When it comes to scheduling your plastic surgery procedure, there’s a lot you can do to prepare yourself. From making sure you have someone to help you out for the first few days post-op to getting your meals, prescriptions, and compression garments ahead of your procedure, the more prepared you are before your surgery, the better.
But sometimes it’s hard to know what to expect following a major (or even minor) procedure. For example, you won’t really know how you’re going to look until after you’ve healed, nor do you know how long the healing process will take. There are many variables that while you can do your best to predict, simply cannot be controlled.
That’s why if you are planning a plastic surgery procedure, it’s best to not just expect the unexpected, but to understand the risks and rewards of your surgery before you schedule a date. You can do this by speaking to friends who have had similar procedures, reading reviews, and of course by speaking to Dr. Mitchell and his staff and voicing any questions or concerns you may have.
Recently, the Scandanavian Journal of Pain ran an article about patients who still experience pain or discomfort one to three months after their plastic surgery procedure. While chronic pain following plastic surgery is not common or ‘the norm’, it is unfortunately still possible.
Thankfully, there are things you can do to mitigate your risk of developing chronic pain from your plastic surgery procedure. First and foremost, be sure to follow both the pre and post surgical care instructions provided by Dr. Mitchell. These instructions will set you on the best course to a healthy recovery and reduce your risk of developing complications such as infections following your procedure. Things like not smoking, wearing prescribed compression garments, and abstaining from strenuous activity may not seem that important to you, but they are all crucial elements to ensure healthy healing.
If you are concerned at all about what to expect following your procedure, Dr. Mitchell and his team are happy to answer any questions you may have. We want you to have a realistic idea of what to expect post-op, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to us and we’ll be happy to assist!