Photo Credit: ShutterstockHaute Beauty Experts share their recommendations for faster post-op recovery. Here's what they had to say:
Dr. Jhonny Salomon | Face Expert, Nose Expert | Miami/Fort Lauderdale
In order to facilitate the post-op recovery period, we have our patients start on 1,000 mg of vitamin C, 50 mg of Zinc, and 500mg of Bromelain 2 weeks before surgery. These supplements prepare the body for surgery and promote healing and overall wellness. Also, you cannot take any aspirin or medications that contain aspirin, Advil, Motrin, ibuprofen, or vitamin E 2 weeks prior to surgery and for 2 weeks following surgery. Additionally, patients are told to stay away from smokers and if they smoke themselves, they need to stop smoking 2-3 weeks before their procedure as well as post-surgical. After the surgery, we recommend post-surgical lymphatic drainage massages. This type of massage can speed up recovery time due to its ability to reduce swelling and promote healing.
Patients need to also follow the doctor’s post-operative instructions and keep their follow-up appointments. Depending on the type of procedure you have done there may be very specific instructions that you need to follow to help you recuperate quickly. You will need to take all prescribed medications and follow a diet of moderate amounts of liquids and soft foods as desired and tolerated the first night following the surgery. You will also be told to avoid the sun and heat until advised differently by the doctor. Do not push yourself too much, let comfort be your guide as to how fast you progress.
Dr. Daniel Careaga | Body Expert | Miami/Fort Lauderdale
One of the most important parts of a consultation is talking about recovery time. Patients want to know how long it will take to recover. Recovery time has changed during COVID depending on what patients do for a living.
The recovery time of an operation is usually determined by:
• The type of operation
• What the patient does for a living
With COVID, Dr. Careaga typically recommends 2 weeks off of work for breast augmentation and body surgeries such as tummy tucks and liposuction but now he recommends generally 4-5 days. However, for facial surgery (facelifts & eyelid surgery), he still recommends 10 days of recovery. At your consultation with Careaga Plastic Surgery, you will determine what type of surgery you want, what type of work you do, and the exact recovery time for each operation.
Dr. Ralph Garramone | Body Expert | Fort Myers
It’s important to drink lots of fluids and move around frequently or as much as you are able to counteract this.
A gallon of high alkaline water (pH 10+) every day and sometimes a stool softener or magnesium can help the bowels get moving again. I am a big advocate of supplementation after most surgical procedures. I do recommend 2 days prior to surgery starting on a supplement we have at the office called Arica Forte. I prefer for my patients to be on this supplement two days before any surgical procedure and then a week to ten days after. It is also a great idea to take Arnica Forte before and after any injectable service. For the first week after surgery, I also recommend the following each day:
• 5,000 mg of liposomal Vitamin C
• 800 mg of Magnesium
• 200 mg of Zinc
• And a gallon of 10+ pH Water
I have noticed when patients follow this regimen the healing process tends to be faster and I believe it will assist in having less swelling and optimal results. The first thing you might notice after coming home after surgery is that in many cases you will be wearing some type of compression garment. Compression garments assist you in having a beautiful and smooth recovery process after surgical procedures involving liposuction, and skin removal, or Bodytite, or any other body contouring procedures.
Dr. Jason Bloom | Face Expert | Pennsylvania
I can talk about rhinoplasty recovery and things that I do to help patients achieve a faster recovery and excellent outcomes. I do 90% of my primary rhinoplasties through an endonasal or “scarless” approach. In these cases, there are no external incisions, so there are no scars or wounds to heal. Also, because the skin of the tip is not lifted off of the cartilage structure and all of the cartilages and tissues are worked on through the nostrils, the swelling is considerably reduced. Intra-operatively, the addition of tranexamic acid to the injections of local anesthesia and topically in the areas of the osteotomies both help to reduce post-op swelling and bruising.
Besides what I am doing intra-op, my postoperative regimen has my patients aggressively icing their eyes to reduce swelling and bruising and I also encourage my patients to take pre & post-operative arnica montana to help. I put all of my patients, barring any contraindications, on a Medrol dose pack to help reduce the overall nasal swelling. Finally, when the splint comes off of the patient’s nose, I have special clear plastic nasal splints made that conform to the nasal structure with a company called MirrorMe3D which acts as “Invisalign for the nose.” Instead of taping post-operatively, patients can wear these splints to push the swelling out of the nose and help to recover much sooner.
Dr. Viraj J. Mehta | Eyelid Surgery Expert, Oculoplastic | DMV
My top 3 tips for a speedy recovery from eyelid or facial procedures:
1) Take it Easy and Stay Hydrated! Whether you've had a laser procedure or surgery, be sure to rest, avoid any strenuous activity, relax, and stay hydrated. Your body needs time to heal, and doing anything that raises your blood pressure or heart rate could slow down the recovery.
2) Apply Cool Compresses or Ice Packs. This is really important after surgery in the first 2-3days. Apply cold compresses or ice packs for 10-20minutes every hour that you're awake. This will limit bleeding, bruising, and swelling. After about 3-4 days, start warm compresses to improve blood circulation and clear up any bruising.
3) Avoid the Sun! Sun exposure after surgery or even minor procedures like micro-needling or laser, can worsen scarring and pigmentation. It's best to avoid direct sun exposure for at least a few days after your procedure, and if you must go out, wear sunblock, sunglasses, and/or a hat.
Dr. Daisy Ayim | Body Expert | Houston
The best outcome for post-op recovery with a cosmetic procedure is pre-op preparedness and clarity with expectations. I find that when clients clearly understand the procedure with risks and benefits outlined during the consultation, the recovery is smoother. So I would advise potential clients to ask questions even if it seems trivia and not shy away. Additionally, our practice provides post-op guidelines as a reference with detailed discussion on your visit. We have a practice pattern to check on clients same day or next day post-op and within the week of the procedure. Our clients really love the compassionate care build into our practice.
