When it comes to aesthetic plastic surgery, achieving the best results can only be accomplished when the patient and the surgeon work together towards the same goal. The patient has a big responsibility in the result of his/her surgery. From following preoperative instructions to adhering to a skin maintenance routine, the patient plays a key role in the success and longevity of the surgery. In a previous blog, we talked about the importance of choosing the right plastic surgeon to do your procedure. Today, we are going to explain the importance of patient compliance in attaining the best outcomes in facial plastic surgery.
Before the surgery: eat healthy, exercise plenty
The state of your health dictates how well the surgical incisions will heal, the amount of swelling you will experience and the result that you will attain. A healthy diet and plenty of aerobic exercise will go a long way to speed up your recovery. Eating fresh fruits, fish and raw vegetables, while avoiding fast food and saturated fats, will curb the postoperative inflammation and discomfort.
After surgery: maintenance therapy to prolong the effects of your surgery
It has been a week since your surgery, the stitches are out, and the prospect of a younger appearance makes you very excited. Your surgeon handled the tissues with great care, he made sure that the skin incisions were strategically designed, and he practiced flawless surgical technique. Now is your time to contribute to the outcome of the operation. There are multiple things that you can do to assure a good result:
Magnet therapy. Pulsed Magnetic Therapy devices regulate metabolic processes in human tissues and improve localized blood circulation by relaxing the smooth muscle surrounding the blood vessels. This will reduce bruising and swelling in the operated area, especially after lower eyelid surgery or a facelift. Magnetotherapy also has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects that help to decrease pain and swelling while you recover from plastic surgery. We recommend 8 to 10 sessions of this therapy, starting on week two after surgery. This represents and extra expense, but the benefits are worth your investment.
Botox maintenance. Many plastic surgery procedures are performed to eliminate wrinkles and lift tissues that descend with age. This descent, and the wrinkles associated with it, is primarily caused by the effect that the muscles of facial expression have on the collagen of the skin. Botox works by relaxing these muscles. Applying Botox to the areas that have been operated will prolong the results of the surgery by relaxing the muscles that work against the vectors that define a young face.
Sun protection. Sunlight and UV radiation are the primary environmental factors responsible for the aging of our face. They are especially harmful for the thin skin of the eyelids. Sun protection is essential to preserve the youthful appearance of the skin and prevent the onset of new wrinkles. Another reason to wear sun protection after plastic surgery is to protect the incisions from its harmful effects. During the first 6 months after surgery, the incisions must be protected if you want to prevent unsightly scars and skin pigmentation.
Become a part of the process
Now that you have decided to invest in your appearance, we invite you to become a part of the healing process. Plastic surgery is an investment that will last for a lifetime, so do everything in your power to guarantee a wonderful result!
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