The mindset that surgery is a “quick fix” for your facial and body enhancing procedures isn’t complete or balanced. While surgery can get you the results not necessarily attainable through a healthy lifestyle, it is of utmost importance to take care of yourself before and after your surgery to maintain your results as long as possible. Surgery can appear to turn back decades of aging effects, but it isn’t a permanent fix for the long term effects of genetics or aging.

Fortunately it definitely helps your results to stay longer when they’re accompanied by good lifestyle choices. Here are some healthy lifestyle tips to maintain your surgery results:

Stay Active and Eat Well

Even though procedures like Liposuction permanently remove fat cells, the fat cells that are left behind can expand, taking the place of the ones removed. This results in expanding parts of the body that might appear in odd areas because the fat cells in “normal” spots have been eliminated. Also, with a Tummy Tuck, your extra skin is removed, which doesn’t leave room for expansion. If you gain weight, you’ll stretch out the skin again and negate the trim results. Don’t fear though, you can do your part to maintain your slim and trim post Lipo or Tummy Tuck figure with a healthy diet and exercise.

Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices

There’s a reason most surgeons require you to not smoke or drink before surgery or during your recovery time. Nicotine hinders your body’s immune system and response to inflammation. It can prolong or prevent proper healing, even leading to complications causing excessive bleeding and scarring. Consuming alcohol also increases bleeding and swelling because it dilates your blood vessels and dehydrates your body (causing it to retain water).

Skin Care Matters

It is crucial to take good care of your scars to aid them in healing and fading as much as possible. You don’t want to be too active and stretch them, and you should follow your surgeon’s cleaning ointment application protocol. Beyond the initial healing period, its important to have a good skin care routine. I highly recommend SkinMedica, which we sell in our office, as a clinically proven skin care line to help your skin stay hydrated and smooth.

Cosmetic surgery isn’t a one time investment into your body or face. In order to see the long term results you’ve worked hard for, I highly suggest you follow the simple healthy lifestyle tips outlined above. You’ll be glad you did!

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon