Having facial plastic surgery can be an exciting time for many people. It can bring up a lot of emotions including anxiety, joy, nervousness, hopefulness, and more. After years of experience performing facial plastic surgery, Dr. Dellinger offers the following three tips for a more successful recovery after the procedure.
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Have Realistic Expectations
During the consultation preceding the surgery, Dr. Dellinger will explain what to expect before, during and after the procedure and answer all of your questions. He will also go over what you can expect while recovering from facial plastic surgery as well as anticipated results. It’s important to have realistic expectations for your results and understand that plastic surgery is a means to improve a physical concern, not change your face entirely or restore it exactly to what it once was.
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Give Yourself Time to Heal
Before your surgery, Dr. Dellinger will provide you with post-operative care instructions to follow while you are recovering at home. These might include any special diet restrictions you should follow, medications you should take or avoid, and any restrictions on activities.
As you are recovering from facial plastic surgery, you might be tempted to do a few physical activities like housework, gardening, or even exercising. To prevent yourself from doing too much too soon, prepare your recovery space ahead of time. Stock it with reading material, have the remote ready to watch your favorite shows and prepare meals ahead of time to make recovery as stress-free as possible.
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Results Take Time
Many patients can’t wait to see their results from facial plastic surgery and expect to see them right away. Although you may notice some initial changes, seeing immediate results is not typical. As your body recovers from plastic surgery, you may see uneven swelling, bruising, and lumps. However, these should diminish as your body heals.
A good rule to follow in the meantime is to realize that the initial appearance will not look like the final results and your face will steadily progress daily towards your final outcome. If you busy yourself with other things, the time will pass more quickly.
