For many, cosmetic surgery is a ray of hope to break free from their existing monotonous look and transform it into a gratifying one. For the rest of their lives, they aspire to flaunt a figure that they dreamt of for a long time.
As they say, “Rome was not built in a day”, the results of cosmetic surgery do not surface overnight either. You may opt for liposuction, breast augmentation, tummy tuck, facial rejuvenation, blepharoplasty, Rhinoplasty, or any other procedure.
In any case, it takes time to deliver perfect results irrespective of the surgery you opted for. Bearing patients during the recovery time is equally essential. Here is an insight into the recovery period of the widely embraced cosmetic procedure.
Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery is an ideal procedure to get away with the fat or skin deposits accumulated around your lower and upper eyelids. Here is all you should know about the recovery milestones of the eyelid surgery.
- 7-10 days: Bruising and swelling around the treated area will subside. This time will also be enough for you to return to work.
- 2-3 weeks: Bruising and swelling will fade gradually
- 4 weeks: You can resume your routine activities in one month post-op.
- 1-3 months: The appearance of your eyes will continue to improve
- 3-6 months: The result will be visible in around 6 months after the surgery.
Brow lift
This surgery requires your surgeon to raise your eyebrows to make your forehead free from wrinkles and fine lines.Also known as Browplasty or forehead lift, the surgery aims at tightening the forehead muscles by eliminating unwanted skin and fat in the area around the forehead.
Here is the timeline of the recovery milestones following this surgery:
- 7-10 days: Suture removal takes place for enhanced comfort and better recovery
- First – second week: Initial healing starts. Bruising and swelling may persist but may start reducing
- week: You can resume work in the second week itself. Just avoid straining your brows. Within two weeks, you will also notice a significant decrease in the bruises and swollen areas.
- 3-6 months: It will take around 3-6 months for the result of the browlift to surface, depending on your healing capability. By this time, you will recover completely.
Rhinoplasty
This facial surgery relates to correcting the damaged or unappealing features of the nose. The surgeon performs nose surgery due to medical reasons or any aesthetic purpose. For both procedures, the healing period requires the patients to bear patience. Here is a glance at the recovery milestones and the associated duration of this surgery.
- First week: There will be initial bruising around the eyes. But you can resume normal activities cautiously. It is better to avoid sun exposure for better healing.
- Second week: Most of the facial bruising and swelling will subside
- Third to four week: Can resume your Cardiovascular exercises as recommended by your doctor
- Three to six months: The Numbness and abnormal skin sensations will vanish completely by this time.
Abdominoplasty
The surgeon performs tummy tuck or Abdominoplasty usually in combination with other surgeries such as body lift, mommy makeover, etc. The procedure involves the removal of excess fat and skin from the abdomen and the tightening of weak fascia. At times, women opt for it to get away with the pregnancy stretch marks below their belly button. Here is the timeline for a sound recovery after this procedure.
- Immediately after surgery: You will wake up from anesthesia. The medical team will carry out Incisions bandaging and dressing, and secure the treated area with a compression garment. The team can also place drainage tubes for fluid drainage.
- 3 days post-op: You may feel initial discomfort with restricted mobility, pain bruising, and tenderness. This will continue for around 2 weeks.
- First to second week: Drain removal will take place. Avoid driving, exercising, or heavy lifting during this period.
- Second to third week: You will notice a significant change in the shape and contour of your stomach. Swelling, pain, and midsection tightness will also subside.
- First to Second month: You can now resume working and doing light activities. You may notice a reduction in swelling, residual numbness, pulling sensation, and bruising during this time. Incisions that may still appear raised and red will start healing.
- Second month: Can resume most of your normal activities safely and perform phased weight training as instructed by the surgeon.
- 1 year post-op: This time will be enough for complete healing of the abdominal area with final visual results. There may be faded incision scars, invisible under clothing. You will get new contours and curves because of the surgery.
Breast Augmentation
The procedure of breast augmentation requires the surgeon to transfer fat or use breast implants to augment the size of the women’s breasts. Also popular among the patients as augmentation mammoplasty or boob job, it helps the females to feel more confident about their bodies. Women also opt for it to rebuild their breasts after a significant size reduction due to pregnancy or weight loss. The surgery is prevalent to correct breast asymmetry as well. Here is the timeline and milestones for recovery from breast augmentation surgery.
- 1-2 days post-op: Take rest and refrain from lifting arms and unnecessary activity in the first two days. Take short walks for circulation. You may face soreness and discomfort.
- 3-5 days: Slight pain and minor bleeding can occur that will subside with prescribed medicine. The recovery will continue. Keep monitoring your condition.
- First week: Pain reduction, switch from prescription to over-the-counter medication. May do light activities if the doctor allows.
- One month: After around 4 weeks of the surgery, your body will resume performing half of the normal functionality. You can suffer from slight soreness and swelling. Avoid strenuous tasks like lifting heavy objects.
- First to Second month: You will attain full recovery. Your implants will settle properly. The formation of a new capsule will start. Keep following the doctor’s instructions.
Final words
All these procedures are likely to leave behind scars developed due to the incisions created at the treated sites to perform the procedure. The surgeons are dexterous at suturing these wounds, but they will take time to heal completely.
In a year or so, you may expect the scars to contract remodel, and vanish. In case the scar marks persist, you can opt for a scar revision procedure. For perfect healing of the scars, applying sunscreen, scar gels, or topical vitamin E every day would be advisable.
For complete information about your preferred procedure and the recovery timeline, consulting with an experienced cosmetic surgeon would be advisable.
