Once you've made it through your cosmetic surgery, the real changes begin.  With your new parts in place and the incisions sewn up, you need to focus now on getting your body to heal properly and to heal quickly.  After all, you want others to see just how great you look now.

The good news is that most cosmetic surgery procedures are using smaller incisions, which means less healing time.  Often, you can go home the same day as your procedure and begin the recuperation process there.

Others might need another day in the hospital before they are ready to be discharged, so to help both potential patients, here are some things to keep in mind.

Going home

When you're having simple facial procedures done, you might not even need to stay for an hour after your surgery is completed.  You can simply walk out and begin to face the world with your new look.  Things like skin resurfacing and Botox are examples of these kinds of procedures.

Other procedures might require that you stick around for a few hours to monitor your pain levels and your heart, but then you will be able to go home.  The medical staff just wants to make sure you aren't having any complications that require their attention.

It can not be stated enough that any postoperative instructions that your surgeon and nursing staff give you might be followed exactly.  You might need to change bandages at certain periods of time or you might need to take antibiotics to prevent infection.

If you do not follow the protocol for your release, you might not only end up with serious complications, but your surgery's results may also be compromised. 

If your surgeon has recommended that you take time off of work, it's a good idea to ask for that time off well ahead of your surgery.  Should the recovery process be faster, you can always go back early.

Here are some tips for when you go home from a surgery:

• Have someone with you for the first 24 hours to assess your pain and to watch out for any problems.  You might have trouble getting up and around for a bit, so this person can help keep you company as well as make sure you're okay.

• Have a place ready for you to sit down and to rest, surgery can take a lot out of you.  Whether it's your bedroom or the couch in the living room, have plenty of blankets, liquids and anything else that might help you feel more comfortable.

• Gather anything you might need before you go home – prescriptions, braces, etc.  This is where your friend or spouse will come in handy when they drive you home.  They can help you gather everything that you need, as prescribed by the doctor.

• Eat light foods at first – Since anesthesia can be upsetting to some stomachs, you may want to avoid larger meals for a day or two until you feel a bit more like normal.  Make sure to drink plenty of water to keep your body's digestion moving too.

• Take any pain pills on the schedule given to you – Even if you're not in pain, keeping the pain pills in your system will help if the pain comes back again or if it begins.  If your stomach feels upset when you take them, try taking them with a little food or milk (unless otherwise told by your doctor).

Realize that you might not feel very well for a day or two, but this is normal.  If you see signs like these, however, you should call your doctor or their office immediately:

• If you have a fever of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit
• If you can not urinate
• If you have extreme pain
• If the incisions look infected – pus, smells, etc.
• If you have bleeding

Do not leave the surgery center until you have the phone numbers of your nurse, your doctor, and anyone else who might be able to help you if you have any questions or concerns.

High end recovery centers

For some people, they need to stay in the surgical center or a day or two to recover.  They might not have someone to stay with them at home, so staying at the recovery center is a better option to make sure they are well enough to go back home on their own.

Many more cosmetic surgery facilities are including these high end recovery centers as a part of their standards of care.  With rooms that seem more like hotel rooms than like hospital beds, you will still get around the clock care, but in a peaceful setting.

Some people also appreciate the care at these recovery centers as they greatly reduce the risk of infection from outside sources, while also allowing a bit of privacy to those who don't want everyone to know that they had a cosmetic procedure.

You can also find some recovery centers which offer additional services to help hasten your recovery.  With services like specific pain pill combinations as well as ointments and creams to help minimize the scarring at your incision sites, you will not only get personalized attention, but also the care that your body deserves.

Long term outlook for your surgery

For most patients, cosmetic surgery offers them a way to change their bodies in a safe manner.  While there may be some initial pain, this will subside for most patients within a matter of days and normal activities can resume within a few weeks.

If you have prepared your body for the surgery and your surgeon is good, you will see significant changes to your body within a couple of days to a couple of months.  Often, many of the changes last a lifetime, while others might need adjusting in a few years.

Facial Surgery 
Eye or face lift, skin cosmetic surgery, rhinoplasty, chin or cheek implants

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