Recovery Symptoms - Lett CenterPlastic surgery is often thought of as being something quick and simple. Most procedures are, but they are still surgeries. That means that recovery time is needed to allow the body to heal and that your body may experience some symptoms during this process. We want to go over some of the common recovery symptoms that can happen after receiving plastic surgery.

Plastic Surgery Recovery Times

The parts of the body that plastic surgeons work on are those that move a lot. This complicates healing. Depending on your procedure, you may need to take off from work anywhere from a week to a full month to completely recover. The more physical your job is, the longer the time you’ll need. It’s always better to schedule more time off than less when recovering from surgeries.

Pain

Pain is, unfortunately, a side effect of most surgeries. Surgery is, by nature, an invasive procedure. Depending on what you have done, you may be prescribed medication to control the pain. But some procedures, like liposuction, may only give you mild soreness.

You may also be asked to avoid certain activities while you recover to avoid injuring yourself. For instance, you may have weight limits on what you can carry after a breast surgery until the area fully recovers.

You may also be asked to avoid over-the-counter pain relievers. These pain relievers usually work by controlling inflammation, which is part of the body’s natural healing response. After a surgery, you need this response to work as intended. Your doctor will give you a list of the medications to avoid after surgery and when you can take them again.

Swelling and bruising

Your skin may become swollen or bruised as fluid moves to the area due to inflammation. This can make it tender to touch. Some procedures require patients to wear compression garments for several weeks to control this, so it doesn’t interfere with the final result. Others may require the temporary insertion of drains into the skin so that the extra fluid can leave. You may be asked to refrain from exercise to avoid complications during plastic surgery recovery.

Sloshing

This can sound freaky at first, but this is also a common side effect of plastic surgery. It’s NOT from the implant moving in the body. It’s from excess air that was trapped in the body after the procedure. No one else will be able to hear this and your body will reabsorb the air in a few weeks. It’s perfectly normal.

Depression

After the excitement of surgery, some patients do fall into a brief depression. There are also other feelings surrounding cosmetic surgery that can trigger it. A lack of exercise or side-effects from medications, for example, can cause such emotions. Give yourself plenty of self-care during your recovery period. There are also online groups for people who’ve had plastic surgery to discuss their experiences. These can be worth seeking out.

Be sure to follow all of the instructions given to you by your doctor. While these symptoms are common, failure to follow aftercare instructions can lead to scarring, infection, or other complications that will require further treatments. Speak to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about this.