What You Need To Know About Your Surgery Recovery
To ensure your safety, and to help you achieve the best possible outcome, there are are number of very important post-surgery instructions that you need to follow. If you require clarity about any of the items below, please don’t hesitate to contact your Client Manager.
WHEN TO SEEK URGENT MEDICAL HELP
Please seek urgent medical attention if you:
- Experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or irregular heartbeat
- Notice excessive swelling, bleeding, redness, rash or discharge
- Experience persistent pain that can’t be managed
- Experience a fever or start to feel sick
For an Ambulance, dial 1669 in Thailand.
For Tourist Police in Thailand, dial ‘1155’ (English Speaking) or ‘191’
For non-emergency medical advice or treatment, contact:
- Business Hours: Your Client Liaison (8am – 5pm Thai Local Time)
- After Hours: Your Hospital
- Clients in Bangkok can also schedule a Nurse Visit online
** In the event of a medical emergency, please dial ‘1669’ immediately for an Ambulance **
LISTEN TO YOUR SURGEON
Your Surgeon will provide you with a tailored post-surgery care plan. To avoid complications and offer you the best possible result, it’s vital that you follow these instructions carefully.
If you any need clarification while you’re in Thailand, please don’t hesitate to call the CosMeditour In-Destination Support team.
For help when you return home, please contact your CosMediTour Client Manager.
SUPPLEMENTS & MEDICATIONS
There are a range of vitamins, supplements and medications that you will have stopped taking prior to your surgery. It’s important that you do not resume taking these again until 2 weeks after your surgery, or when advised by your Surgeon or GP.
- Do not take ANY vitamins
- Do not take ANY supplements
- Do not take Nurofen, Nurofen Plus, or any Ibuprofen or anti-inflammatory medication
- Do not take Aspirin, Disprin or Aspro Clear
- Do not take any blood thinning medication – Please remember, if you have been directed by your General Practitioner or a Specialist to take a blood thinning medication, you must advise your General Practitioner before stopping your medication
SMOKING & VAPING
To ensure your safety and optimise your healing, you must not smoke cigarettes, marijuana or partake in any kind of vaping during your recovery period.
TATTOOS AFTER PLASTIC SURGERY
We strongly encourage all Clients not to get tattoos for at least six weeks before and six weeks after their Plastic Sugery. READ MORE
GET PLENTY OF REST
Following surgery, your body works really hard to heal, so rest is vital for your recovery.
Getting quality sleep helps to:
- Speed up your healing
- Prevent your immune system from becoming compromised
- Reduce your stress and aid your pain management
TAKE CARE OF YOUR WOUNDS
Looking after your wounds well is vital. It’s important that you:
- Don’t allow any water near your wounds as they can get contaminated. Don’t swim at all, and avoid showering for 48 hours post surgery. When you do resume showering, ensure your wounds are fully covered and remain dry.
- Don’t touch your wounds without gloves
- Don’t pull, tug at or scratch your stitches
- Don’t remove your dressings in public areas as they can be exposed to airborne bacteria
WEAR YOUR SUPPORT GARMENT
For some procedures you will be required to wear a support garment for a number of weeks post surgery. Your Surgeon will advise you on the garment and the length of time specific to you.
These garments are a vital part of your post surgery care. They accelerate your healing process, reduce swelling and help to optimise your final results. It’s critical that you wear them as instructed.
EAT WELL & STAY HYDRATED
A nutritious diet of fresh foods high in protein, vitamins and minerals will help to speed up your recovery.
Good hydration is also key to a successful recovery. Drinking plenty of water helps to replenish the fluids lost during your surgery and aids your body’s general healing process.
To optimise your healing, it’s important to avoid alcohol during your recovery period.
MAINTAIN YOUR WEIGHT
It is very important to maintain a stable weight post surgery. Significant weight loss or weight gain after your surgery can cause your skin to sag or stretch, ultimately impacting your final result.
AVOID SUN EXPOSURE
It’s important to avoid exposure to the sun as it can damage your skin and increase scar tissue.
Wear sunblock and covered clothing to protect your healing skin against harmful UV rays.
WHEN TO RESUME EXERCISE
Getting moving is important to your recovery but ONLY when your Surgeon advises that it’s safe to do so.
Depending on your procedure, light walking can generally commence 2 weeks post surgery. In most cases, normal exercise can be reintroduced 8 to 12 weeks after your procedure. The length of your recovery may vary depending on the complexity of your procedure and, as with all aspects of your recovery, your Surgeon will provide you with tailored advice.
It’s important to note that high impact activities, like running, should not resume before you have completely recovered as this can impact your surgical results.