Whether you’re planning on having a facelift, breast augmentation or a tummy tuck, recovery time after plastic surgery is probably a concern. The good news is that the steps you take now to prepare for your upcoming procedure can dramatically improve any downtime after an aesthetic procedure.

When consulting any reputable clinic regarding a plastic surgery procedure, you will be s presented with pre-operative guidelines on booking a procedure and also post-operative guidance.

In an effort to prepare you for your upcoming procedure, we've created a list of general pre-operative and post-operative guidelines coming from one of the best plastic surgeons in London, Rozina Ali, to help you adequately prepare ahead of time.

Set your expectations realistically

Read the guidance, read the information, pay attention to the consent form, talk to your consultant and set realistic expectations – both for the day of surgery and for the ultimate outcome of the procedure – this is key to having a successful plastic surgery experience. The art of happiness is to manage your expectations.

On the day of the procedure make sure you thoroughly understand what to expect. No surprises on the day of surgery - you don’t want to set yourself up to be confused by anything, as your procedure should be a predictable, planned and calm experience.

Do not forget that amazing results don’t happen overnight. Depending on your procedure, you may have a recovery period to get through before you can truly enjoy the results of your surgery. You want to be realistic about the transformation that your body is going through and well informed about the expected outcome.

Refrain from smoking for at least 4 weeks leading up to the surgery

This is one of the most significant and important pre-operative steps. Along with other well-documented effects, smoking and excessive tobacco consumption have on a patients’ long-term health, tobacco use leading up to surgery is a no-no for aesthetic procedures and can have adversely catastrophic effects on wound healing, infection rates, recovery, and results.

Since aestehtic surgery is expensive, long-desired and planned surgery, there is almost no excuse for smoking. Expect to be cancelled on the day if you are still smoking or exposed to excessive smoke. There is no need to embark on a surgical procedure if you’re not prepared and are sabotaging your own outcomes.

Smoking, nicotine, to be exact, reduces circulation to the skin, and therefore impedes healing, and can lead to major postoperative complications. As a general rule of thumb, smokers tend to have more noticeable scarring after cosmetic surgery. The longer something takes to heal, the more noticeable the scar will be.

Get Enough Essential Nutrients

You should supplement your diet before and after surgery with high levels of vitamin A, vitamin C, zinc, copper and selenium. Each plays a role in wound healing and in building the immune system thereby reducing the chance of infection. Obtaining sufficient nutrients is especially important for recovery after large or extensive procedures such as a facelift or tummy tuck.

Aim to consume a rainbow of colours every day, which means getting as many fruits and vegetables on your plate as possible. In produce, various colours represent different vitamins and nutrients. As such, eating yellow, red, green, pink, orange, and purple fruits and veggies will maximize your diet’s nutritional value, which sets your body up for a rapid and fibre-rich from any surgery.

Bonus tip:

Discontinue Medications

To minimize bleeding and bruising, avoid aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and cod liver oils ideally 3 weeks before surgery. Various over the counter (OTC) medications can have blood-thinning effects, so mention them in advance to your consultant

Likewise, some nutritional supplements may cause adverse reactions during or after surgery, including prolonged bleeding, interference with anaesthesia, cardiovascular disturbances, and interactions with prescription drugs. These supplements including dong quai, echinacea, fish oil caps, garlic, ginger, ginkgo Biloba, ginseng and vitamin E, should be discontinued 2 weeks prior to surgery, and 2 weeks after surgery.

By following these pre-surgery guidelines, you can greatly reduce the risk of complications and promote better surgical results. Planning is the secret to experiencing the best and most enjoyable plastic surgery outcomes. Thus, full disclosure is key and always make sure to take every precaution for a safe procedure and great results.

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