Preparing for Plastic Surgery: Making it as Easy as Possible

Plastic Surgery requires mental and physical preparation, as much as any other surgery would.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, as with any other surgery, requires care to be taken even before the surgery so that healing time is minimized and you can be back on your feet as quickly as possible. It is important that a pre-surgery meeting is set up so that any last minute questions may get answered also.

Here are some guidelines that you can start up to three weeks before for a quicker post surgery recovery. It is a good idea to stop smoking and drinking at least three weeks before the surgery. Smoking severely impairs blood flow to parts of the body which in turn can cause the healing process to slow down considerably. And the longer it takes for a wound to heal, the more chances of it scarring. Alcohol may affect the way the immune system and can make you more susceptible to bleeding and contribute to a slow recovery process as well.

Make sure that your doctor knows about any medicine you take for anything at all. This list of medicines needs to include ones that are prescribed and over the counter medicines. This is ensure that the common over-the-counter medicines do not negatively impact your health. This can also include multivitamins as well.

Keep an eye on the food that you eat. Foods that contain Salicylates are not very good before and immediately after the surgery as it can cause increased bruising. This can also include medication like vitamin E supplements and anti-inflammatory drugs which can be detrimental post surgery.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is also important and this includes not going on any aggressive diets.It is also very important to boost the immune system before the surgery. In order to do this, heating healthy food is where you begin. Make sure that you eat enough fruits and vegetables at every meal to ensure you get the protein you need.

Another crucial aspect of preparing for a surgery is preparing your place of recovery. Getting your house cleaned a week in advance is advisable to reduce the chances of infection and disease. It is also a good idea to have someone pick and drop you off from the place on the day of the surgery. And more so, if the procedure is complex and serious, a responsible caretaker is required for the first several days after the surgery.

Getting plenty of rest for the first few days after the procedure. The recovery process and time depends on the complexity of the procedure and the kind of surgery that it is, the more complex, the longer it will take. Getting the procedure done at the end of one week and getting back to work the following week is not recommended as there is a chance of discomfort for the first few days after the surgery.

Ensure that you and your caregiver have read the instructions issued by your doctor, pre and post operative, carefully, before the surgery. With the right kind of attitude and proper care post surgery, it is easy to recover from. Whether the surgery is subtle or dramatic and life changing, the Center for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Yashoda Hospitals has expert surgeons who have experience in the treatment of a wide variety of conditions and anomalies.