people and pets you routinely care for. You will not be able to help them for at least a few days, and potentially longer depending on the type of surgery you have. Arrange care for younger children or older adults you routinely watch over. Be sure your teens have reliable transportation to and from activities, and line up dog walkers or a cat box cleaner. Do not wait until after surgery to try to find help.
Medications
Be sure to have all your prescription medications filled and waiting at home for you. We will provide your prescriptions for postop pain medications before the day of surgery. Any other medications that you routinely take also need to be available at home. Ask for easy-to-remove lids for pill bottles so that you will not need to struggle with tricky child-proof lids.
Eating and Drinking
If you cannot arrange for help with food during your recovery, you can do some meal prep work a few days before your surgery. Fruits and vegetables are important to keep your GI track running smoothly. If you plan to use a microwave to reheat or cook in, get a countertop model to use for a month or so. Reaching a microwave above your stove may be impossible, or at least uncomfortable.
You need to stay well hydrated during the days after your surgery. Stock up on water and low sugar electrolyte containing fluids such as Gatorade zero.
Personal Hygiene
Stock up on spray deodorant, dry shampoo, and face wipes. These can make it easier to stay clean and fresh until you are able to take a hot shower. For those with long hair, we recommend braiding it on the day of your surgery, then leave it in the braid for the first few days after surgery. For shorter hair, know how you will wear your hair until you can tolerate styling it. Many patients find that they want the help of a trusted friend or family member when it comes to personal grooming for the first days after surgery.
Clothing
Get all your laundry done before surgery and aim to have clothing that is easy to slip on and off. Elastic waistbands and zipper or button front tops should be your mainstays for the first few weeks. It will be good to have easy slip-on shoes as well.
In cases of breast surgery or body surgery, you will be wearing special compression garments. Try to have at least two of any special garments so that you can wear one while the other is being washed and dried.
Setting Up a Recovery Space
Gather up extra pillows to support your body in comfortable positions. Make sure your house is clean ahead of time and consider arranging for a friend or family member to help with housecleaning for the first month after surgery.
The Day of Surgery
You will be having your surgery at our private in-office surgical facility in Southlake. Most of our patients go home the same day, but if we expect to keep you overnight, you will know before the procedure. No matter when you leave for home, you will need a driver. If you stay overnight, we ask that your driver pick you up between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. the next morning.
Have your car ready for the trip home with a bottle of water, warm blankets, a pillow or two, and old towels or Chuk pads to cover seats so they will not become soiled. If you are worried about nausea or vomiting on the ride home, be sure to have a sickness bag available.
When you go home on the same day as your surgery, you will need someone who can stay with you overnight. You may need help going to the bathroom and with other activities.
Be sure that you have comfortable clothing that is easy to take on and off, such as elastic waistband pants and loose button or zipper front tops.
The Days After Surgery
You will want to start moving as soon as you can. This means simply walking, not strenuous exercise. The goal should be that you are up and walking a minimum of 5 minutes every hour while you are awake. This is critical to prevent blood clots, restore your bowel function and get your body back to normal as quickly as possible.
Pain Medications
Always use pain medications to your advantage, and take something that allows you to get up and move around with little to no discomfort. At first, you will want the stronger, narcotic pain medications, but soon you will be fine with over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. We will provide you with a schedule of recommended pain relievers on the day of your surgery.
Managing Incisions
You will be given instructions on how to care for your incisions. If you develop any problems, such as oozing fluid, please call and we will provide guidance. If you have drains, you will also be taught how to take care of them. Jackson-Pratt drains are easy to care for and their small size make them easy to carry with you as you start walking.
You will leave our in-office surgical facility wearing a compression garment and compression hose. Keep your compression hose on for at least 48 hours after surgery, and longer if instructed, depending on the type of surgery you had. You will also keep the compression garment on for at least 48 hours after surgery. After that, you will want to wear this garment for three weeks, 24 hours a day (except when bathing), then wear the garment for the following three weeks, 12 hours a day.
Call Our Team for More Tips on Making an Easy Plastic Surgery Recovery
You will always be able to reach someone at North Texas Plastic Surgery for help, whether it is your surgeon’s cell phone number or our KLARA app where you can access our nursing staff. You can ask any questions and even upload pictures to the app. We also routinely see each patient via a virtual visit 24 to 48 hours after surgery.
We want you to have the smoothest recovery possible, so reach out to us today!
