1) How long will it take to recover from my cosmetic surgery?
The time it will take for you to recover will depend on what type of surgery you have, and on a lot of other factors, including your overall health. In general, you can expect that you will be “socially presentable” in about 10 days. The bruises will fade over 1 to 3 weeks and the incisions in 1-2 months (but they are made in the natural creases of the face and may be indiscernible much sooner). Healing continues over the next 12 to 18 months.

2) Where will my surgery be?
We work hard to choose an accredited location for your surgery to maximize your comfort and convenience, always keeping your safety as the highest priority.

3) Will I have to stay overnight in the hospital?
In general, ALL of my cosmetic surgeries are done as outpatient surgical procedures. Therefore, no overnight stay is required. However, this assumes that you will have a caregiver at home who will stay with you and take care of you, especially for the first few days. If you do not have access to a caregiver, then other options may be available.

4) Will I be in a lot of pain after my surgery?
Most of my patients have only mild discomfort after the surgery and can usually get by on just extra strength acetominophen (Tylenol). Some patients having resurfacing procedures may experience some burning for the first 1-2 days and may request something stronger.

5) Is any of this covered by my insurance?
In general, medical insurance does not pay for cosmetic surgery. If there is a medical (functional) problem then sometimes insurance will pay for part of the cost of the surgery.

6) Will my eyes close fully after eyelid surgery?
The eyes almost never close fully immediately after eyelid surgery. This is due to numerous reasons but almost always the eyes will close fully after a few weeks or months. During this time, it is very important to keep the eyes lubricated with artificial tear drops and tear ointments.

7) When can I return to work?
I usually answer this question by explaining that there are 2 types of extreme patients in the world. One patient will return to work on the 1st day after the surgery, peel off their scarf and sunglasses and show everyone what they had done. On the other extreme is the patient who won’t go outside until every last bruise has disappeared completely. Most of the rest of us fall somewhere in between. However, if your job requires heavy lifting, then 2 or 3 weeks off is desirable.

8) When can I resume exercising?
In general, I like my patients to refrain from their full exercise routine for about 2 weeks after their surgery. Sometimes I ask people to wait a little longer, depending on what was done.

9) How will smoking affect my results?
Smoking has adverse effects on the healing process. Even cutting down a little before and after the surgery will greatly improve healing and is highly recommended where possible.

Please contact the Center for Cosmetic Facial and Eye Plastic Surgery at 727-522-FACE (3223) for more information and a personal consultation.

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