Why You Can’t Have Plastic Surgery If You Don’t Have a Few Weeks to Recover
Recovery is a critical phase of your plastic surgery plan that allows your body to heal, your tissues to settle, and your results to take shape. Skimping on plastic surgery recovery can compromise your safety and potentially affect your final outcome.
If you are thinking about scheduling a procedure but are not in a position to take a few weeks for yourself now, top Fort Worth Plastic Surgeon Dr. Emily Kirby encourages you to postpone your surgery until you can.
Why Recovery Time Is Essential After Plastic Surgery
Giving yourself the full recommended downtime allows your tissues to heal in the right position, swelling to resolve without delay, and scars to mature to be as smooth and thin as possible. During the first several weeks post-op, your tissues repair themselves and your incisions close. This is when bruising, swelling, and tenderness are most noticeable and when it is most important to follow Dr. Kirby’s activity restrictions.
Rushing back to work, the gym, or social activities too soon can cause unnecessary discomfort and disrupt these healing processes, causing a longer recovery. Straining your tissues before they have fully recovered may cause swelling to worsen, incisions to open, or internal sutures to stretch, all of which can affect the way scars mature and how your results take shape. In some cases, overexertion may compromise your surgical outcome and lead to asymmetry or the need for revision surgery.
“I cannot recommend Dr Kirby and her team enough. The work she does is excellent. She and her team answered all my questions and concerns and made me feel completely at ease. They walked me through every stage and told me what to expect. I am about 3 months post op and am healing wonderfully. I love how easily I can get in touch with them either via phone or email. Always prompt to respond. Everyone in the office is always so welcoming. If I ever want to have any other work done I will be sure to come back to Dr. Kirby!”
Plastic Surgery Recovery Timelines
Every plastic surgery procedure has its own recovery timeline, but many require at least one to two weeks before you can resume desk work and several more before returning to strenuous activities. More complex surgeries, such as body contouring after weight loss, or those that address multiple areas like a mommy makeover, often require additional time.
While everyone heals at a different pace, here is what you can generally expect:
- First week: Rest and light activity only. You will likely need help with household chores and errands.
- Weeks 2-3: Most patients gradually return to light daily activities, and most patients feel ready to go back to desk work and lighter daily tasks.
- Weeks 4-6: Swelling continues to decrease. You can resume most normal activities, but may still need to avoid intense exercise or heavy lifting. Dr. Kirby typically lifts all activity and exercise restrictions at 6 weeks after surgery.
- Months 2-3: Most swelling has resolved and your results are becoming more visible.
Dr. Kirby adjusts plastic surgery recovery guidelines to align with your procedure and anatomy for the smoothest recovery possible and ideal results. Dr. Kirby often says, “we cannot speed up your body’s healing timeline, but we can optimize it.”
Related: 3 Surprising Tips That Can Lead to a Faster Plastic Surgery Recovery
Dr. Kirby’s ERAS Protocols for Rapid Recovery Plastic Surgery
At our Fort Worth plastic surgery office, Dr. Kirby follows an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) approach to help patients feel better sooner while maintaining the highest safety standards.
In this video, Dr. Kirby explains what her rapid recovery plastic surgery protocols include and how they help her patients experience a faster and more comfortable plastic surgery recovery.
Learn More About Plastic Surgery Recovery in Fort Worth
If you are considering a procedure and want to know what your recovery might look like, call or text 817-292-4200 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kirby and our team for personalized guidance on what to expect.
