Recovery after plastic surgery: what is normal?

The first weeks after a procedure often raise questions, about swelling, pain or a scar that looks different than expected. Much of what you feel then is part of a normal recovery. Some signals do call for contact with us. This article gives a general timeline and lists those signals.

Recovery proceeds in phases

How long your recovery takes depends on the procedure, your health and your age. An eyelid correction requires a different recovery than an abdominoplasty. Still, the body largely follows the same pattern after every operation.

A general timeline

In the first days, pain, tension and swelling are strongest. You rest a lot and take the prescribed pain medication. You wear the pressure dressing, the support bra or the compression garment as agreed. Short walks inside the house keep the blood circulation going.

In weeks one and two the swelling starts to decrease. Bruises change colour from purple to yellow. Sutures are removed or dissolve by themselves. Work is gradually resumed.

In weeks three to six your energy returns. You usually wear compression garments until six weeks after the procedure. With sports and heavy lifting you wait until the doctor gives the green light.

At the earliest after three months most of the swelling has disappeared. The final result is often visible later. This depends on the type of procedure. With a rhinoplasty, for example, this can take up to a year. Scars have their own timeline. They keep evolving for up to a year or longer.

What is normal

Swelling usually increases until the second or third day and then gradually decreases. In the evening it is often more noticeable than in the morning.

Bruises can descend due to gravity, for example from the cheek to the neck or from the abdomen to the groin.

Around the wound or in the treated area, sensation is often temporarily reduced. A numb or tingling sensation also occurs. That usually recovers over the course of weeks to months.

A pulling or tight feeling is normal, certainly after procedures in which the skin is tightened. It decreases as the tissue becomes more supple.

Fatigue is part of it too, because the body puts energy into healing. Also after a procedure under sedation you often tire more quickly for a while.

When to call us

Contact us in case of fever above 38.5 degrees. Also call in case of a wound that becomes red, warm and increasingly painful, or from which pus emerges. These are possible signs of an infection. Swelling that suddenly and strongly increases on one side, often with a tight feeling, is also a reason to call. The same applies to pain that increases instead of decreases, despite the prescribed pain medication.

What supports recovery

Follow the agreements about compression, wound care and movement. Do not smoke, not even in the weeks after the procedure, because smoking slows down wound healing. Eat a varied diet and drink enough. If the doctor recommends it, sleep with your head or upper body slightly elevated. That helps the swelling to go down.

Protect scars from the sun during the first year. A fresh scar easily darkens under the influence of UV radiation. A sunscreen with a high protection factor helps. Clothing only protects if the fabric blocks UV: thin or light fabric lets UV through, clothing with UPF 50+ or dense, dark fabric does protect.

Walking is allowed. When you can do sports again, you discuss with the doctor.

Differences per procedure

The timeline above is an average. A few examples make the differences clear.

After an eyelid correction, swelling and bruising around the eyes are most noticeable during the first week. Cool compresses and sleeping with your head slightly elevated help. After one to two weeks you can usually resume your social activities without the procedure still being noticeable.

After a breast augmentation, pain and a pressing feeling on the chest last for a few days. You wear a compression bra for six weeks. Most people resume their daily life after one to two weeks.

After an abdominoplasty you walk somewhat bent forward during the first days. You wear a compression garment for up to six weeks and count on three to four weeks of recovery.

After liposculpture most people resume their activities after about a week. You wear compression garments until six weeks after the procedure.

The check-ups

After the procedure, check-ups follow in our clinic. The doctor examines the wound healing, removes sutures where necessary and monitors the scars and the shape. A check-up is also the moment for questions that have come up between two check-ups. Write those questions down in the meantime.

Every recovery is different. Therefore do not compare your course with that of someone else, not even after the same procedure.

Making an appointment

Are you considering a procedure and would you like to know what recovery requires in your case? Then make an appointment for a consultation, a first conversation. You can reach us on 050 97 79 30. Our clinic is located at Gruuthuselaan 7, 8020 Oostkamp.

More information: aclinic.be