Recovery After Plastic Surgery

Here at ID Hospital we want to make sure all of our patients have as smooth a recovery as possible. Our expert doctors have been advising patients for many years, and this is a collection of their top tips for post-surgical recovery.

1. Follow your prescribed medication schedule and disinfection procedures.

All plastic surgery patients have a strict regime of daily medication and disinfection procedures. You will usually have to take medicine 2-3 times per day. And patients with stitches or injection sites will usually have to disinfect these areas multiple times a day.

It can be complicated to follow all of these new rules, especially after surgery. Therefore, we recommend creating reminders or a schedule so that you won’t have to stress.

2. Stay away from substances.

We recommend staying away from all substances such as alcohol and tobacco for 1-3 months after getting plastic surgery. This is to help your body recover strength and avoid any possible infections.

3. Shower and wash your hair as soon as you are allowed to.

When you will be allowed to shower will depend on which surgeries you have received. Your doctor will advise you of when it is safe for you to shower again.

We recommend showering as soon as you are allowed after surgery. Many patients cannot shower for at least 1 week after surgery. So finally getting clean and fresh can have a great effect on your mental wellbeing.

4. Stay in a comfortable position where you are clean and where you have entertainment.

Try to set yourself up in a comfortable position where your body won’t get aches or stiffness. You’ll likely be remaining here for a while. And your surgical areas can still be uncomfortable as they are healing. So try to make yourself as comfortable as possible.

Recovery can take a long time. So you should have access to some entertainment in the form of TV, movies, books or whatever your preference is.

5. Stick to a healthy diet.

Every doctor will tell you the benefits of a healthy diet. And vitamins and nutrients are very important for your body to recover strength. Try to include lean meats, vegetables, fruits and wholegrains.

At ID we also recommend staying away from salty or spicy foods while you recover. Because these can aggravate the body and are not helpful at reducing swelling.

6. Use ice packs or warm packs as advised.

Ice packs and warm packs can be a godsend after invasive surgery. But it’s important not to use them incorrectly as they might impact your surgery results. Always follow the doctor’s advice and write instructions down if you need to.

7. Engage in light exercise.

Light walking and exercise can help reduce swelling faster as well as recovering some of the body’s strength.

However, there are some kinds of exercise that aren’t recommended for some patients. For example, a body contouring patient should not engage in any stretching until their doctor says it’s safe to do so.

8. Stay in contact with loved ones.

If you come from outside Korea to have surgery, then your recovery period can leave you feeling lonely. So conversations with family or friends are good for your mental wellbeing. It’s even better if there is someone physically there to cook for you or to take you out on walks.

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