10 Things You Need for Recovery After Plastic Surgery

Your plastic or cosmetic surgery procedure may leave you with scars, pain and stress during the recovery stages, and planning ahead with the right tools and supplies can make recovery much easier.

Most plastic surgeons will provide post-operative instructions to help you recover and heal properly, and changes in your diet and lifestyle will be necessary. You may even need to stay in bed for a week or two to get enough rest, so making sure you stock up on supplies prior to surgery can help you stay organized.

This recovery kit is a combination of holistic remedies, meals and recipes, and skincare products to be used only during the post-surgery days, helping to make the transition to the new body much smoother.

Whether you’ve had liposuction or facial surgery, you can prepare your own kit to support your body and skin as it heals. Here are the top ten things you need for recovery after plastic or cosmetic surgery:

1. Cold compress.  You can purchase gel packs or use frozen vegetables or bags of ice to create your own cold compresses.  You’ll need these to relive sore muscles and reduce inflammation. Regularly icing the sore areas can be very soothing, and may even help you sleep better.

2. Irrigation bottle or spray bottle. If you have wounds or scars that are healing very slowly, they may bleed or open up during recovery. An irrigation bottle will help you manage the bleeding and keep the area clean and infection-free.

3. Sterile gauze pads. Sterile gauze pads are another way to keep any scars or wounds free of infection, and these can be pressed delicately on the treated areas as needed. Having these on hand reduces the need for excessive bandages and band-aids that can be painful to remove.

4. Natural sleeping aids. Sleep is an essential part of the healing and restoration process, and you may be taking many naps throughout the day for relief from pain and fatigue. Still, a good night’s rest is always important; natural sleeping aids or relaxing teas can help you get the rest you need and stay healthy.

5. Bed and pillow covers. You may need to change your bedding more frequently after surgery, so stock up on a few sets of basic bed sheets and pillow covers.

6. Disposable washcloths. Washcloths are one of the easiest ways to clean up a wounded area, and a damp washcloth can be used to soothe any rough skin or sores. These are an inexpensive way to keep your skin clean, and can be used in the bath or shower to scrub away dirt and oil if needed.

7. Mild laxative. If your doctor has prescribed pain medication and other supplements, you may need a stool softener or laxative to help keep your elimination system in balance. Pain medication often leads to constipation, and a high fiber diet combined with a laxative may help.

8. Handheld showerhead. If you’re not able to stretch or move easily while taking a bath or shower, a handheld showerhead can make it easier to wash your hair and body without extra movements.

9. Relaxation aids. Since your body’s natural defenses will be at an all time low after surgery, relaxation aids such as aromatherapy, soothing music, and even herbal teas can help reduce stress and tension in the body. Building up your immune system with effective relaxation can improve the healing process, and may also help you sleep better.

10. Juice and soft foods. Overtaxing the digestive system will not help you recover easily after surgery, so eat softer foods such as oatmeal and rice, and ‘liquid nutrition’ such as smoothies and fresh juice that provide you with enough energy to get through your days.

Your plastic surgeon or cosmetic surgery specialist will provide you with more information to address specific needs during your recovery process, but these ten items are just some essentials for healing. Contact a cosmetic or plastic surgeon in your area to learn more about treatment options and services available for your recovery stages.

For more information visit us at www.thepatientsadvantage.com.

Male Cosmetic Surgery Patients Need Different Approach

Men may not be from Mars, but they do pose some unique challenges for the plastic surgeons who treat them. And as a growing number of men seek cosmetic procedures, it’s important for physicians to realize the differences between male and female patients are much more than physical.

Plastic surgeons also must address key differences in the psychological makeup between the sexes and tailor treatment protocols to achieve positive outcomes. Many plastic surgeons find men are more likely to approach a consultation for a cosmetic procedure as they would buying a new car, often attempting to negotiate price or work out some sort of a “deal”. They are also more likely to want to close the deal quickly without asking as many questions or considering much beyond the procedure they want.

Men don’t listen as well as women. While this may not be a shocking fact for many, it does require plastic surgeons to spend more time making sure their male patients completely understand all facets of a cosmetic procedure beforehand, from preoperative preparation to postoperative care.

Women tend to be more collaborative throughout the treatment process than men. Both are generally well-informed about the procedures they seek, women are more accepting of complications should they occur, and they do listen and follow directions more closely.

Most plastic surgeons find the greatest disparity between male and female cosmetic surgery patients lies in the recovery phase – specifically his or her diligence in adhering to recommendations for postoperative. With men, you have to leave no stone unturned.

Male patients often try to dictate what procedures they need without much input. This is a marked difference from most of my female patients, who expect me to make a recommendation based on what goal they’d like to achieve.

Across the board, men appear to be less patient than women with the entire cosmetic surgical process. Women, in general, are used to getting more beauty treatments – manicures, facials, hair removal and the like.

Most men don’t engage in the details. Because of that, they are not always realistic about results – or the amount of healing time required to achieve them. Part of the reason men don’t fare as well as women postoperatively is that they tend not to have a support system to help them during recovery. Many cosmetic procedures are isolating in nature due to the extent of swelling and bruising involved. Men think they won’t need any help, so they don’t ask for it. And because they don’t want to wear concealing makeup, men often are unrealistic about when they can return to ‘normal’. As a result, they get depressed and frustrated faster then women.

Managing expectations throughout the surgical process is critical to ensuring positive outcomes in male patients. They do require more time and effort on the plastic surgeon’s part, but it’s time well spent to avoid issues later on. Men do take longer to heal in most cases than women, because their skin is generally thicker and less pliable. This also affects the length of postoperative swelling and pain.

As the percentage of men interested in cosmetic procedures continues to grow, plastic surgeons will have to change their communication approach to accommodate men’s needs and defuse any potential issues that could arise after surgery. Men are different than women…period.

Have a plastic surgery question? If so, e-mail us at mia@thepatientsadvantage.com or visit us at www.thepatientsadvantage.com.

Laser Plastic Surgery

Lasers are becoming common tools for surgeons, and no other sector of the medical industry shows this better than plastic surgery. Laser plastic surgery (plastic surgery using lasers) is almost the norm for so many different types of cosmetic operations. Let’s look at a few of them.

Laser Liposuction- We have already talked about laser lipo here (also called smart lipo). It basically removes body fat by cutting with a laser. This enables quicker healing, less bleeding, smaller scar tissue, and it’s a much quicker surgery with lasers.

Laser Acne Treatment- & Laser Acne Scar Removal- Yep, lasers are the preferred tool for plastic surgeons to treat the acne and remove the scars. Of course this is usually reserved for severe cases, but what a cool concept huh?

Laser Scar Removal- Not only are lasers good at removing acne scars, but every other type of scar as well. Just imagine a cosmetic surgeon being able to take away any scar with a quick use of his surgical laser. Now that is really amazing!

Laser Wrinkle Treatment- Surgeons are now using lasers to make your wrinkles go away. Unlike a traditional facelift, a laser facelift is quick and the risks are much smaller.

Laser Hair Removal- So you have a few hairs in unsightly places that you want taken care of? Now you can let a doctor remove them permanently with a laser.

Laser Tattoo Removal- Nothing can be worse than having a tattoo of your ex running across your arm. Fixing this in the past was expensive, painful, and took many procedures to accomplish. Now surgeons are using lasers to wipe those tattoos away quickly and painlessly.

For more information on this or any other cosmetic surgery related topic, log onto www.thepatientsadvantage.com.

Understanding a Physician’s Credentials Before Plastic Surgery

Many doctors advertise they are “board-certified,” but understanding what that means can be tricky. Physicians in many specialties can perform cosmetic procedures and be “board-certified” in something, whether it be dermatology,ophthalmology, or podiatry, but that doesn’t mean they are trained plastic surgeons. If you are considering any type of plastic surgery, be sure the physician you choose is amply trained in the cosmetic procedure you seek by checking with The Patients Advantage. To be certified by the ABPS, a doctor must have graduated from an accredited medical school and completed at least five years of additional residency. He or she must also have practiced plastic surgery for two years prior to certification and pass comprehensive oral and written exams. The ABPS also offers the added assurance of requiring re-examination every 10 years.

A great resource for choosing a qualified plastic surgeon is The Patients Advantage; which requires its members to be certified by either the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, as well as meet additional requirements, such as operating only in accredited medical facilities, and fulfilling continuing medical education requirements. The ASPS requires six years of general surgery experience instead of the five required by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, with three, rather than two years of plastic surgery training.

Another important step in choosing a plastic surgeon is determining what type of plastic surgery they specialize in. If you’re seeking breast augmentation, choose a plastic surgeon who specializes in breast augmentation rather than rhinoplasty or other facial procedures. Make sure to find out how many procedures like yours they have performed, and view before and after pictures to be sure the surgeon can deliver the results you want.

There are a few more tricks to use to determine whether a surgeon is someone you should trust or run away from. For instance, you should compare the price of the procedure you are considering with prices being charged by other surgeons. If there is sharp disparity, be skeptical. Cosmetic surgeries performed at extremely low prices can have hazardous results. Also check out which hospitals and facilities he or she is allowed to perform surgery in. Even if you are having an office-based procedure it’s important to remember, if the hospitals you trust don’t allow him or her to operate in their facilities, you certainly don’t want them operating on you. 

For more information visit www.thepatientsdvantage.com.

Why Bad Plastic Surgery Happens

When it comes to plastic surgery, it seems what we mostly hear about is phony (uncredentialed) doctors using substandard equipment to do plastic surgery at bargain-basement prices or filthy overseas operating facilities being run by unlicensed personnel. Another common problem is insufficiently trained doctors who are operating outside of their own specialty. These situations do exist, and they make for sensational stories. Most bad plastic surgery cases, though, are much more subtle and harder to see coming.

Poor follow-up and (the original surgeon’s) poor judgment are among the most common reasons patients end up doing corrective surgery on patients with bad plastic surgery results. These two factors happen far more often than the cause of a less than ideal result or poor surgical technique.

Poor Follow-Up

Poor follow-up often occurs because the patient has gone overseas to have surgery (often due to the lower cost) and has no idea where to go to have their stitches removed. In addition, some of the more common complications, such as infection, blood clots and necrosis, are difficult to diagnose over the phone, and a follow-up visit is often foregone when surgery has been performed in another country. Unfortunately, many of these cases end up in an emergency room.

Poor Judgment

As for poor judgment, the problem is often a case of the surgeon taking an approach that is overly aggressive (i.e., performing too many major procedures in the same operation or over-tightening the skin). Poor patient selection is another big problem. A patient’s health (both physical and psychological) must be taken in to account for each and every procedure. Patient expectations about outcome are another huge factor in patient selection. Is the person expecting the surgery to change his or her life? Or does he/she expect liposuction to erase decades of poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle?

Simple Human Error

It happens every day in hospitals, doctor’s offices and surgical facilities around the globe: mistakes, such as a drug mix-up or dosage mistake or even mistaken identity (a patient goes in for an eye lift and winds up with someone else’s breast implants), do happen.

Plain Old Bad Luck

There are even more possibilities that go under the heading of just plain old bad luck. Infection is a fact of human life, and one is never more vulnerable than when his or her body is surgically opened up. Previously undiagnosed medical conditions can rear their ugly heads for the first time during or after surgery, causing a myriad of possible complications. Previously unknown allergic reactions to medications administered during surgery can wreak untold havoc. All of this can happen by no fault of the surgeon, patient or medical staff.

Educate Yourself

Regardless of the reason, bad plastic surgery can have permanent devastating effects on your looks and your life. Education is key when it comes to minimizing your risk. The best way to protect yourself is to arm yourself with knowledge. Learn more by checking out The Patients Advanatge.

Share Your Story

Have you had a bad experience with plastic surgery? Are you concerned about the results of a procedure?Join the conversation.

Cosmetic Surgery: Post-Op Care Is Essential

As with any other surgical procedure, post-operative care is imperative in the case of cosmetic surgery as well. Following the post-operative advice of your cosmetic surgeon could well be the difference between a stellar result and a mediocre one. Regular follow up visits are crucial in monitoring the progress of recovery. The recovery time and the amount of post-operative care largely depend on the type of cosmetic surgery performed. For instance, major cosmetic surgery procedures, such as abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and sizeable liposuction necessitate proper nursing for a significant period after surgery.

Another point worth noting is that follow-up surgeries (or touchups) might be required to eliminate undesired effects of surgery, or to attain better results. For instance, a woman’s breast implants might internally rupture and therefore necessitate a follow-up surgery. Moreover, cosmetic surgery has associated complications and risks, such as scarring, blood clots, bleeding, or an adverse reaction of anesthesia. Thus post-operative care is pivotal for attaining satisfactory results and in order to expedite the recovery process.

Post-operative care entails being careful about the body part, which has been operated upon. Undue stress and exertion to that portion, just a few days after surgery, may lead to unforeseen complications. You must strictly follow the advice of the surgeon on this issue. In addition to this, you must have realistic expectations from the surgical procedure. Since a major cosmetic surgery involves a significant recovery period, you must not expect instant results after surgery.

The most crucial aspect of cosmetic surgery is to choose a surgeon who has loads of expertise in the pertinent field, since he/she can effectively advise you about proper post-operative care. Cosmetic surgery is something that one opts for in order to improve ones appearance and, in turn, ones life. So if you don’t want to settle for anything less, simply adhere to your surgeon’s advice on post-operative care.

For more information visit www.thepatientsadvantage.com.

Learn All You Can About Cosmetic Breast Enlargement Surgery

In this world where plastic surgery has become something you can do on a weekend, more and more people are turning to surgeons to make their dreams of the perfect physique become reality. No plastic surgery is more commonplace for women than that of cosmetic breast enlargement surgery. Nothing gets at the heart of a woman’s physical insecurity than not being able to fill out a shirt. There’s something to be said for liking yourself the way you are. But when your breast size affects your whole perception of yourself – and there is a way to fix it through cosmetic breast enlargement surgery – you are more than likely going to consider this procedure.

Cosmetic breast enlargement surgery – like any surgery – has risks associated with it. But because cosmetic breast enlargement surgery is so common in cosmetic surgery offices across the country, the risks have been largely minimized. There are a multitude of highly skilled surgeons who are vastly experienced in cosmetic breast enlargement surgery; finding that doctor should be your first priority.

Research is crucial prior to surgery of any kind. Investigate the actually procedure of cosmetic breast enlargement surgery so that you understand what will happen to you in the operating room. Educate yourself on all the methods of cosmetic breast enlargement surgery so that you can decide what is important to you; some surgeons put the implant under the muscle, some do not; some make the incision under the breast and some make the incision around the nipple. Become a scholar of cosmetic breast enlargement surgery information so you can be well informed when interviewing surgeons.

That’s right – interview surgeons. It’s imperative that you find a surgeon who fits the bill when it comes to background, experience, and reputation. But it’s just as important that you connect with the doctor on a personal level. If you feel rushed through a first meeting or feel that your questions were not thoroughly answered – or if you just simply feel uncomfortable – than this is probably not the doctor for you. This is your body; be sure that you find a doctor you absolutely trust to perform you cosmetic breast enlargement surgery.

Finally, it’s helpful to speak with other women who have been through cosmetic breast enlargement surgery. Speaking with those who have undergone similar experiences can help you to prepare; knowing what to expect before, during, and after cosmetic breast enlargement surgery can make all the difference in a successful outcome.

For more information, visit www.thepatientsadvantage.com.

What To Expect After Breast Augmentation

Many women make the decision to have a boob job to enhance both their life and their figure, and while every step of the process is an important one, you will want to know what to expect after you have the operation.

It is very important to choose a doctor you can talk easily with, so that you can ask as many questions as you feel are necessary to understand what you will be experiencing after the operation itself.

How long does it take?

 

It depends on each individual case, but around two hours is a good estimate. You should ask your doctor though so that you are fully aware of how long they will take to perform the procedure in your case.

Will I be unconscious?

Normally yes. It does depend on who performs the breast augmentation surgery though; some doctors prefer to use a sedation and local anaesthetic technique so that you can stay awake during the procedure.

Sedation and local anaesthetics usually leave you feeling much less groggy afterwards, so be sure to ask your doctor which method they will be using if you have a particular preference for one or the other.

Will I have to stay in hospital?

Because of the nature of this kind of operation, many women do not have to stay in overnight. It can be done as a day surgery, which means you will have the operation and then be able to go home a few hours later, provided the doctor is happy with your initial recovery.

This is much easier for a lot of women and preferable since you can continue your recovery at home.

Will I be in pain afterwards?

Any type of surgery results in post-operative pain. You might also experience swelling and bruising in the area of the operation, which is perfectly normal and is your body’s way of reacting to the surgery.

The recovery period will take several weeks, majority of patients are very happy with their results, however some might feel as though they will never get the breasts they wanted before the operation. But remember the importance of being patient. Any type of surgery is a major event to go through, and a breast augmentation is no different. It will take a few weeks for your body to settle down and for you to feel like you normally do again.

It is at this stage that you will notice the difference that a boob job will have. You need to be patient to reach this stage and you may need to wear a proper support bra in the early days. But once you have got through the recovery period you will be able to see the true results of your surgery.

It is at this time that those women are glad they had the procedure done. While it takes a while to see the benefits, they are worth waiting for as you see the difference it makes to how you look.

For more information, visit www.thepatientsadvantage.com.