Planning: Surgery Recovery
Return to Normal Life
- Work: At least one week off
- Social Calendar: Varies per patient preference. Average 2 weeks
- Errands: completed before surgery week
Driver
- Have a trusted companion available your entire surgery day
Home Surgery Recovery Set Up and Schedule
- Clean bedding and pillow cases
- Meals pre-planned
- While awake, ice for 15 minutes every hour (for 3 days after surgery)
- For skin resurfacing, vinegar soaks 4 times a day the first week
Items to Acquire
- Zip-loc bags (snack size recommended)
- Frozen Peas/Corn Syrup
- Portawipes (icing barrier)
- Cervical Pillow
- White Vinegar*
- Distilled Water*
- Tylenol: discomfort control
- Artificial Tears
- Incision +/- Skin Ointment
Activity Restrictions/Guidelines
- No strenuous activity (working out, sex, etc.) for 2 weeks
- No contacts for 2 weeks
- No airplane travel for 1-2 weeks
- No eye makeup for 4 weeks
- Can shower 24 hours after surgery (avoid face)
- Resting at home for one week
- Can take short daily walks outside
Healing Phases
When Will I Be Comfortable Being Seen?
Expect visual healing (bruising, swelling, incision changes) to be obvious the first two weeks. Afterwards, you will still be healing, but in a less obvious way. Healing takes about 3-6 months to fully settle in. Most patients have resumed their normal social life at about 2 weeks. However, this varies per patient preference, comfort, individual healing, and procedure(s) performed.
*Skin Treatments (chemical peel, micro needling, laser, multifrax)
