5 Simple Tips to prolong your Plastic surgery Results
by Cosmetics Expert Mike Dune
Regardless of the procedure, plastic surgery is an investment. From blepharoplasty to breast augmentation, patients can expect to spend several thousand dollars on their new looks — so it’s natural to want them to last as long as possible. If you’re considering cosmetic surgery, you probably know by now that the results of most procedures don’t last forever. there are some things you can do, though. Get the most improvement for your money with these tips.
1. Stay out of the sun
By now, it’s well established that sun exposure leads to premature aging and even dangerous skin cancer — and these risks don’t go away if you’ve undergone a cosmetic procedure. Although the physical effects of sun exposure don’t typically emerge until years later if you’ve had an anti-aging procedure such as a facelift, the harmful rays of the sun can still break down skin’s support structures, resulting in sagginess, laxity, wrinkles, and textural changes. Even areas such as the breasts are vulnerable, because diminished skin strength can contribute to sagging and laxity. Getting into the habit of wearing a daily, broad-spectrum sunblock — and avoiding the sun completely when you can — go a long way toward preserving your results.
2. Quit smoking
As if you needed another reason to kick this habit to the curb, quitting smoking offers countless aesthetic benefits. Among other things, smoking affects the vascular system, causing skin to take longer to heal. This can lead to increased scarring even after minor injuries, marring the results of your surgery.
3. Eat well
Good nutrition often gives way to good health. A balanced, nutritionally dense diet helps the body defend and repair itself against illness, injury, and the physical effects of aging. Load up on lean protein to facilitate speedy healing in the days and weeks following your surgery, and avoid empty calories and other foods that can contribute to weight gain. Maintaining your weight by avoiding an excessive weight gain or loss after surgery will keep your skin taut and help you stave off the need for additional surgery.
4. Consider non-surgical treatments.
Revisionary surgery isn’t always necessary to maintain your results, even years after a procedure. Today’s non-surgical treatments, which are often administered right in your plastic surgeon’s office, can further improve your look. BOTOX® Cosmetic, injectable dermal fillers, non-surgical fat reduction treatments such as CoolSculpting®, and laser treatments can all be great companions to plastic surgery. According to the website of plastic surgeon Kent Hasen, M.D., even breast augmentation patients at his Naples, FL practice can benefit from a non-surgical option for breast augmentation revision. This technique, called the Aspen External Ultrasound, uses a combination of ultrasound energy, massage, and compression wraps to alleviate a complication called capsular contracture.
5. Follow your doctor’s orders.
Of course, the most important piece of advice for maintaining your surgical results? Follow your doctor’s instructions closely. He or she knows the details of your body and your procedure, and adhering to his or her recommendations is a great way to ensure that your results stick around for as long as possible.
