After your surgery

The days and weeks immediately following your surgery are critical to obtaining a good final result. Therefore, it's essential that you follow your plastic surgeon's orders to the letter.

During your recovery, the doctor's orders are likely to include:

• Taking adequate time off work
• Wearing bandages or tight compression garments
• Getting enough rest
• Staying out of the sun
• Saying no to alcohol and cigarettes
• Avoiding strenuous activity, exercise, sports and sex

However, plastic surgeons understand that it's sometimes difficult for men, who are programmed by society to be stoic, to remain in bed for very long or to accept help from others during recovery. Studies have shown that men often deny their pain and feel foolish about asking for help after surgery. Men who reject help may have an especially difficult recovery if post-operative depression sets in during the weeks following surgery.

To avoid postoperative problems, it's important that you arrange to have a support person available to help you – both physically and emotionally – for about a week after surgery. If you get the help and rest you need, you'll improve your chances of a quicker recovery – and you may see your results a lot sooner.