Helping your skin to heal after surgery

Most cosmetic surgery procedures result in at least a little scarring. The amount of scarring depends on the procedure you’re having, and the condition of your skin before surgery. It will be possible at the consultation stage to give you an indication of the scarring you should expect, and this helps you to decide if cosmetic surgery is right for you.

While most scars do settle in the days and weeks after surgery, there is little you can do to alter the appearance of your scars. However, you can help your skin to recover by following these three steps:

Rest and recuperate

Make sure you get plenty of rest in the immediate aftermath of your surgery. Don’t put undue pressure or strain on the affected area and try not to stretch the skin. Before your surgery, make sure your friends and family are able to help you out with household chores and don’t feel guilty about putting your feet up for a few days!

Keep your dressings in place

The site of your surgery will be appropriately dressed when you leave the clinic and you should heed the advice given to you by medical staff about ongoing care. Usually you will be able to leave your dressings in place until your follow-up appointment. This helps to prevent infection and keeps the area moist, an important part of the healing process.

Don’t spend a fortune on lotions and potions

It’s important that you do not apply any creams to the affected area until your wounds are completely healed. And even then, there’s no need to spend a small fortune on lotions and potions which claim to reduce post-operative scarring. There is little evidence to support their effectiveness, partly because it’s difficult in clinical trials to prove that a particular lotion caused the healing. It’s best to leave the affected area to heal on its own.