Healing and Recovery

All invasive procedures will cause swelling. Swelling in cosmetic procedures can by great. So great, that some patients may be alarmed by the magnitude and length of time involved in swelling. Surgery also causes scars. Our aim is to make the scars inconspicuous. By definition, all surgical procedures are invasive. This sets off an automatic sequence of events in the body aimed at healing itself. The speed of these events cannot be hurried. All healthy people heal by the same course with little variation.

This timeline of healing shows how each step of the healing process affects common types of elective surgery. It is not an absolute schedule and some variation is not uncommon. However, all surgical areas, regardless of the type of surgery preformed, will undergo the following steps of healing.

	-The body swells in response to the "injury" produced by surgery. -Swelling is maximal at 3-5 days. -Bruising may be visible. -You will fatigue easily as your body uses all its resources to heal the "injury". Facelift and Eye Tuck The eyes, cheeks & neck will swell and bruise. Liposuction / Tummy Tuck The treated areas may appear bigger then pre-op. Facelift and Eye Tuck The eyes, cheeks & neck will swell and bruise. Breast Augmentation / Lift Swelling of the entire chest and upper abdomen with scattered numbness. Rhinoplasty The nose, cheeks, and eyes are swollen and bruised.
	The ground work for healing is delivered by the body into the surgical sites. The operative swelling from the first week has decreased. A stiffer feel or "thickening" still remains in the operated areas. Wounds begin to appear pink and thicker. The size of the operated site begins to decrease. You tire less often, but your stamina is still low. Opening eyes and moving the neck is easier, although the eyelid margins are still thick. Some areas treated may feel "fuzzy" or numb. Surgical sites begin to reshape and contract. Less tension on the skin and easier movement of the breast tissue or implant with less pain. Some areas may have lingering scattered numbness. Bruising and swelling around the eyes and cheeks decreases. Internal nasal swelling improves but the nasal tip stays swollen and tipped upward.
	The body increases the rate of softening of the surgical sites and scars. Intermittent episodes of swelling in operated areas are not uncommon especially after exercise or other activities. Rule of thumb: the texture and color of your external scars reflect the process in the deeper layers. The eyes appear "brighter" and the scars are less pink. Cheek swelling decreases but settles more under the chin. The areas treated are showing more rapid contraction and decreasing pain. The lower abdomen just above the tummy tuck scar may remain swollen. Softening of the lower part of the breast and early transformation to the "pear shape". Tenderness is less near the upper bones and the hump area begins to soften. The nasal tip, although improved, remains swollen.
	Continuous subtle further remodeling. Skin and scars are now more supple and can easily be squeezed or rolled between two fingers without pain. Scars begin to fade and soften. Cheek and neck areas remain stiff but minimally swollen. Continued remodeling and shrinkage of skin. Swelling just above the tummy tuck scar decreasing. Relaxation of the tissues allowing a more natural appearance. Better definition of the upper nose and tip, but the lower tip area may remain thick and stiff.
	More extensive procedures, nasal surgery, or surgery in previously scarred areas may continue with pink scars and vague stiffness of the area. Gradual subtle changes can continue for up to one year or more in any operated site.
	If multiple procedures are preformed, assume the longest time period for recovery and public appearances. Eyes / Face: 14 - 21 Days Breast: 3 - 7 Days Liposuction: 3 - 7 Days Tummy Tuck: 10 - 14 Days Rhinoplasty: 10 - 14 Days