Many patients have questions about the process for cosmetic surgery at Clinic 5C. Dr. Chesnut has provided videos for you to watch that can help answer the questions you have. You may also read the FAQs further below.
It’s important to understand that the cosmetic surgery recovery process can be different for every surgery as well as every patient. However, there is a general outline for the recovery process that applies to most of the procedures that we offer.
Week 1: For the first week of recovery, we advise that you focus solely on resting and letting your body heal. At Clinic 5C, we offer a variety of recovery modalities to help our patients heal comfortably and smoothly, and we encourage you to take advantage of them. You should also start taking light walks around your home as soon as you feel up to it.
Week 2: During the second week of recovery, you’ll typically have returned home if you’re a traveling patient. In most cases, we advise using this week to gradually resume light activity and do things that are easy on your body. Usually, patients begin feeling like themselves again during week two of recovery.
Week 3: For most cosmetic surgery patients, the third week is the time to start getting back into your normal routine. At this point, you should feel able to go back to work without much difficulty. Although you should be able to return to your normal day-to-day activities after around three weeks, we strongly advise that patients avoid strenuous exercise or physical activity for at least five to six weeks. After that, all that will be left will be waiting for your swelling to subside and the full results of your procedure to appear. Typically, this takes approximately three months.
When looking at cosmetic surgery, there are quite a few variables that affect how long the results will last. For example, the positive effects of these procedures will almost always last longer in younger patients. Additionally, all of us are on our own aging curve, and where you are on that curve when you have your cosmetic procedure will have a significant impact on how long your results last.
Your cosmetic surgery results will also last longer if you take good care of your body in the months and years following the procedure. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can go a long way toward preserving the effects of your treatment. It’s important to understand that every cosmetic surgery is unique, and during your consultation, your plastic surgeon will give you more detailed information about how long you can expect your results to last.
Ultimately, there’s no universal right time for cosmetic surgery. Every patient’s situation is different, and what matters is that you wait until you’re truly ready to undergo a cosmetic procedure.
Typically, we recommend that most patients undergo cosmetic surgery sooner rather than later. The main reason for this is that when you’re younger, your results will almost always be more substantial and longer-lasting than they would be if you waited until a significantly later age. Additionally, younger patients generally don’t need quite as much surgery to achieve their aesthetic goals as older patients do.
All of that said, cosmetic surgery certainly isn’t something you should rush into before you’re ready. Although we strive to make every patient’s experience as smooth and low-stress as possible, cosmetic surgery is still a challenging journey—both physically and mentally. However, if you do feel that you’re ready, there’s usually not much to gain by putting it off.
At Clinic 5C, we offer several types of anesthesia depending on the surgery being performed and the needs of the patient. Depending on the procedure you’re undergoing, we may administer local, regional, or systemic anesthesia. Although we do sometimes use forms of systemic anesthesia that affect your whole body and take away levels of consciousness, we do not use general anesthesia. Our plastic surgeons are extremely skilled at providing and maintaining the precise amount of anesthesia necessary for the treatment.
We at Clinic 5C also offer a specialized type of long-acting anesthesia that helps patients remain comfortable and relaxed during the first 72 hours of recovery. As a result, very few of our patients ever need to be prescribed pain medication during the healing process.
When you have a virtual consultation with Clinic 5C, you’ll have the opportunity to talk with your surgeon and the rest of our expert team. To begin, we’ll take you through the screening process and go over your photos to determine your candidacy for cosmetic surgery. We will also discuss preliminary pricing options so that you have a good idea of what to expect in that area.
At Clinic 5C, all of our virtual consultations are very thorough. You and your surgeon will have time to discuss your treatment plan in detail, and you’ll be able to ask any questions and air any concerns that you may have about your procedure. When the consultation ends, you’ll have a very solid idea of what you’re in for as well as the next steps in your cosmetic surgery process.
