How Much Time Will You Need to Recover From Plastic Surgery?
This is the question we are asked most often. Below are the average times patients take off from work to recover from their plastic surgery procedures.
Keep in mind:
If your job is physically strenuous, you’ll need more time.
It is always better to schedule more recovery time than you think you’ll need. It will be a nice surprise if you can go back to your normal routine sooner than expected and you’ll avoid the extra stress of worrying about whether or not you’ll be ready.
If you’re having facial plastic surgery, social downtime might be of particular concern to you. If you bruise easily or are very concerned that no one know you’ve had anything done, you may want to plan for longer.
Recommended Time Off For Our Most Popular Plastic Surgery Procedures
Breast Augmentation- 1 week
Breast Lift- 1 week
Breast Reduction- 1 week
Brachioplasty (Arm Lift)- 1 week
Liposuction- 1 week
Gynecomastia (Male Chest Reduction)- 1 week
Tummy Tuck- 3-4 weeks
Mommy Makeover- 3-4 weeks
Body Lift 3-4 weeks
Brow Lift- 1-2 weeks
Facelift- 2 weeks
Eyelid Surgery- 2 weeks
Preparing for Recovery
Helping you manage a speedy recovery is one of our primary missions. We feel that your surgical experience is a partnership and there are things you can do prior to your surgery to ensure the best outcome possible.
Your personality and attitude plays an important part in your recovery. Dr. Reath explains how on one of our Truth-O-Meter Tuesday videos.
Download our new eBook with 40-pages of everything you need to know about planning your plastic surgery and recovery.
In the Plastic Surgery Planner, we drill down into the nitty gritty of how to prepare for your plastic surgery, and what to do to recover well and quickly. These are best practices that we have learned throughout the years, mainly by listening to our patients, but also in some cases by having the procedures done ourselves. Plastic Surgery PlannerTips to Manage a Speedy RecoveryDownload Now
Whether you are having your surgery with Dr. Reath or another Board-certified plastic surgeon, you’ll find these pages super-helpful.
Our Surgical Recovery Kits are a great personal touch. Patients tell us that the recovery kits we include with their surgeries are an area that really sets us apart. Each recovery kit contains items hand-picked to make your recovery faster and more pleasant. We put together everything you’ll need after surgery so you don’t have to. People who have had surgery with other doctors are amazed that we include these kits at no charge for all of our surgery patients.
We include customized medical-grade silicone shapes in all of our recovery kits. They are medically proven to aid in healing and reduce the appearance of scars. Silicone shapes put direct pressure on the incision site, which is the best method to achieve a less noticeable scar. In contrast to scar gels and creams, silicone sheets are more convenient to use because they are not greasy, do not stain, and do not stick to clothes. Pictured left is the breast lift silicone shape. (a $60 value)
Not our patient? No problem!
We have lovingly put together kits of everything you’ll need during your recovery from tummy tuck, breast surgery or body lift surgery. These kits are specifically for patients of other plastic surgeons. You’ll appreciate the extra post-surgical binders and/or surgical bras because you won’t be feeling like doing much laundry. Even better, the price of the kit is much less than if you bought each item separately.
Dr. Reath and Mandi discuss the benefits of silicone sheeting in a popular Truth-O-Meter Tuesday video.
The Latest Plastic Surgery Recovery Posts from Dr. Reath's Blog
My Plastic Surgery “Patients Of Courage”
From the Blog
Each year at our annual meeting, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) recognizes several patients as their “Patients of Courage”. These remarkable individuals have had incredible journeys dealing with injuries, breast cancer, or congenital deformities with the help of plastic surgery. They have further gone on to “give back” to society through their experiences. … Read more »
5 Areas CoolSculpting Works Better Than Liposuction
From the Blog
When I began my training in plastic surgery, liposuction was just being introduced. Since that time, almost 35 years ago, we have seen significant improvements in how liposuction is performed. Recently we have seen the emergence of non-surgical fat reduction. Of all the different technologies that have been developed for this, CoolSculpting is clearly the … Read more »
The Truth About Gummy Bear Breast Implants UPDATED
From the Blog
Back in 2014, I wrote a popular blog about “gummy bear” or highly cohesive silicone gel (fifth generation) breast implants. Specifically, I addressed how these implants are made and why they weren’t like the gummy bear candies we know and love. It’s time for an update. For breast augmentation surgery, the highly cohesive gel implants … Read more »
This is the question we are asked most often. Below are the average times patients take off from work to recover from their plastic surgery procedures.
Our 
