Scottsdale specialist facial plastic surgeon

Facial plastic surgery can offer great results for many people. However, getting those great results depends not only on the skill of your surgeon (which is important), but also on what you do during your recovery period. It’s crucial to plan for enough downtime to allow your body to rest and heal after facial plastic surgery. Otherwise, the quality of your results could be compromised.

Here in Arizona, many people of all ages lead active lifestyles. One question Dr. Henderson’s patients often ask is when they’ll be able to get back to their usual level of activity. You’ll receive detailed instructions when you have your procedure, because it does vary depending on the specific surgery you’re having and also on personal factors. However, here are some general guidelines, so that you have an idea of what to expect.

Why do you need to avoid working out after facial plastic surgery?

The main issue with exercise is that it temporarily raises your blood pressure. Of course, this is a great thing for your long-term health, but it can be a problem when you’ve recently had a surgical procedure. 

The rise in blood pressure increases swelling in your tissues. This can increase the tension over your incisions, which can cause your scars to be permanently widened. It even raises the risk of an incision reopening, which requires an additional procedure to address the problem. Even if the incision doesn’t reopen on the surface, there may be a collection of blood beneath the surface, which is known as a hematoma. This may also require an additional procedure to drain it.

The tension on your incisions also increases when you bend over, which increases the blood flow to your face. Many types of exercise (such as yoga) involve bending over. It’s very important to keep your head above your heart during the initial period of healing from any facial surgery.

When can you return to exercise after facial plastic surgery?

Right away after your procedure, you won’t be able to do any vigorous exercise, meaning anything that raises your heart rate significantly. However, light walking is actually encouraged, because it helps to prevent blood clots from forming in your legs.

For the first four weeks after surgery, you can gradually increase the length of your walks. You can build up the intensity a little, but you should still stick with walking at a slow to moderate pace. About a month after your procedure, you can gradually ramp up the intensity of your workouts. It will take a few more weeks before you’re ready for anything strenuous, like running. It’s important to listen to your body; if you feel pain or other serious discomfort, that’s your body’s sign that you’ve pushed a little too far.

Most people are back to their full workouts about six to eight weeks after surgery, but it can take longer in some cases. It’s also important to protect your incisions from the sun for at least three months after surgery. Sun exposure during this period can lead to a permanent darkening of your incisions. If you’re used to exercising outdoors in the beautiful Arizona sun, it’s important to take this into consideration. 

Scottsdale specialist facial plastic surgeon

You’ll receive detailed and personalized aftercare instructions when you come for your procedure, and our team will be available to support you if you have any questions at all during your recovery. Make sure that you plan enough downtime to allow your body to heal and recover. This will help to protect the quality of your results for years to come.

If you’re considering facial plastic surgery or have any questions about what to expect, we invite you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Henderson. She’ll be very happy to talk with you about any procedure that you might be considering.