Plastic Surgery - The Recovery Period After

When you have any type of plastic surgery procedure your body needs time to heal itself. The type of procedure you have as well as how extensive it is will dictate how long your recuperation period is and how much time you must take off from work, as well as when it is safe to resume your regular day-to-day activities.

Most people are not able to walk out of the hospital and drive themselves home after having plastic surgery. In fact the surgeon and his staff will not allow it! Your recovery begins from the moment you come out of the operating room and are transferred to the recovery room. Once you are free to go there is still plenty of healing and recovery time ahead of you.

Have someone you trust and can rely on waiting for you at the hospital or clinic to give you a ride home. If you prepared your home in advance of the procedure (especially if you live alone) then that was very smart on your part. If the individual can spend the rest of the day with you as well as your first night then that is beneficial. Having a helping hand when you are not able to do many of your regular activities is very useful indeed. This person can also keep a watchful eye on you in the event that any unforeseen complications arise.

It is not uncommon following a plastic surgery procedure for bed rest to be a compulsory aspect of the recuperation period. Your body needs time to rest and get stronger. Extra sleep is one way that this is accomplished since the body restores itself and heals better with ample rest. Patients can be required to remain in bed for anywhere from five to ten days at a time. This does not mean that you must stay in bed 24 hours a day but it means you should be sleeping or resting on your bed or on the couch more often than you are not. The kind of procedure you had is a factor in this as is the state of your health.

Do not be stubborn and try to do too much too soon. This can mean the difference between a relatively brief period of recovery or a much lengthier one. How you behave during this essential period of time makes an enormous difference. Remember that plastic surgery is a form of surgery just like any other type of surgery. It is not to be taken lightly.

It is not uncommon to be restricted in what you can and cannot do. This is for your own good so do not disregard the operating physician’s instructions to you! You may not be able to exercise for a period of time. This varies from person to person and is based on what kind of plastic surgery you had done. You also may be told to refrain from sexual activity for a period of time and to not bend or lift any objects that are heavy. These restrictions can be in place anywhere from 10 or 14 days to a month or more.