Want less downtime from a major cosmetic surgery? With the latest in surgical prep, healing helpers and responsible pain management, you can recuperate from an aesthetic procedure faster than ever before. Get back to work and play on your own terms with this expert-curated guide to enhanced recovery.
Developed by Houston plastic surgeon Olga Bachilo, MD this step-by-step playbook will take you from pre-to-post procedure for less downtime and better results. And like many aspects of plastic surgery, it all starts with a clear conversation with your doctor.
What to Do Before Surgery
“The number-one thing to enhance a recovery is really laying out those expectations for the patients,” Dr. Bachilo says. “A thorough pre-op visit is very important so that patients know what to expect, what they need to have at home and how to really prepare for surgery.”
Smaller aesthetic procedures don’t necessarily require too much preparation before you go under the knife, however, Dr. Bachilo explains that for larger surgeries there are some things you can do to help your body recover.
“Protein is very important for large procedures,” she says. “Patients need to be eating a lot of protein leading up to surgery, and after surgery having a protein supplement on hand will help expedite their healing and reduce the chance of infection.”
You can also act against swelling and inflammation before your procedure.
“We utilize things like arnica before surgery,” Dr. Bachilo explains. “That reduces swelling and bruising. Appropriate hydration is also crucial.”
A Non-Narcotic Recovery
One of the biggest hurdles to surgical recovery is pain management. And at the center of that is the issue of whether to prescribe narcotics to manage that pain post-op.
“There are two types of patients when it comes to narcotics,” Dr. Bachilo says. “The first group is afraid to take them at all, and they would rather be in pain and have a bad recovery period than risk taking a narcotic. The second group will take the medication but feel like it’s not enough and ask for more.”
Dr. Bachilo doesn’t use narcotics at all.
“Our protocol includes things like IV Tylenol, muscle relaxants and options like Gabapentin for two weeks,” she explains. “And they begin that medication the night before, so that their pain signals are fully blocked before surgery.”
If pain becomes an issue during recovery, there are non-narcotic options.
“My patients can also get Tramadol for breakthrough pain, but most of them never end up taking a single pill,” Dr. Bachilo explains.
Taking narcotics out of the equation doesn’t just protect patients from potentially developing a dependency.
“My patients aren’t nauseated or constipated after surgery,” Dr. Bachilo says. “Because they’re not taking narcotics, they feel great and can return to normal function. Most of the time, they’re able to work from home as early as a day or two after the anesthetic wears off, which is a game-changer.”
How to Heal Faster
Protein comes back into play post-surgery to speed along the recovery process.
“Protein is actually very important to help stitches close quickly,” Dr. Bachilo says. “I have patients increase their protein intake, especially if it’s a large surgery like a body lift.”
And while it’s important not to touch or stretch incisions, you shouldn’t expect to be bed-bound.
“I want all my patients up and moving,” she explains. “Being up and moving is a critical part of your recovery process. Staying in bed is not going to help.”
Combined, this approach helps patients return to their daily lives quickly and allows for recovery to occur without risking your results.
