A Few Tips on How to Reduce Swelling After Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery procedures such as tummy tuck, breast augmentation, and facelift surgery have improved the appearance and quality of life of millions of patients. However, the full benefits of many plastic surgery procedures do not reveal themselves immediately, often requiring weeks or even months to unfold. In most cases, patients should expect to experience some bruising and swelling during their healing periods, which Dr. Kimberly Henry makes plain to patients before they ever commit to undergoing a procedure.

During consultations between Dr. Henry and her patients at her office in San Francisco, swelling after plastic surgery is explained in detail so that appropriate expectations are set from the start. Dr. Henry also provides her patients with comprehensive post-surgical instructions so that they can heal properly and achieve the best possible results as quickly as possible. These instructions include tips that patients can employ to reduce their post-surgical swelling, as well as to ensure their health, reduce their discomfort, and ensure results that will last for years.

Tips to Reduce Swelling

The following tips to reduce swelling after plastic surgery are extremely general; you will, of course, be provided with advice specific to your case and the type of plastic surgery you undergo.

Post-surgical swelling can be reduced by:

• Applying an ice pack or cold compress to the treatment area.
• Keeping the area that was operated elevated.
• Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
• Getting lots of rest and avoiding strenuous exercise during the first two to three weeks after surgery, or as advised specifically by Dr. Henry. Exercise can actually increase swelling.
• Avoiding sun exposure as much as possible and making sure that you stay as cool as possible. Heat can increase and prolong swelling.
• Taking herbal supplements known to reduce swelling, such as bromelain.
• Quitting smoking, at least for the first few weeks after surgery. Smoking interferes with proper healing and can significantly extend your healing period. If you smoke, you may want to try to quit altogether, as doing so will help you maintain the results of your plastic surgery for as long as possible.
• Cutting down on sodium.
• Not taking medications and supplements that thin the blood, such as aspirin, warfarin, vitamin E, and ibuprofen.

In general, it is extremely important that you follow Dr. Henry’s post-surgical instructions to the letter to ensure that your healing period is as comfortable and brief as possible. As a patient, you will play an essential role in your own recovery. By adhering to the recovery plan set forth by Dr. Henry, not only will you minimize the swelling, bruising, and other unwanted side effects that inevitably result from surgery, but you will also be helping to ensure that you achieve the most desirable aesthetic results possible.

Learn More about How to Reduce Swelling after Plastic Surgery

To learn more about how to reduce swelling after plastic surgery, as well as to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Kimberly Henry, please contact our plastic surgery center today.