Post-Operative Care After Plastic Surgery

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Post-operative care after surgery helps patients achieve their optimal results. Most surgical patients experience some bruising and swelling that usually peaks at 3 days from surgery. Careful surgical technique, however, minimizes the bruising and swelling for most patients.

Peri-Operative Care For Face Nose and Eyelid Surgery

To encourage healing after face, nose, or eyelid surgery, we utilize a unique regimen of post-operative care that begins with copious icing and head elevation. To make icing easier, we recommend the TheraPearl Reusable Hot & Cold Therapy Face or Eye Mask. These masks utilize gel beads to better focus the cooling effect of the mask. Elevation of the head can be achieved by sleeping on a couple of pillows, however, the Brentwood Home Zuma Therapeutic Foam Bed Wedge Pillow makes it easier and more comfortable to maintain the elevation in any sleeping position.

Supplements for Bruising and Swelling

In addition to icing and elevation, for all surgeries we recommend, most patients take anti-bruising supplements, such as Boiron Arnica Montana and Bruizex (Bromelain), starting before surgery and continuing for about a month after surgery.

Scar Management Strategies

Epi-Derm Areopexy Silicone Scar Sheets from Biodermis

At about 10 – 14 days after surgery, post-operative scar management strategies are begun. These include the use of sunscreen, such as Neutrogena Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen, to keep the incisions from getting too pink, gentle massage of the incisions and operative area, to encourage blood flow and to keep the scars from getting too raised. The final recommendation is the use of a silicone-based scar gel and or sheet to help encourage optimal scar maturation. ScarAway 100% Silicone Self Drying Scar Repair Gel or Aroamas Professional Silicone Scar Sheets can be used on any scarring from minor procedures to large surgical scars. Epi-Derm Areopexy Silicone Scar Sheets from Biodermis are custom fabricated to cover the scars of typical cosmetic surgeries.

For breast surgery patients, Biodermis produces 100% silicone scar sheets that are custom shaped to curve around the areola and base of the breast. These strategies are continued for the full scar maturation period of 9 months to a year.

Compression and Massage After Body Contouring

Body contouring patients are given compression to use immediately after surgery. Patients are encouraged, however, to purchase 2nd stage and third stage garments to aid in their healing process.

Women

We women, recommend Merena Recovery garments. These garments provide firm, form-fitting compression to help control the swelling that occurs in the weeks after surgery. These garments are tailored to your specific operation.

Women’s Second (Weeks 1-2) and Third (Weeks 3-6) Stage Garments :

Compression of the Abdomen and Back
- 2nd Stage / 3rd Stage
Compression of the Abdomen, Back, and Thighs
- 2nd Stage / 3rd Stage
Chin and Neck Compression
Arm Compression

Men

For men, we recommend Underworks compression garments. Underworks garments come in a range of styles and have several models tailored specifically to the post-operative management of gynecomastia and FTM patients.