The Care and Keeping of You – Now That You’ve Had Surgery

The Care and Keeping of You – Now That You’ve Had Surgery

After undergoing plastic surgery, giving yourself some extra TLC will protect both the results of the procedure and your overall wellness. There are several factors to consider as you care for yourself after surgery, including scar management, weight maintenance, and ongoing checkups with your doctor. Here, we’ll review all of these factors to guide the care and keeping of you post-surgery!

Improving Scarring After Surgery

While some scarring is inevitable after cosmetic surgery, the way you scar is often dependent on your genetics.  Additionally, the same person can scar differently in different body locations. Thankfully, your plastic surgeon will utilize techniques to minimize scarring as much as possible. After the procedure, there are several ways YOU can optimize scars so that they fade as quickly as possible. Here are our top tips:

• While the scars are still fresh, stay out of the sun whenever possible. When you do go outside, make sure that the scars are covered by clothing. 
• Cover fresh scars with a silicone-based gel or cream. 
• Later on in your recovery process, cover any exposed scars with sunscreen before you go outside, even if it’s a cloudy day. 
• Even after the scars have healed, try not to apply any tension to them. 

Maintain a Healthy Weight

After procedures like liposuction or a tummy tuck, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight as significant weight gain after body contouring procedures will only undo the results of the procedure. Making regular exercise part of your routine and eating a balanced diet will help you maintain a healthy weight after plastic surgery. 

Check-Ups and Self-Exams

Your breast health is crucial and screening for breast cancer is a gift you can give yourself annually if you are of mammogram age. Don’t skip your annual mammograms after your breast augmentation when your plastic surgeon has cleared you to do so.  You should also continue your monthly self exams, which may help to identify any issues, such as capsular contracture and implant rupture, early on. It’s important to continue seeing your plastic surgeon after breast augmentation to keep tabs on the condition of your implants. Implants don’t last forever, and your plastic surgeon can advise you on the right time to get replacements. 

Dr. Mosiello at Tampa Palms Plastic Surgery will advise you on how to best care for your body after plastic surgery. Schedule an appointment with us today to learn more!