“How long will my plastic surgery results last?” This is one of the most common questions that I receive from plastic surgery patients during consultations. Plastic surgery is a major investment and it’s no surprise that patients want to achieve great results that will last for a long, long time. While every patient’s body will undergo natural changes over time, there are things people can do to help maintain the best-possible plastic surgery results in the years following their procedure. I have listed a few of them below.
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
I strongly recommend eating a healthy, low-fat diet and making sure to get enough daily exercise. The results from many popular body contouring procedures like liposuction depend largely on the patient maintaining a stable, healthy bodyweight. This is especially true for procedures like tummy tuck surgery, since weight gain can lead to a re-stretching of the skin that can negatively affect the results of surgery.
Protect Yourself from the Sun
After anti-aging procedures, the Sun’s UV rays can negatively affect a patient’s skin. UV rays can damage the skin’s support structures and lead to sagginess, laxity, wrinkles, and textural changes in the skin. This is bad news for recently tightened skin. Covered areas like the breasts can also be susceptible to skin laxity and breast sagging due to sun damage. I recommend for my patients to apply broad-spectrum sunblock daily if they plan to be outdoors. I also offer a variety of non-surgical treatments including cosmetic injectables, laser skin resurfacing, and the Croton Oil Peel that can go a long way towards restoring sun damaged skin.
Avoid Smoking
Certain substances that you put in your body can negatively affect the results of your plastic surgery and lead to premature aging. I instruct all my patients who smoke to quit for at least a month before and after their procedure. Nicotine in any form (including patches, gum, and vaping) can affect the body’s ability to heal naturally, resulting in prolonged recovery time after surgery and potential complications like scarring or bleeding down the road.
Maintaining healthy habits can be challenging, but trust me, you will be happy you did. In addition to improving and prolonging the results of your plastic surgery, following these recommendations can also improve a patient’s overall health and quality of life. The added motivation of preserving your results and getting the most bang for your buck can also be a great motivator for many patients. For more information or to schedule a complimentary plastic surgery consultation, please contact me, Dr. David Whiteman, at Southern Plastic Surgery today. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more news, tips and updates.