What You Should Do Before and After Plastic Surgery
The decision to undergo plastic surgery requires a great deal of thoughtful consideration. Most patients spend months or even years choosing a plastic surgeon, checking into their board certification, reading reviews, and carefully examining pictures of previous patients. They read about the procedure they want to undergo and compile pictures that highlight the specific feature they want to address so that they can make their desires as clear as possible. Unfortunately, too many patients believe that the effort ends there, that once they have chosen a plastic surgeon the final outcome is completely in that surgeon’s hands. This, however, is not entirely true. In fact, there are a number of things that you can do, as a patient, both before and after your surgery, that can help ensure that you obtain the best possible plastic surgery results.
Before the Surgery
The path to an optimal plastic surgery outcome begins during the very first surgical consultation. Be prepared to answer detailed questions about any medical conditions, drug allergies, and medical treatments you are currently undergoing, as well as your use of medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drugs, as all of these can play significant roles in your surgery and recovery. Ask detailed questions about any aspect of the procedure that might be unclear, including what approach the plastic surgeon will use and where the procedure will be performed. Most importantly, make sure that your expectations are realistic and that both you and your surgeon have the same vision of what your outcome will be. A free and open exchange of information during the consultation process will allow you to make truly informed decisions about key surgical details and maximize your overall satisfaction with the final results.
After the Surgery
Plastic surgery doesn’t really end as soon as you leave the hospital or surgical center. The way in which your body is allowed to heal can also have significant and long-lasting effects on your eventual appearance. In our experience, the majority of complications after plastic surgery procedures are the result of either unforeseen environmental factors that arise at home or the failure of the patient to follow all of their post-operative instructions. By diligently attending all of your recommended follow-up appointments, you can help make sure that any potential problems are addressed early, before they can seriously impact your final plastic surgery results, and by carefully adhering to all of your post-operative care instructions you can maximize your own comfort and help ensure that your recovery goes as smoothly as possible.
Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. is the most experienced plastic surgery center in Atlanta, and has been recognized throughout the medical community as the Southeast’s premier cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery center for almost fifty years. Each one of our seven plastic surgeons is a board certified plastic surgeon with years of experience and superlative patient reviews. If you would like to explore your options in plastic surgery or have questions about any of the plastic surgery procedures we provide, contact us at one of our Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cumming, or Newnan offices. Also, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest news and updates.
