Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Articles

Thanks to reality TV, we’ve come to live almost exclusively in either the before or the after. Everything in between has been edited down to a few seconds. But life demands more patience than that.

A question I’m often asked is, “After my surgery, when can I get back to exercising again?” Their reaction sometimes is disbelief when they hear weeks and they were expecting days. Preparing for plastic surgery, both physically and mentally, is critical, and a big part of that is setting realistic expectations for your recovery.

I love the drive of someone who’s determined to go for a run or get back in the gym a few days after a major surgical procedure, but rushing your recovery opens you up to all sorts of complications and even another surgery. Apply that focus and willpower to your recovery instead.

Everyone heals at a different pace, so two people may undergo the same procedure, but one could start exercising after plastic surgery a week or two before the other. The answer I offer in my consultations, and what you’ll find online, is merely an estimate. Above all, listen to your body. If something’s causing swelling or discomfort, pull back.

Framing expectations

Before we dismiss them altogether, there is value in the estimates. They give us a framework to build our expectations around when you can begin exercising after plastic surgery. So, here’s a general timeline:

• Two weeks after surgery: The bruising and swelling should have significantly subsided. You should continue to avoid strenuous activities, but begin lengthening your walks as your energy and stamina returns.
• Four weeks after surgery: With your surgeon’s approval, you should be ready to start some light cardio, but nothing more intense just yet.
• Six weeks after surgery: You should be completely healed. Again, with your surgeon’s approval, you can start easing back into your regular exercise regimen. Don’t expect to pick up where you left off, though.

Heeding particular precautions

Just as everyone heals at their own rate, each procedure comes with its own precautions. After breast augmentation, for example, especially with implants under the muscle, try to avoid strenuous chest exercises, like pushups. The contraction places downward and outward pressure on them, which, over time, can result, in the implants dropping or becoming displaced.

If you’ve had a nose job and your nose starts to hurt, or it bleeds or swells during or immediately after exercising, contact your surgeon. And even if you’re exercising without any trouble, you need to be mindful of being hit in the nose by someone else or a piece of equipment before it’s fully healed, which, for some, could be up to a year.

When it comes to injectables and to create great botox results we tell patients not to lay down or workout for at least four hours. Many times terrific Botox results and amazing lips rely on following post-injectable procedures.

In time, these thoughts will gravitate toward the back of your mind, and exercise will become second nature again. The more conscientious you are during your recovery, the sooner that time will come when you can return to exercising after plastic surgery.

At Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, we wanted to give you an insight from our very own Certified CoolSculpting Expert. Donna has helped our practice earn the Certificate of Excellence in CoolSculpting. Here she answers our most asked questions from patients:

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background:

I’ve been in healthcare for 30 years, most of them in cardiology and spine. I’ve traveled nationally and internationally to train cardiologists with cutting edge technology and treatments for patients. I gained a lot of experience with setting expectations, training in healthcare, and the body in general. I am a Certified CoolSculpting Expert, Certified Integrative Holistic Nutrition Coach, and Reiki Master.

My years of experience have helped me with addressing not just the unwanted fat that the patient is concerned with but in the knowledge of the body as a whole. CoolSculpting is an art, and a skill.

What is a typical consultation?

A typical consultation at Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery is very thorough. It will last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. The patient will discuss their areas of unwanted fat that they’re concerned with, and we assess and plan a treatment regimen specifically tailored for their needs.

What do most patients coming in ask about?

A lot of patients come in asking for gender neutral areas. The midsection is the most popular. Women want anything from their chin to their knees CoolSculpted. Men mostly want their abdomen or their chest – we have treated the most male chests in the country, along with Flyers legend Bernie Parent.

How does it work?

The technical term of fat freezing is called cryolipolysis, a non-invasive way to break down fat cells in the body, which then shows a reduction of body fat to the treated area. To patients – anything that’s squeezeable is freezeable! Wherever an applicator is attached on the body, it will freeze at least 20% of fat. Your body absorbs it naturally and eliminates it naturally. It takes one to three months to see results.

Who is a good candidate?

Almost everyone is a good candidate. The best ones are patients who have realistic expectations and I can help them reach their goals with CoolSculpting. The great thing about Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery is there are many different options for patients. If they are not a candidate for CoolSculpting, they may be a better candidate for a surgical procedure, such as liposuction or BodyTite, or another non-invasive procedure like radiofrequency for skin tightening. Our job is to educate the patient and help them reach their goal through the best option.

Why should I get CoolSculpting done here by a Certified CoolSculpting Expert?

It comes down to experience. We are a Certified CoolSculpting Practice with many success stories, but more than that we care about our patients. It’s about the experience – we offer a full work center so that you don’t have to disconnect if you don’t want to. You can get other procedures done that the same time, such as Botox and fillers! Or, if you want to relax, we also offer and ways to do that all while freezing away your fat.