Any surgery that requires an incision will involve sutures or staples as the last step of the procedure. This helps close the incision and keep out infections. Taking care of your stitches can help limit scarring and discomfort and speed up the healing process. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Keep it clean and dry: For the first few days, use a washed wet cloth to clean the incision site. After a few days, you may start washing the area with soap and water unless advised else wise by your doctor. Ensure that you dry the skin thoroughly after washing it. Avoid baths that involve soaking the area in water. Also, avoid swimming. Do not use any powders, lotions, creams, deodorants etc on the wound site.
Look out for signs of infections: Avoid activities that may involve exposing your wound to dirty water, chemicals, dust etc. This increases your risk of infections. Also look out for signs f infections such as redness, swelling, pus or bleeding, fever or increased pain from the wound. In case you notice such signs, consult your doctor at the earliest.
Do not scratch: As it heals, your skin is likely to turn itchy. However, refrain from scratching so as to reduce chances of infections. Do not try and pull away from the scab but let it fall off on its own. This will also help limit scarring.
Limit contact: Avoid wearing tight clothes or anything that sticks to the skin while your wound is healing. Instead have plenty of loose, comfortable clothes easily accessible. Also, do not take part in close contact sports such as football etc until the stitches have healed completely.
Change your dressing regularly: A dressing should be changed as soon as it gets wet or soaked with blood or other body fluids. Wear clean medical gloves while changing a dressing. When putting on a new dressing do not touch the inside of the dressing or apply any creams on the stitches unless advised so by your doctor. In the case of removable stitches, the doctor will usually remove the stitches after a few days. DO not attempt to pull the stitches out on your own.
Avoid exposing the wound to sunlight: New skin that forms as the incision heals is very sensitive to sunlight and gets sunburnt very easily. Limiting your exposure to sunlight can help reduce the effects of scarring.

Stitches Post Surgery - How You Should Take Care?

A Reverse abdominoplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure used to improve the contours of the abdomen. Unlike an abdominoplasty to tummy tuck, this surgery addresses patients who have excessive skin above the belly button.  Here the skin is pulled up rather than down. 

For this surgery, an incision is made along the bottom half of the rib cage, just below the breasts. The excessive skin is removed along with fat deposits and the remaining skin is pulled in order to tighten the tissues and improve the look of the upper abdomen. This incision is usually made along the natural curves of the breast so as to minimize the visibility of the scar. 

Unlike many other types of cosmetic surgery, this will require a 2 to 3 day stay in the hospital. 
Women who want breast restructuring along with abdominal contouring will find this type of surgery very beneficial. This is because the placement of the incision allows the surgeon to work on both areas simultaneously. This leads to the formation of only a single scar, unlike having breast contouring surgery and a traditional abdominoplasty, which would create two separate scars. 

The incision is also made in such a way that the scar created is camouflaged by the natural contours of the breasts. In most cases, it is also not visible when wearing a two piece swimsuit and thus suits more women than the traditional tummy tuck. Another advantage of this surgery is that it does not alter the position of the belly button. 

A reverse abdominoplasty is usually performed on people who have a flat stomach below the navel, but have excessive fat and skin above the navel. It can be seen in people have experienced drastic weight loss. It may also be suggested as a follow up surgery to a traditional tummy tuck is the skin above the navel is still sagging. However, only a doctor can decide if this is the type of surgery needed for you. 

This procedure very rarely has side effects. This is because it does not interfere much with the muscle structure and only adjusts the skin. In some cases, there may be slight irregularities. This can be corrected by further liposuction. Another issue would be the recurrence of the problem is the tissue is not correctly adhered to the rib fascia. However, this is seen in very few cases. In normal scenarios, even slight weight gain at a later date is accommodated by the skin.

What Is a Reverse Abdominoplasty and Who Needs It?

Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a frequently performed cosmetic procedure which is meant to improve the looks or appearance of your abdominal region. The primary goal of this procedure is to remove excess skin or fat from the abdominal region and then reconnect the tissues with sutures to get a more toned and flat look.

The requirement for abdominoplasty
The tummy tuck surgery is for someone who has folds of fat or skin on their abdominal region that results in an unsightly appearance and causes body image issues. These problems may be caused by multiple factors, some of which are mentioned below:

1. Significant weight loss: Men or women who have lost a lot of weight tend to have excess loose skin on their bodies as a result of the skin being stretched over a long period of time.

2. Pregnancy: Many women who have gone through multiple pregnancies also have similar problems as the skin in their abdominal region tends to stretch over multiple times which may result in the skin becoming flabby.

3. You have a weak lower abdominal wall: Some patients tend to generally have a weak lower abdominal wall which over the years tends to protrude and hang. This results in a misshapen body which they want to correct for body image issues. 

4. To correct scarring from C section: Many women who give birth via C-section tend to have a scar on their body and some abdominal contouring can change the shape and size of the scar, which in turn not only tightens the tummy but also hides the scars.

Considerations before abdominoplasty
Abdominoplasty isn't recommended if you fall under any of the following categories:
1. Still have to lose weight: If you have to lose a lot of weight, then it is advised that you wait till your goal weight is reached and only then consider this procedure. Abdominoplasty isn't meant to reduce weight, but to take out excess skin and flab that remains after weight loss

2. Plan on becoming pregnant again: If you are planning to become pregnant again, then the muscles and tissues in your abdomen might loosen and cause a flabby belly again.

3. If you have heart disease or other conditions: If you have heart related conditions or are diabetic, then abdominoplasty won't be considered as it might put you at high risk of complications after surgery.

Abdominoplasty - An Overview

Liposuction is very popular as a relatively quick and safe cosmetic surgery to get rid of excess fat. At one time, the procedure was even touted as a better alternative to healthy diet and exercise. Regardless of such myths, liposuction is an important development in cosmetic surgery. Indeed in certain cases (of extreme weight gain) liposuction is the first surgical procedure performed on the patient. Like all surgeries, liposuction has a few do's and don'ts, and they are:

Do's
1. Keep your weight at a healthy level before surgery. The more the amount of fat is removed from your body, the greater is the risk involved in surgery, which is why controlling your weight pre surgery is important. Losing a large amount of weight leaves a lot of loose skin in your body, which can make your skin look saggy.
2. Wear your compression garments. Compression garments help your skin compress over the area where the fat used to be, leaving smooth, tight skin.
3. Continue exercising (with the go ahead of your doctor) after the procedure and follow a healthy diet to maintain your body.
4. Maintain gentle activity for two weeks after the procedure. This will help in removing fluid deposition in the surgical area and prevent complications.

Don'ts
1. Do not take anti inflammatory medicines like aspirin or ibuprofen as these medicines may cause bleeding complications. They also harm the body's immune system, which is detrimental to recovery.
2. Do not smoke or drink while recovering as Nicotine disturbs normal skin growth, which may lead to permanent scars, while alcohol interferes with the effect of some medicines.
3. Don't lift heavy objects or bend down immediately after the surgery. Your doctor will give you a more specific timeline as to when you can pursue such activities.
4. Don't expect results from day one. You will see results after you have recovered from the surgery.
5. Do not opt for liposuction specifically for weight loss. Liposuction is chiefly a procedure for shaping and contouring the fat in your body to give you that shape you always desired.

Do's and Don'ts of Liposuction

Thanks to cosmetic surgery, today, it is possible to alter your facial features any way you want. For some it's a way to reverse signs of aging while for others it may be to restructure a part of their face that they are not comfortable with. Whatever be your reason, here are ten tips to ensure safer facial cosmetic surgery.

1. Have the right motivation: cosmetic surgery will change the way you look, not your lifestyle. Do not undergo such a surgery if you think it will give you a new lifestyle.

2. Have realistic expectations: going under a plastic surgeon's knife can alter your facial feature, but only up to a limit. You may want your nose to look like that of your favourite actress, but the end result of the surgery will depend on the bone and cartilage structure of your nose. Having unrealistic expectations can take away from the satisfaction of plastic surgery. 

3. Find a surgeon who shares your aesthetic sense: if you and your surgeon do not share the same ideas on what looks good, you may end up with a result you are not satisfied with. Before deciding on a doctor, take a look at photographs of their earlier clients.

4. Be wary of promotions that offer to pay for your surgery: cosmetic surgery is expensive, but do not try and save money by choosing to work with inexperienced doctors. 

6. Meet the entire surgical team: along with the doctor it is also important to meet the other members of the surgical team. Also, take a look at the facilities offered and the type of surgical atmosphere available.

7. Have a clear written plan for the surgery and possible follow up procedures: cosmetic surgeries often require multiple procedures. Ask your doctor for a clear plan with all the costs involved. 

8. Ensure that you have an aftercare plan: on the off chance that something does not go according to plan, ensure that you know what is to be done and insist on an aftercare treatment from your doctor.

9. Have a strong support system in place: it will take a few months for the effects of your surgery to be visible. Until then, your face may appear swollen and bruised. Get support from your friends and family as this may keep you indoors for awhile. 

10. Be aware of the risks: like any other surgery, this one too has risks associated with it. Ensure that you are aware of these risks so that you can make an informed decision. 

11. Don't rush your decision: lastly, take your time deciding on the exact procedure you want. Remember that the effects of cosmetic surgery are permanent.

10 Expert Tips to Undergo Safer Facial Cosmetic Surgery

Facial surgery can be opted for by people for a number of reasons, and these include being born with facial impairments like cleft lip, birthmark or other birth defects, the effects of aging, sun damage, or other facial traumas that are noticeable on the face as well as a sense of general dissatisfaction with your facial features. Depending on these factors, facial plastic surgery can be divided into two categories:  reconstructive and cosmetic.

Reconstructive plastic surgery is performed for correcting conditions that may be present from birth, including birthmarks on the face, cleft lip and palate, protruding ears, and a crooked smile. Conditions resulting from accidents, traumas, or burns are also corrected by this type of surgery.

Cosmetic facial plastic surgery is performed to enhance the visual appearance of facial structures and features which include facelifts, eye lifts, rhinoplasty, cheek and chin implants, and liposuction. 

If you are planning to get facial surgery done, there are certain things you need to do to prepare yourself for it. These are:

Choose a qualified surgeon: It's important to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon who has experience performing the specific procedure you are considering. You should also ask to see before-and-after photos of the surgeon's previous patients.

Understand the risks: As with any surgery, facial surgery carries some risks, including infection, bleeding, and scarring. Make sure you understand the potential risks and complications of the procedure before making a decision.

Have realistic expectations: While facial surgery can produce excellent results, it is not a magic cure-all. It's important to have realistic expectations about what the surgery can and cannot do.

Follow post-surgery instructions: After your surgery, it's important to follow your surgeon's instructions for care and recovery. This will help ensure that you get the best possible results and minimize the risk of complications.

Schedule a surgery when you are healthy: If you are planning for either of the surgeries, try to schedule it during a period of relatively good health. Your immune system will have the best chance of a speedy recovery. Scheduling the surgery at the year-end is ideal when you can take a few days of paid leaves. 
Get enough essential nutrients: Your diet, before and after the surgery, should be rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, zinc, copper, and selenium. They help the wound to heal quickly and build immunity, thereby reducing the chances of an infection. You can recover from more comprehensive procedures like tummy tuck, facelift or liposuction by including the requisite nutrients in your diet.
Stay hydrated: Consuming 6-8 glasses on the day prior to the surgery is very important to help cleanse and hydrate the body. Since fluid intake is reduced on the day of surgery, water intake is especially important prior to the surgery. To avoid complications during surgery, ensure that you do not drink anything after midnight on the night prior to your surgery unless advised by your surgeon.
Overall, it's important to do your research and consult with a qualified surgeon before making a decision about facial surgery. Good luck!

Related Tip: "Causes and Risks of Craniofacial Surgery"

7 Things To Keep In Mind For Facial Surgery

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