Recovery Tips

Facelift recovery tips

A facelift is a general term for a surgical procedure designed to lift and reposition the tissues of the face that have sagged with time. There are many different types of face lift procedures but they all share a similar recovery process.

Things to do to prepare yourself for surgery:

• Make sure you are not smoking, this includes second hand smoke, and any use of nicotine products.
• Get your hair colored before surgery if you wish because you will want to wait another month after surgery before doing it again.
• Stop any Retinol products two weeks prior.

Things to do for your recovery:

• Wear your head wrap or facial garment as directed by Dr. Repta. Depending on the procedure, you may not have a facial garment that you have to wear
• Keep your head elevated. You will want to sleep with a low profile pillow to allow your head/neck to be in a neutral position as opposed to being bent down.
• Keep your incisions clean and covered with Bacitracin ointment for the first two days.
• Avoid all strenuous activities.
• Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. You should be going to the bathroom every two hours if you are properly hydrated.
• If you have a drain, make sure it is compressed and suctioning. If it is filled or expanded it may be full or unplugged.

What to expect during the first week:

• Expect swelling.
• Possible bruising.
• Possible decreased sensitivity in some areas of the face.
• You may be sent home in a head wrap or facial garment and/or a drain.
• Expect to be eating softer food due to chewing purposes.

Most commonly asked questions:

• What is the difference between the traditional facelift and the short scar facelift? There are many different types of facelift procedures and all have different names. Sometimes the names can be confusing so it is important to consider what you would like to accomplish and then accept the facelift procedure that will give you those results regardless of its name.
• How long will facelifts last for? Facelift results can last many years, but they depend on several factors such as skin quality, hereditary factors, lifestyle, and sun exposure and vary per patient.
• What are the most common procedures to have done with a facelift? This varies per patient but may include brow-lift, micro fat grafting, neck lift, chin implants, lasers, eyelid lift.

Learn more about facelift surgery »

Simple tips leading up to your amazing experience of having a Breast Augmentation all the way through to a speedy recovery

Things to prepare yourself prior to surgery:

• Bring in photos from magazines, websites, and or any other form to be able to accurately show Dr. Repta your vision.
• Think about the “look you want”. Whether you might want a more natural look or a more augmented look.
• Think about how you want your breasts to feel. Whether you want them to be a more firm feel or a softer feel.

Things to to do for recovery:

• Sleep on your back for the first few days and if possible in a recliner chair.
• Keep tape covering your incisions to help minimize scarring.
• Apply ice packs 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off of your breasts.
• Walking is crucial for any recovery after surgery it tends to help heal the body faster and helps prevent blood clots.
• Make sure you are staying hydrated.
• You may wear the surgical bra that you are placed in after surgery or any other sports bra that you are comfortable in.
• Taking a warm shower can help with the muscle spasms if they do not get better while taking the Valium or pain medication.

What to expect in the first week:

• You can have possible bruising.
• You will have some swelling.
• Implants will sit high if they are submuscular.
• You will experience muscle soreness.
• No driving for 3-5 days after surgery. After the 3-5 days you are able to drive as long as you have not taken any narcotics in the last 24 hours.

Learn more about breast augmentation »

Recovery tips for Mastopexy

Mastopexy is also known as a breast lift. This procedure is designed to help rejuvenate the shape of the breast and often raise and reposition the location of the nipple. By removing and tightening breast skin and repositioning breast tissue, a breast lift can make the breasts more compact, less droopy, and overall perkier and younger looking.

Things to do to prepare yourself for surgery:

• Ask yourself what your ultimate goal is. Did you want more fullness on top or do you just want your breasts to not droop anymore?
• Figure out what size you would like to be. Do you want to go smaller (reduction with lift) or do you want more volume (implant with lift)?
• Make sure you are not smoking. This includes second hand smoke. Smoking can increase the risks for wound healing issues.

Things to do during recovery:

• Drink plenty of water. You should be using the bathroom every 1-2 hours if you are not then you are not drinking enough water.
• Sleep on your back.
• Wear the surgical bra that you are placed in after surgery or any other sports bra with good support that you are comfortable in.
• Keep the tape covering your incisions in place.

What should you expect during the first week:

• Your incisions will be taped. Leave the tape in place.
• You will be placed in a surgical bra. Please keep this bra on until the first postoperative visit.
• You will have some swelling through your breasts and possible through your rib cage.
• Possible tenderness.
• Possible temporary hypersensitivity or decreased sensitivity through your nipples.

Most commonly asked questions:

• When can I go swimming? You need to wait to submerge into any water for at least 2 weeks,. Jacuzzi or ocean/lake for about 6 weeks.
• How much can I can I lift? No more than 10lbs for the first 6 weeks.
• Do I need to get an implant with the lift? No you do not need to. This depends on the look you are trying to achieve. If you want more volume/upper pole projection you will most likely want an augmentation with either an implant or fat transfer. Some people have enough breast tissue to allow a lift to give them more upper pole volume.

Learn more about breast lifts »

Gynecomastia is a general term for excessive chest fullness in men. The tissue can be a result of excess fat or excess glandular tissue. The causes are variable ranging from hormone imbalance, genetics, or certain medications.

Things to do to prepare yourself for surgery:

• Do not wear any deodorant, lotion, or cologne the day of surgery.
• Quit smoking this includes second hand smoke or any use of nicotine products.
• Maintain a stable weight.

Things to do during recovery:

• Drink plenty of water. If you are not going to the restroom every 1-2 hours you are not drinking enough.
• Keep record of your drain output if you have a drain.
• Wear your compression vest non-stop until your follow up and then as instructed.
• Keep your upper body elevated slightly when laying down

What to expect during the first week:

• Expect tenderness
• Expect draining in your drain bulb
• Possible bruising
• Swelling
• You will be placed in a vest (compression garment).

Most commonly asked questions:

• Are there different ways to perform gynecomastia? Yes. Liposuction alone works well for fatty tissue with little skin excess. Glandular or fibrotic tissue will need to removed surgically by cutting it out. Excess skin, when significant, will have to be tightened surgically.

Loose skin no more! The truth about Abdominoplasty

An Abdominoplasty is often known to by many people as a Tummy Tuck. This is a procedure that removes the skin and tightens the muscles all the way from the rib cage region down to the pubic region. This procedure is very common after weight loss cases and or after having children. This procedure can be done with or without liposuction depending on the circumstances.

Things to prepare yourself for prior to surgery:

• Maintain a stable weight for surgery.
• Think about possibly renting a walker to help walk comfortably while bent over after surgery.
• Think about getting a recliner to sleep in.
• Try to get a shower seat to make it easier to shower in comfort.

Things to do for recovery:

• When showering the water should be warm but not hot.
• When taking the compression binder off make sure to be sitting down because you might become light headed at first.
• Drink plenty of water. You should be using the bathroom every 1-2 hours if you are not then you are not drinking enough water.
• Walking after surgery is key especially after abdominoplasty to help prevent a blood clot.

What should you expect during the first week:

• You will be bent over at the waist due to the muscle tightening.
• Expect pain through the lower back from the bending at the waist. Your body is used to walking straight up so now the lower back has pressure on it.
• Tape will cover your incisions. Do not remove the tape.
• Drains will be in place and should be emptied when needed and logged into the log sheet every time you empty them.

Most commonly asked questions about Abdominoplasty

• Do you get a new belly button (Umbilicus)? Dr. Repta will make a new opening of the skin when it is stretched down for your umbilicus to pop through but it will still be your own due to the fact that it is attached to your abdominal wall but it will have an overall new and enhanced look.
• Is it right for me? Are you at a stable weight (This is important because you do not want your weight to fluctuate after the procedure. The weight fluctuation could cause more skin laxity and excess stretch marks after surgery.
• I go to the gym all the time why can I not loose this skin? Loose skin is something unfortunately you cannot work off. The only way to get rid of skin is to excise it.
• How big is the incision? The incision depends on how much skin needs to be removed. For the best result you want all the skin possible removed. The incisions are very low though and can be hidden within a bikini or swim trunk.

Learn more about tummy tuck surgery »

The Brazilian Butt Lift also known as the BBL is a procedure that enhances the buttocks by using your own fat. This procedure is a combination of Liposuction and fat grafting. This procedure is done to achieve a rounder appearance of the buttocks or in some cases to fill in dents or irregularities. The BBL gives your body more of an hourglass figure and an overall better shape and contour of the body.

Things to do to prepare yourself for surgery:

• Take wish pictures of the look you would like to achieve whether it be more projection, wider hips, possibly both, or just an over all even contour but please be realistic.
• You may want to purchase a donut pillow or comfortable soft pillow to sit on if you wish to sit from time to time. (Try to only lie flat on your stomach or back if possible though).
• You may want to purchase a yoga mat to use for behind your knees.
• Think about purchasing a maxi dress or some loose fitting clothes that are easy to slip on and off over your compression garment.

Things to do during recovery:

• Refrain from sitting on hard surfaces.
• Always lay flat on your stomach or back. Avoid lying on your sides to prevent causing uneven pressure.
• Make sure you are drinking plenty of water. You should be using the bathroom every 1-2 hours if you are not then you are not drinking enough water.

Most commonly asked questions:

• How much fat survives? Around 75% of the fat survives.
• Can I sit after surgery? ou can as long as you are not sitting for long periods of time and as long as you are not sitting on hard surfaces. Dr. Repta suggests that instead of sitting you lay down flat on your stomach or flat on your back. No lying on your sides to prevent uneven pressure.
• Does the fat move around inside the butt once it is injected? No the fat does not move around. The fat is not a liquid based. The fat is a somewhat solid form.

Learn more about Brazilian butt lifts »

The buccal fat pads are the pads of fat that augment the lower part of the cheeks just in front of the chewing muscles (masseter muscles). These fat pads are designed to help us breast feed when we are younger and they are not needed as adults.

Things to do to prepare yourself for surgery:

• Make sure you have no infections in your mouth prior to surgery.
• Make sure to brush your teeth the morning of surgery.
• Buy soft food such as soups, yogurts, and smoothie products.

Things to do during recovery:

• Keep your head elevated.
• Use your Peridex (swish and spit three times a day for seven days)
• Drink plenty of water you should be using the restroom every 1-2 hours if not you are not drinking enough fluids.
• Take your antibiotics as instructed.

What to expect during the first week:

• Possible soreness through the inner portion of your cheeks.
• Swelling
• Be prepared to eat softer foods
• Sleep with head elevated

Most commonly asked questions:

• Who is a good candidate? Candidates for buccal fat pad removal include patients that feel their face is two round or full and the cause of this is the presence of the buccal fat pads.
• How long does the swelling last? Swelling typically lasts for about 2-3 weeks. Although some swelling may still be present beyond this time period.
• Where are the incisions? The incisions are on the inner portion of the mouth, so they will not but seen.

A Thigh lift is a procedure that removes excess skin from the thighs. There are a variety of thigh lift procedures available based on where and how much loose skin is present. Thigh lifts are typically done after weight loss, but can also be the result of aging skin and excessive sun exposure.

Things to do to prepare yourself for surgery:

• Make sure you either have pillows or a recliner chair to have your legs elevated after surgery.
• Make sure you have all your prescriptions filled prior to surgery.
• Make sure you are not smoking, this includes second hand smoke, and any use of nicotine products.
• Maintain a stable weight since gaining weight after surgery will compromise your results.

Things to do during recovery:

• Keep your legs elevated.
• Keep your thighs compressed in your garment.
• Keep your steri-strips covering your incisions.
• Take your medications as prescribed.
• Make sure to drink plenty of fluid. You should be going to the restroom every 1-2 hours if you are not you are not drinking enough water.

What to expect during the first week:

• You can expect some discomfort.
• You can expect some stiffness while walking.
• You can expect some dry blood on the steri-strips.
• Swelling
• Possible bruising

Most commonly asked questions:

• Where is the scar from a thigh lift? This varies. The vertical or standard thigh lift has the final incision going from the inner groin down to the medial knee.
• What will I wear after surgery? You will be in a compression girdle that will go down to your mid calf.

Brachioplasty or arm lift, is a procedure in which excess skin and fat is removed from the inner portion of the arm. The length of the incision is based on how much loose skin there is. Typically the incision goes from the antecubital fossa (the inner portion of the elbow) to your axilla (your underarm). In some cases people need an extended brachioplasty. Extended brachioplasty implies there is just more skin to be removed. This procedure is typically done on people who have had significant weight loss.

Things to do to prepare yourself for surgery:

• Make sure your underarms have been shaved prior to surgery.
• Be prepared to wear compression sleeves.
• Make sure you do not wear lotion or deodorant on the morning of surgery.
• Make sure you are not smoking. This includes second hand smoke. Smoking can increase the risks for wound healing issues.

Things to do during recovery:

• Keep your arms elevated and lightly bent at the elbow. Elevation should be on 2-3 pillows and the elbows should be bent about 15 degrees, not too much and not fully straight.
• Keep the compression sleeves on until you are seen in follow up.
• Drink plenty of water. You should be using the bathroom every 1-2 hours if you are not then you are not drinking enough water.

What to expect during the first week:

• You should expect to be in compression sleeves. This will help minimize swelling.
• Expect tape to be covering your incisions.
• Expect some tenderness, although often its not too bad.
• Possible bruising.

Most commonly asked questions:

• How long does Brachioplasty typically take? Brachioplasty takes around two hours for most standard cases.
• What can help to improve my scar after surgery? Dr. Repta will apply Embrace on your incisions starting at around two weeks post-operative.
• Should I lose more weight after surgery? Having a stable weight before surgery is probably most important. A crash diet weeks before surgery is not recommended.