Summer is a time of fun, relaxation, and outdoor activities for many of us. And, given that it’s a time when most kids are out of school, and there’s less to do, it’s a good time to get plastic surgery – because the recovery process will be easy!
However, there are some things that you should bear in mind if you have had plastic surgery in the summer, and are healing from your procedure. Here are our top tips for summer plastic surgery recovery.
We get it – it’s summer, so you want to go on vacations, weekend trips, hikes, and beach trips and more!
But if you’ve recently had plastic surgery, you don’t want to overdo it. You need time to recover. Usually, you will need at least two weeks off of work (start saving those vacation days!) and about six to eight weeks before you resume your normal day-to-day activities and physical exercise.
Make sure that you take your recovery period into consideration when scheduling vacations, trips, and other activities – and that you’re not overbooked, or doing too much before you’re fully healed.
Sun protection is critical for the health of your skin, but it’s even more important after plastic surgery. Plastic surgery can increase your susceptibility to sunburn.
Not only that, the scar tissue of your incisions can take several months to fully “mature” – which means that it can become permanently darkened if it’s exposed to too much sun.
Stay out of the sun as much as possible. When you do go outside, try to stay in the shade, cover up with loose, UV-blocking garments, sunglasses, and large floppy hats – and cover up any exposed skin with SPF 50+ sunscreen.
Related: 7 Ways to Prevent Plastic Surgery Scars
Swimming in the summer is a blast – but if you’re still recovering from plastic surgery, you’ve got to skip the pool, spa, lake, or ocean. Sorry, but all bodies of water can harbor dangerous pathogens, which can increase your risk of infection. Wait until any incisions or other affected areas have fully healed before getting in any body of water.
Proper hydration and nutrition are important for speeding up the healing process, and helping you recover more quickly from plastic surgery. Make sure that you are drinking at least 8 cups of water a day, and consider keeping a water bottle in your purse or car wherever you go, to ensure you can stay hydrated. It’s also important to eat a protein-rich diet, which will aid your body’s healing.
You should also avoid too much alcohol. A beer or a glass of wine is fine, but drinking too much can dehydrate you, and negatively affect the healing process. Stay stocked up your favorite non-alcoholic beverages and water.
If temperatures are soaring, you may need to stay inside. You’ll likely have to wear extra layers such as bandages, compression garments, and other recovery clothing immediately after surgery.
This can make warm, sunny days uncomfortable – and increase your risk of heat stroke or dehydration if you do go outside. So if the forecast says it’s going to be seriously hot, do your best to stay indoors in a climate-controlled environment.
Stay cool, stay comfortable, and you’ll make a full recovery before you know it!
If you follow the above tips, you’ll be able to recover from your plastic surgery quickly, and still be able to enjoy everything that the summer has to offer.
Got more questions or comments – or interested in a cosmetic procedure? Please contact the Advanced Center for Plastic Surgery now! We’re always happy to hear from prospective patient, and answer your questions.