Cosmetic Surgery for Summer: Recovery Time
If you’re considering a cosmetic surgery tune up for summer, you may be wondering whether recovery time will allow you to enjoy your new body this coming season. Here’s what we tell our New York cosmetic surgery patients about how soon they can visit the pool or the shore following three popular body contouring procedures.
Breast Augmentation
Although many women are choosing to go smaller than in years past, breast augmentation is still the first or second most popular cosmetic surgery in New York and across the nation. Some choose breast enhancement to “refill” sagging skin after pregnancy and nursing, others want to supplement what Mother Nature gave them or address an issue such as tuberous breasts or marked asymmetry. Most women elect implants, but more and more often we are transferring fat to the breasts for modest enhancement.
No matter which approach you choose, breast augmentation does not involve a great deal of trauma. With implants, you’ll want to take it easy and prevent extra swelling for a week or two. After that, you may be near bathing suit ready, though you may want more coverage and support than a string bikini for a while longer. If you have breast enlargement with fat transfer, recovery will be about the same or perhaps a bit shorter.
Liposuction
Both men and women can benefit from liposuction prior to getting out the warm weather wardrobe. Men tend to target the torso, electing liposuction to banish love handles or as part of a male breast reduction procedure. Women often want some help getting rid of a tummy pooch or reducing saddlebags and chubby knees.
Although you will notice almost immediate improvement in your contours after surgery, you’ll need to allow a few weeks before donning skimpy clothes. Liposuction does bring swelling and bruising along with it, plus you will probably have a compression garment to wear to help manage the healing process. Depending on the extent of treatment, you will be able to reveal your new appearance to the world in a few weeks to about two months.
Tummy Tuck
There’s a reason people are so satisfied with tummy tuck surgery, also called abdominoplasty. For many, it delivers what exercise and dieting just can’t achieve: a flatter, more youthful looking belly. This is particularly true for women whose tissues have been stretched beyond the bounce-back point by pregnancy or for people who have experienced dramatic weight fluctuations.
We customize each tummy tuck we perform to suit our patients’ needs. Most procedures involve some light liposuction, plus suturing lax muscles and lifting and removing excess skin. Although final healing may take up to six months, initial swelling will be mostly gone in a week or two. You may feel ready to shop for a new bathing suit—probably a one-piece—in just a few weeks.
Recovery Tips
There are a few things we tell our New York cosmetic surgery patients they must do following any body contouring procedure:
• Refrain from doing too much too soon—extra swelling will be the result
• Wear compression garments and surgical dressings as directed
• Cover up incision sites in the sun to ensure scars do not darken
• Call us with any questions at all, including how soon to be active
Body contouring plastic surgery is as rewarding for us as it is for our patients. As new silhouettes are revealed in post-op visits, there’s joy all around! Call us if you’re interested in talking about a new shape for summer: 212-570-6080.
