If you’re considering a plastic surgery procedure, you may be wondering about exercising after plastic surgery.
There’s no one-size-fits-all post-surgery workout plan. Depending on the type of plastic surgery you have and your general activity level, your surgeon will have recommendations to personalize your plan.
Whatever the case, activity is an important part of a mindful recovery regimen.
The Importance of Post-Surgical Movement
Decades ago, getting back to normal activity after plastic surgery was a longer and more arduous process. But with today’s enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols, that’s no longer the case. Long-acting nerve blocks and intravenous anesthesia, along with limiting opioids, enable patients to get back to normal activity three to four days post-surgery. And most can return to exercise (within reason) at the two-week point.
This is important because performing gentle movement after surgery will get your body’s systems back in check. Exercise not only improves blood flow to promote healing, reduce inflammation, and ward off infection, but it’s also beneficial for activating the digestive system, which can become sluggish as a result of anesthesia or other medications.
Furthermore, movement and gentle exercise help maintain strength and flexibility to prevent fatigue and muscle weakness. In a nut shell, engaging in mindful movement will speed up a patient’s recovery. This is why surgeons recommend rest, but not bed rest.
What Exercising After Plastic Surgery Looks Like
It’s important to understand that returning to exercise is going to mean different movements for different people. In the vast majority of cases, the early days of recovery are going to focus on low-impact activities such as walking or stationary cycling. The focus at this point is to reduce swelling, support lymphatic drainage, and improve circulation.
For those working on lower-body recovery, a surgeon may also recommend activities like squats, lunges, and leg presses done only with body weight.
Another wonderful exercise system to consider after plastic surgery is Pilates. This system of mindful movements teaches patients to use the core properly to enhance surgical results. It also focuses on mobility and range of motion so that patients can progress to light resistance training and gradually return to more progressive forms of exercise.
Meanwhile, getting back to exercise for athletes might look a bit different. Based on the surgical procedure, they can typically work with lighter body weight exercises and then advance at around three weeks. The general rule of thumb is to do half the weight and half the reps, but double the mindfulness. This means being very cautious not to overdo it and respecting that the body is still working to heal.
Let Your Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Guide You
As stated above, what your post-surgical exercise regimen will look like depends on many factors. So it’s always critical to get clearance from your board-certified plastic surgeon before starting or increasing any movement routine.
Generally speaking, you’ll be advised to start with light activity and slowly build up duration and intensity. You’ll want to emphasize activities that increase the heart rate and get your blood flowing, and steer clear of high-impact exercises that may cause bouncing. Additionally, you’ll be instructed not to lift anything over five pounds for two weeks.
Finally, and this should go without saying, you’ll want to avoid anything that puts direct pressure on your surgical sites.
Take It Slowly
The key to successfully exercising after plastic surgery is to listen to your body. If you feel pain, soreness, tightness, or excessive strain in an activity, that’s your body’s way of telling you to stop.
You also need to listen to your surgeon. So if you’re considering a plastic surgery procedure and are curious about what the healing process will be like, contact us today to set up your consultation.
And just know that no matter how much you may want to get back to your regular exercise regimen, you should be using your body normally by two months without restrictions. That’s not that long. So give your body time to heal.