Cosmetic surgery has been consistently popular in the UK for many years. Despite a reported shortfall in appointments following the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve still seen thousands of appointments being made, and surgeries being carried out across the UK.
If you’re thinking about going under the knife for cosmetic reasons, then you’ll want to make sure that you’re adequately prepared: not just for the operation itself, but for the recovery period you’ll go through afterwards. After all, it’s during the aftermath that most of the actual improvement to the way you look will occur. As such, it’s vital that you go through recovery in the right way.
Why is aftercare important following cosmetic surgery?
When you come out of the operating theatre, you’ll have several new incisions – wounds – in your body. If you fail to properly care for these, then they might end up inflamed, or they might be more visible when they’ve healed.
In some cases, where bacteria find their way into the wound, you might find that you end up with an infection. This can potentially be disastrous – which makes regularly cleaning and dressing the wound essential.
What to do? Diet and Hydration
If you don’t provide your body with the right raw materials, then it will struggle to repair the damage and rebuild you in the right way. Adequate hydration in particular is a must; it’ll help to limit inflation, and produce much faster results.
Look for Complications
If you’re able to identify complications as they emerge, then you’ll give your doctor ample time to respond to them. In some cases, complications can arise from clinical negligence – so make sure that you keep a log of developments, and that you hold onto any written correspondence. That way, should you need to take legal action, you’ll be equipped to do so.
Follow prescriptions
If you’ve been told to take particular medications, then the chances are good that it’s for a good reason. Stick to them religiously. If you feel that the side effects are becoming difficult to manage, then speak to your doctor. It may be that alternatives can be arranged.
Listen to your Doctor
Your surgeon will set out a timetable for your recovery. It will tell you when it’s appropriate to resume exercise, and then vigorous exercise. It will also likely place prohibitions on certain kinds of recreational activity. If you’re a heavy smoker or drinker, then you might be expected to give either of them up.
If you try to hurry your recovery along, then you risk running into setbacks. It may be that if your recovery goes smoothly, you’ll be able to take certain steps ahead of schedule – but don’t be tempted to do it without your surgeon’s say so.
