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Deciding on a surgery date is crucial when planning cosmetic surgery, but have you set enough time for recovery before returning to your daily activities? This article provides information about the downtime, precautions, and preparations you should make for aesthetic surgery.
PREOPERATIVE PLANNING
Setting aside time for recovery is essential when undergoing plastic surgery. You will need follow-up doctor’s appointments and wound dressing during the healing period. Mild swelling and bruises are the main reasons people take time off after surgery. The downtime required for daily activities varies depending on the surgical procedure and the surgeon. Your medical or surgical history may also influence it. However, the typical rest time(days below table) for aesthetic surgery is as follows:
| Washing face | Shower, shampooing | Walking, Light activities | Return to work, Makeup | Contact lens, Light exercise | Moderate exercise, Social meeting | Look good in a photo, Seen at an important event | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-incisional double fold, Aesthetic canthoplasty, Thread lift | Washing face1 | Shower, shampooing1 | Walking, Light activities1 | Return to work, Makeup3~5 | Contact lens, Light exercise5~7 | Moderate exercise, Social meeting7 | Look good in a photo, Seen at an important event10~15 |
| Incisional double fold, Ptosis correction, Upper blepharoplasty, Lower blepharoplasty, Infrabrow excision | Washing face1~3 | Shower, shampooing1~3 | Walking, Light activities1~2 | Return to work, Makeup7~10 | Contact lens, Light exercise15 | Moderate exercise, Social meeting20 | Look good in a photo, Seen at an important event30 |
| Lower blepharoplasty (conjunctiva incision) | Washing face1 | Shower, shampooing1 | Walking, Light activities1~2 | Return to work, Makeup3 | Contact lens, Light exercise15 | Moderate exercise, Social meeting15 | Look good in a photo, Seen at an important event20 |
| Rhinoplasty (open) | Washing face2~3 | Shower, shampooing3~5 | Walking, Light activities1~2 | Return to work, Makeup7~10 | Contact lens, Light exercise15 | Moderate exercise, Social meeting20 | Look good in a photo, Seen at an important event30 |
| Forehead lift | Washing face0~1 | Shower, shampooing3 | Walking, Light activities1~2 | Return to work, Makeup5~10 | Contact lens, Light exercise3 | Moderate exercise, Social meeting15 | Look good in a photo, Seen at an important event30 |
| Facelift | Washing face2~3 | Shower, shampooing3~5 | Walking, Light activities2~3 | Return to work, Makeup20 | Contact lens, Light exercise15 | Moderate exercise, Social meeting30 | Look good in a photo, Seen at an important event45~60 |
| Facial bone contour, orthognathic | Washing face2~3 | Shower, shampooing3~5 | Walking, Light activities2~3 | Return to work, Makeup20 | Contact lens, Light exercise20 | Moderate exercise, Social meeting30 | Look good in a photo, Seen at an important event45~60 |
With the following seven recommended precautions, scheduling the best date for surgery can help your recovery process and improve surgical results.
1. Avoid the menstrual cycle
Achieving hemostasis can be challenging during menstruation, and the bleeding tendency increases due to hormonal changes. It is therefore advisable to avoid scheduling surgery during this period.
2. List of medications that should stop
- Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Plavix, Plavitol, Warfarin:
These drugs may affect hemostasis and increase the risk of bleeding. Your primary physician will usually emphasize discontinuing these medications before surgery. The time you need to stop taking them varies (1-7 days), and your doctor will tell you the exact period. You can usually start retaking these drugs three days after surgery. Still, you can take acetaminophen for any discomfort until the procedure. - Vitamin E:
This may affect the blood-clotting function and should be stopped two weeks before surgery. - Ginkgo biloba preparations (Tanaka tablets, Tanamin tablets, Ginexin F tablets):
These can increase blood circulation and affect hemostasis, so stop taking them 36 hours before surgery. - Herbal medicines, glucosamine, and health supplements:
The ingredients of some of these drugs may be unclear and may affect hemostasis or anesthesia. It is therefore recommended to stop taking them 1-2 weeks before surgery. - Oral contraceptives:
These should be stopped four weeks before surgery and restarted two weeks after.
3. Quit smoking
Smoking can hinder hemostasis and constrict small blood vessels that feed the skin. It is wise to stop smoking at least four weeks before a facelift or rhinoplasty and at least two weeks before eyelid surgery.
4. InMode®, Ultherapy®, Thermage®
There has been an increasing demand for InMode®, Ultherapy®, and Thermage®. By targeting subcutaneous fat, these procedures can damage both subdermal and lymphatic vessels. Therefore, patients who underwent “skin shrinking” facial treatments have a higher risk of skin sloughing and healing-related problems following a facelift. It is advisable to stop these treatments at least 12 months before facelift surgery.
PREPARATIONS ON THE DAY OF SURGERY
5. Comfortable clothing
We recommend wearing pants with elastic waistbands that are easy to take off. It’s also better to wear clothes with buttons instead of pullovers or T-shirts to protect your face.
6. Remove accessories
Before entering the operating room, removing all metal accessories such as earrings, necklaces, rings, piercings, and dentures is necessary. These items can interfere with the use of electric surgical equipment and may pose a risk of burning during surgery. If you have a pacemaker, it is important to inform the surgical team before the procedure.
7. And so on
After surgery, it is recommended to bring a hat, sunglasses, and a mask to conceal your appearance. The hat should be of a suitable size to reduce pressure on your head. Some post-operative care may limit washing or shampooing for a while, so taking a shower before visiting the plastic surgery clinic can help you feel clean and refreshed. It is advised to avoid sun tanning or sunburn for two weeks before the surgery. If you have had your hair colored, permed, or treated chemically, it is best to wait until two weeks after the surgery to do so. Male patients must let their beards grow for two days before the surgery. This advice helps in planning incisions and ensuring they are parallel to the hair follicles in the case of facelift surgery.
CONCLUSIONS
These are seven tips to keep in mind before undergoing aesthetic surgery. Remember, it is essential to consult a licensed and experienced plastic surgeon before undergoing any surgical procedure. They can guide you through the process and provide personalized recommendations to help ensure a safe and successful outcome.
For more information on post-surgery care and precautions, click here for more details.