Your Guide to Healing After Surgery
This page brings together all of our post-operative instructions in one organized place to help you prepare, heal, and get back to your best self with confidence.
Use the links below to jump to post-op guidance for your specific procedure:
- Liposuction Post-Operative Instructions
- Breast Augmentation Post-Operative Instructions
- Body & Thigh Lift Post-Operative Instructions
- Breast Reduction Post-Operative Instructions
- Brow Lift Post-Operative Instructions
- Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) Post-Operative Instructions
At Millennial Plastic Surgery, we view recovery as a continuation of care that’s just as important as your procedure. These instructions are designed to support safe healing and optimal results. If you have questions or need clarification at any time, please reach out to our team.
General Recovery Recommendations
Regardless of the procedure you underwent, following these recovery guidelines can help support proper healing, reduce discomfort, and lower the risk of complications. Recovery times vary, but consistency with these steps is important throughout the healing process:
- Stay well hydrated and eat balanced meals that include protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to support tissue repair and overall recovery.
- Take all prescribed and recommended medications exactly as directed, including pain medications, antibiotics, and supplements. Do not adjust dosages or stop medications without medical guidance.
- Prioritize rest, especially during the first several days after surgery, while gradually introducing light movement such as short walks to promote circulation and reduce stiffness.
- Follow all garment, dressing, and wound care instructions carefully, including when to change dressings, shower, or wear compression garments.
- Avoid strenuous activity, heavy lifting, and exercise until your surgeon confirms it is safe to resume these activities.
- Keep all scheduled follow-up appointments, as these visits allow your surgeon to monitor healing and address concerns early.
Contact your surgical team promptly if you have questions, notice unexpected changes, or feel uncertain about any aspect of your recovery.
When to Contact Your Surgeon
Reach out right away if you notice:
- A fever higher than 100.4°F (38°C) or chills, which may indicate infection.
- Increasing, severe, or persistent pain that is not relieved by prescribed medications or worsens instead of improving.
- Redness, warmth, excessive swelling, or discharge from incision sites, especially if accompanied by foul odor or increasing tenderness.
- Sudden swelling, firmness, or noticeable asymmetry, particularly if it develops rapidly or affects only one side of the body.
- Shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or difficulty breathing, which require immediate medical attention and may indicate a serious condition.
Dr. David Shokrian and his surgical team remain closely involved throughout the healing process. If something feels off, new symptoms appear, or you have questions at any point during recovery, contact our office so we can assist you right away.