Post-Operative Care: Essential Tips for Recovery

At PURE Plastic Surgery, we understand that a successful outcome depends not only on surgical excellence but also on proper post-operative care. Our team of double-board-certified plastic surgeons and dedicated staff guides hundreds of patients through recovery each year, ensuring everyone receives the support needed for optimal healing.

Recovery actually starts well before your surgery date. Taking time to prepare properly can significantly impact the healing process and help you achieve the best possible results. Let's explore how you can set yourself up for success from the very beginning.

Recovery Begins Before Surgery

In the days and weeks following your surgery, your only job is to rest and heal. Creating the right environment makes a tremendous difference in your comfort and recovery success.

Your recovery space should become a healing sanctuary. Position extra pillows within easy reach, arrange frequently used items on nearby surfaces and make sure electronics (and chargers) remain accessible. For procedures like BBLs or tummy tucks, you may need specialized positioning aids, which our team can recommend based on your specific surgery.

You can also prepare your recovery space by:

• Stocking up on nutritious, ready-to-eat meals
• Having plenty of water and hydrating beverages available
• Purchasing all necessities (medications, gauze, bandages, etc.) in advance
• Ensuring you have clean sheets and comfortable clothing

Arranging help from family or friends is essential during these first few days. While you might feel capable of managing alone, having support allows you to focus entirely on healing. Your caregiver should plan to stay with you for at least 24-48 hours after surgery, helping with meals, medication schedules and other basic needs. For our out-of-town patients, we partner with professional medical concierge services and can assist in arranging your post-op care.

Taking time to prepare now means less stress during your recovery. At PURE Plastic Surgery, our team will be sure to provide you with detailed pre and post-op instructions tailored to your specific procedure, ensuring you feel confident and prepared for the journey ahead.

The First 24 Hours After Surgery

The first 24 hours set the foundation for your entire recovery journey. While our surgical team monitors you before discharge, the real work begins when you return home. Many patients compare this period to emerging from a fog — you might feel groggy from the lingering effects of anesthesia while your body begins its natural healing process.

Expect to feel tired and somewhat uncomfortable during these first hours. Your surgical sites may feel tender, and you might experience pressure or tightness in treated areas. This is normal and manageable with rest and prescribed medications.

After arriving home, focus on getting settled in your recovery space. Your caregiver should help you get positioned properly using the pillows and supports discussed during your pre-op appointments. Maintaining the correct position is crucial, particularly for procedures like mommy makeovers and BBLs, where pressure on certain areas must be avoided.

Resting should be your primary focus, but this doesn’t mean complete immobility. Small movements — like ankle rotations or light walking — help maintain circulation and prevent blood clots. Our surgeons will provide specific guidelines on movement to ensure a safe and comfortable recovery.

This is being written from the perspective of the caregiver:

"In September, my friend was scheduled for her tummy tuck and fat transfer. Even after doing my own research, nothing could have prepared me for what was to come. These procedures are so common that people forget to mention the possibilities, good or bad. Usually it’s just thrown at you (if you’ve ever given birth, same idea… no one prepares you for that either). However, this office showed nothing but kindness to their patients and kept everyone involved informed from the beginning through the post surgery appointment and after. Taking care of such intricate details and understanding why each step is so crucial was thoroughly explained by the nurse while I waited for my bestie to come out of recovery. I’m grateful to have learned from you all and now I know what to expect as well with firsthand experience.”

– Angela D.

What’s the Deal With Compression Garments?

Compression garments might not win any fashion awards, but they are one of the most powerful tools in your recovery arsenal. These medical-grade garments do more than just hold everything in place — they actively support your body's healing process and optimize your final results.

Compression garments work by applying pressure to treatment areas after surgery, reducing pain and swelling. They also improve circulation and the wound-healing response to minimize the risk of infections or blood clots. Compression garments come in all shapes and sizes, but the styles you’re most likely to encounter after your procedure are compression bras (breast surgeries), compression girdles or abdominal binders (tummy tucks, liposuction and skin removal), and compression leggings or body suits (BBLs and combined surgeries).     

Compression garments should be worn as directed by your surgeon, which usually means 23 hours a day for the first six months, and 12 hours a day for six weeks after that. While they might feel restrictive at first, most patients report feeling more secure and comfortable with them on. Your PURE surgical team carefully selects the right type of garment for your specific procedure, ensuring you receive the proper level of compression to promote healing.

Don’t Sleep on Lymphatic Massages

Lymphatic drainage massages are a key part of your post-op journey. Undergoing any type of surgery takes a toll on the body, leading to side effects like inflammation, swelling and discomfort. While normal, these side effects can lead to secondary complications such as excessive swelling, seromas and thickened skin (fibrosis) if not managed properly. 

The lymphatic system is responsible for removing excess fluid and waste from the tissues, but surgery can temporarily disrupt this natural flow. Using specific techniques, lymphatic massages help by facilitating the movement of lymph fluid toward the lymph vessels and nodes, where it can be reabsorbed and eliminated. It plays a key role in expediting the healing process and ensuring that your final results emerge beautifully. 

At PURE, we recommend that all patients undergo a series of lymphatic massages after surgery, typically within the first day or two. Some procedures — such as BBLs, mommy makeovers, tummy tucks and liposuction — 100% require lymphatic drainage massages, and we find that those who adhere to this post-op guideline achieve the best outcomes. Many patients enjoy the experience and report feeling lighter and more comfortable after each session, with visible improvements in swelling and bruising. 

As this is a critical part of your recovery process, do diligent research and choose a licensed massage therapist for your lymphatic drainage massages. There are two reputable certifications to look for in your lymphatic massage provider — certified manual lymphatic drainage therapist (CMLDT) and certified lymphedema therapist (CLT). 

Learn More About the Benefits of Lymphatic Massage

Let’s Talk Incision Care

At PURE Plastic Surgery, we take pride in creating minimal, strategically placed incisions, but your role in caring for them is just as crucial as our surgical expertise. That’s why we stress the importance of post-op care and lay out a plan before your procedure to minimize stress and ensure that you have the knowledge, tools and support you need for a smooth recovery.

The essentials of incision care post-surgery are:

• Following your surgeon’s instructions
• Checking your incisions daily
• Bracing the wound when coughing, sitting or using the bathroom
• Cleaning the incision and dressings as directed
• Reaching out as soon as possible if your incision is separating

Keeping your incisions clean requires a delicate touch. Use only the products recommended or prescribed by your surgical team — typically an antimicrobial soap like Hibiclens — and avoid rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or iodine. Air dry or pat with gauze, a clean towel or paper towels. Old washcloths can harbor bacteria, so make sure you use a fresh one each time.

Many patients express concerns about scarring, so we also emphasize protection from sun exposure during the healing process. UV rays can permanently darken healing incisions, making them more noticeable. Once your incisions have fully closed, apply sunscreen diligently to these areas, even if they're typically covered by clothing. At PURE, we often recommend medical-grade skincare products to optimize scar healing and minimize their appearance.

Learn More About Post-Op Incision Care

Managing Your Recovery Timeline

At PURE Plastic Surgery, we guide patients through each healing phase, ensuring they understand what to expect and when. While every patient heals differently, certain patterns emerge that help map out your recovery journey.

The first few days after surgery are the acute healing phase, which involves swelling, bruising and some discomfort. Many patients also feel tired during this time, thanks to a number of physiological and psychological factors at play. This fatigue is a sign that your body is directing most of its energy toward healing. Our surgical team monitors you closely during these initial days with virtual check-ins to ensure your recovery is progressing smoothly.

Weeks two through six bring noticeable improvements in your comfort, healing and recovery. Swelling begins to subside, though some puffiness may remain, especially in the morning. Most patients go back to work after seven to 14 days, though this can vary based on their specific procedure and job requirements. Throughout your post-op journey, our team will provide you with detailed guidelines on when you can return to work and more strenuous activities.

Around the three-month mark, you'll start seeing your true results emerge. Residual swelling continues to resolve, scars begin fading and tissues settle into their final position. Our double-board-certified plastic surgeons — Dr. Earle, Dr. Vidal and Dr. Wegerif — will schedule follow-up appointments during this time to monitor your progress and address any concerns.

“The whole team is composed of caring, compassionate, comforting and diligent individuals who prioritize patient safety, patient happiness and patient recovery. I am so impressed with the whole team and the care I've received while undergoing my procedure from start to finish. Communication is easy and accessible via the online patient portal chat and I felt like I was in good hands the whole time.”

– Maggie

Warning Signs to Watch For

While some discomfort is normal after surgery, knowing the difference between expected symptoms and potential complications helps ensure your safety. At PURE, our team emphasizes patient education, making sure you understand what requires medical attention.

Normal post-operative symptoms include mild to moderate pain that improves daily, some bruising and swelling that gradually subsides, and occasional feelings of tightness or pressure in treated areas. You might also experience temporary numbness or changes in sensation around your incisions — these typically resolve as the nerves heal. While these symptoms can be bothersome, they should be manageable and aren’t signs of a potential emergency. 

The symptoms that you should call our office about are:

• Pain that worsens over time
• Spreading redness around the incision sites
• A fever above 101.5°F
• Unusual discharge or drainage
• Incisions that start to open or separate

Symptoms that require immediate medical attention include chest pain, very low blood pressure, sudden shortness of breath and pain or swelling in one leg, which may be signs of a blood clot. While serious complications are rare thanks to our surgical techniques and emphasis on patient safety, our goal is to make sure you know exactly what to watch for during your recovery.

At PURE, our commitment to exceptional care extends throughout your journey, from pre-op to post-op. We would rather hear from you unnecessarily than have you worry alone at home. Every single member of our team is dedicated to supporting you every step of the way!

Post-Op Follow-Up Schedule

Your follow-up appointments are more than just routine check-ups — they are crucial milestones in your recovery journey, giving us an opportunity to monitor your progress, address any questions or concerns you have, and ensure you achieve the best possible results. 

We schedule your first check-in the day after your procedure to make sure everything is going smoothly. Unless you have a lymphatic massage schedule, this is typically done virtually for your comfort and convenience. Our medical assistant will assess how you're feeling and address any immediate concerns, providing that extra layer of support when you need it most.

Your first in-person post-op appointment is on day five. During this visit, our team will examine your incisions, screen for potential complications and take your post-op photos. For out-of-town patients, this appointment is especially important, as proper evaluation is crucial before returning home. Skipping this appointment is considered leaving against medical advice. 

Six weeks after surgery, we will schedule a virtual or in-person appointment to discuss how you’ve been healing and collect updated post-op photos. We will also review the restrictions that were put in place following your procedure (such as no strenuous activity) and, if everything looks good, lift them. Keep in mind that this is a general guideline. Not all patients follow the exact same post-op schedule, so your care and monitoring may vary depending on your specific procedure. 

Regardless of your post-op schedule, make the most of these appointments by keeping a list of questions between visits. Our PURE team encourages open communication — no concern is too small when it comes to your recovery and results. Take photos of anything that worries you between appointments, allowing us to track changes and address potential issues promptly.

Experience the PURE Difference

You deserve the highest level of support — before, during and after your procedure. At PURE Plastic Surgery, our team is dedicated to providing exceptional care throughout your entire recovery journey to help ensure your health, safety and beautifully long-lasting results. 

Ready to learn more about what to expect during the recovery process? Call our Miami office at 305-230-4326 or complete our online contact form to schedule your consultation. Our double-board-certified plastic surgeons look forward to guiding you through this journey with the personalized attention and world-class expertise that sets us apart.