Planning for Recovery After Plastic Surgery
How to prepare for the days and weeks after surgery: help at home, what to ask the surgeon, and warning signs that need prompt attention.
Recovery is as much a part of surgery as the operation. Planning ahead makes it safer and less stressful. This guide covers general points; your surgeon's instructions for your procedure come first.
Before the day of surgery
- Ask for written pre-operative instructions, including when to stop eating and drinking and which medications and supplements to stop.
- Arrange a ride home and a responsible adult to stay with you, usually for at least the first night. Ask the surgeon how long you will need help.
- Prepare the house: put what you need within easy reach, stock soft or easy food, and arrange clean bedding and pillows for resting in the position the surgeon advises.
- Fill prescriptions ahead of time if you can.
- Ask about clothing or compression garments you will need.
Time off and activity
Ask how long to expect to be away from work, driving, exercise and lifting, and ask what counts as light activity. Healing times vary by procedure and by person, so a general number from the internet is not a plan. Ask the surgeon's office for a written timeline and ask what to do if you feel ready earlier or later than expected.
Pain and medication
Ask what pain medication you will receive and how to take it safely. Ask about non-opioid options. Do not combine pain medicine with alcohol or other sedatives, and store medications safely and out of reach of others. Ask what to do about nausea or constipation, which are common after surgery and anesthesia.
Leftover pain medicine
When you no longer need prescription pain medicine, the FDA says the best way to get rid of most medicines is a drug take-back program: a DEA-authorized collection site, a pharmacy drop-off kiosk, a mail-back envelope or a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day event. If no take-back option is readily available:
- Check the label, the patient leaflet or the FDA's flush list. Only medicines on that list should be flushed.
- Otherwise, take the medicine out of its container, mix it with something undesirable such as used coffee grounds, dirt or cat litter, seal it in a bag or container, and put it in the household trash.
- Scratch out your personal information on the empty packaging before throwing it away.
Warning signs
Ask the surgeon which symptoms need a call and which need emergency care. Common examples that doctors tell patients to report include a fever, increasing redness, warmth or discharge at the incision, swelling that is quickly getting worse on one side, pain not controlled by the prescribed medication, or a wound that opens. Chest pain, trouble breathing, or swelling and pain in one leg need emergency care: call 911. Know the after-hours number before you leave.
If you have an implant or injected product
If you received breast implants, the FDA requires a patient device card that records the implant's serial or lot number, style and size. Keep it with your medical records, because you or a future surgeon may need those details. For other implants and for fillers, ask the practice to write down the product name and lot number before you leave. Report a problem with an implant, filler or other device to your surgeon, and you can also report it to the FDA through MedWatch.
Follow-up visits
Ask how many follow-up visits are included in the fee and when they are scheduled. Keep them. If you live far from the surgeon, ask who will see you for a problem. Surgeons who operate on patients who travel from other states or countries should have a plan for follow-up care, and you should know it before you go. See the CDC's page on medical tourism for the risks of surgery abroad.
Emotional recovery
It is common to feel anxious or low in the first weeks, when swelling and bruising hide the final result. Tell your surgeon if sadness lasts or worsens, and talk with someone you trust. Patients who want to change something many times over, or who are unhappy with a result that looks good to others, may benefit from talking with a mental health professional.
Revisions and results
Final results can take months. Ask what the practice's revision policy is in writing before surgery, and ask who pays for the facility and anesthesia if a revision is needed. If you are unhappy, talk to your surgeon first. If you cannot resolve a problem, you can seek a second opinion from another surgeon.
Ask for a copy of your operative report and records to take with you. Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, a covered provider must act on a request for your records within 30 days, with one 30-day extension allowed, and may charge only a reasonable, cost-based fee for copies (45 CFR 164.524). A concern about a physician's care or conduct can go to the state medical board, and a concern about a surgery center or office facility to the state health department.
We list registry records and do not rate or recommend any provider. This is general information, not medical advice. Follow your surgeon's instructions.
Packing and practical details
Ask what to bring to the facility on the day: comfortable, front-opening clothing is often suggested, along with photo ID, insurance information and your medication list. Leave valuables at home. Ask whether to remove nail polish, jewelry or contact lenses. Arrange care for children and pets, and ask a friend to handle meals or errands for the first days. Small preparations such as these make it easier to rest, which is what your body needs.
Ask for it in writing
Ask the practice for written instructions for before and after surgery, with phone numbers, and keep them where you and your helper can find them. Instructions you receive while groggy from anesthesia are easy to forget, so make sure your helper has heard them too.
General information only, current as of the date above. The information on Plastic Surgery Index is not medical advice and does not replace a doctor, nurse, discharge planner or other qualified professional. Do not use it to make decisions about diagnosis or treatment. If you have a medical emergency, call 911. Rules and programs change; check the official sources linked in this guide.