Knowing how to get ready for the day might make or break your experience with cosmetic surgery. There are numerous measures you can take to ensure your surgery, recuperation, and outcomes meet your goals after you've developed a treatment plan with a board-certified plastic surgeon at UVA Plastic Surgery (Plastische chirurgie) at either our Charlottesville or Fishersville, VA locations.
1. Begin and Keep a Healthy Diet
Avoid diets that are low in calories and devoid of nutrients since your body need protein, iron, nutrients, and even carbs and fats for maximum recovery. Focus on utilizing high-quality products, such as fresh vegetables and lean meats, rather than restricting your calorie intake. Avoid booze and quick food. Drinking too much alcohol is unhealthy, and even little amounts might thin the blood before surgery, which can increase bleeding and bruises. It is advised to avoid alcohol for a week or two before and after surgery, and to only consume it in moderation up to around two weeks before to surgery.
2. Give up smoking
Blood oxygen levels and the efficiency of blood flow through the arteries are impacted by smoking. Healing requires blood that is oxygen-rich and has unrestricted arteries and veins. Don't try to disguise the fact that you smoke during the consultation; instead, be honest about how you currently use tobacco, gum, other tobacco products, or vaporizers. Before surgery, UVA plastic surgeons will advise total cessation of these, and they'll probably advise that you consider cessation alternatives with your primary physician.
Stop using any nicotine-containing supplements, gum, or vaping products. My colleagues and I advise total abstinence from all of these for at least 4 weeks before to any elective surgery and for 2 weeks thereafter. We advise seeing your primary care physician if you are unable to stop on your own since they may have programs that might help you succeed in the process.
3. Workout
Prior to getting cosmetic surgery, it is not advised to start a new or more intense exercise program. Maintaining your present level of fitness is more important than engaging in risky activities. In particular for surgeries like a stomach tuck, place an emphasis on core (back and abdominal) muscle stretching and strengthening.
After elective cosmetic surgery, patients usually take a few weeks off from exercise before being carefully reintroduced to a routine over a period of time that has been carefully calculated. This routine usually begins with low-impact cardio workouts before being gradually increased to eventually include any type of strenuous exercise.
We advise seeing your primary care physician if you are unable to stop on your own since they may have programs that might help you succeed in the process.
4. Buy Extra Post-Operative Supplies
The period of recovery is best for inactive pursuits. Before your operation, be sure to load up on a lot of books, periodicals, or movies. Avoid picking movies that could cause you to laugh aloud. Although during the first stages of recovery, placing a soft cushion over the surgical region, such as the breasts or belly, might aid with laughing, coughing, or sneezing.
You may have certain restrictions the first few days when it comes to leaving your house and climbing stairs. Following certain treatments, you could have restrictions on bending over and lifting. Prior to your operation, make sure to stock up on extra supplies such as single-serving snacks, soothing skin wipes, cozy apparel, ice packs, and traction socks.
You may also want to check that objects in your kitchen, bathroom, and other areas are at an easily accessible level rather than high on shelves or on the floor if you are not going to have someone with you during the early stages of recovery. Although during the first stages of recovery, placing a soft cushion over the surgical region, such as the breasts or belly, might aid with laughing, coughing, or sneezing.