More and more people are opting today to have cosmetic surgery performed. This is due to the mood in popular culture towards looking younger. Everyone wants to look like they are much younger than their actual age, if that age is over 35. This can translate into more job opportunities, increased interest from potential mates and greater acceptance by peer groups.
Each year around the world there are millions of cosmetic surgery procedures performed and the numbers continue to rise. The procedures range from slight that can happen in a clinic setting and only require a lunch hour, to those that demand several weeks to recover in bed.
If you are electing to have major plastic surgery, there are certain things you should do following your surgery to help yourself get back on your feet quicker.
Choose a Reputable Plastic Surgeon
Always select a reputable surgeon like Florida based Dr. Alton Ingram to perform your surgery. Make sure the doctor is in good standing with the state where he or she is practicing and is trained and experienced in the type of surgery you are seeking.
Follow Your Doctor’s Recovery Plan
Your doctor will take care to give you specific instructions about how to act and what to do after your surgery. This is your specific regimen that should not be altered unless is it obvious that there is an unforeseen problems. Your recovery will take time so be prepared to spend lots of time doing very little. This is particularly the case for physical activity. Your body needs the chance to focus on healing so any motion especially in the surgery area, should be kept to a minimum. When the body feels trauma, which is what major surgery causes, it wants to slow down and focus on healing, you should give it what it needs to help you heal.
Give Yourself Time to Feel Normal Again
Because of the stress, the rushes of adrenaline, the anesthesia, the strong pain killers, and other surgery related issues, there will be considerable strain placed on your body and your mind. The pain killers will often skew your sense of reality and cause you to have mood swings that will range from happiness to depression. You might also act completely out of character.
When you combine this with the likely queasiness and discomfort you will feel regularly as you recover, it can cause you to think that you will never feel normal again. But in a short period of time of a few days to a week, you will begin to feel like your old self again. In the meantime be prepared to apologize to everyone for things you might say or do during this period.
Take Your Pain Meds
There are many horror stories about people having surgery and getting addicted to opioid pain meds. So each pain drug you are given has the chance of causing your problems after your recovery. This is a harsh reality that must be considered and looked out for since you will be on these strong medications likely for months.
However when you are healing you must manage to stay ahead of the pain curve. This is true especially in the early days of your recovery.
Pain is an indication that something is wrong, but it also can cause the body to have biochemical reactions that can negatively impact your healing. So you must manage your pain. Never skip a pill to see if you can grind it out. Simply take the medication as ordered, so you heal properly.
Expect a Few Setbacks
We all like to think that our post-surgery journey will be smooth sailing, but this is not usually the case. Most patients will have small setbacks after their surgery. This might be bleeding, negative reaction to medication, sleeplessness, anxiety, phantom pains, or a myriad of other issues.
Many of these are common and will pass without issue. Anything however that occurs that you were not told to expect should be reported immediately to your doctor because it can be a serious issue. But you should know that most of these issues, even the serious ones can be corrected easily. So pay attention and contact your doctor if something is not right during your recovery.
