How will I look initially?

It is important to realize that the amount of time it takes for recovery varies greatly among individuals.

The day after surgery, you will need to move around a bit to promote blood circulation. Your plastic surgeon will advise you to limit yourself to these brief periods of gentle activities for the first few days. Remember, you must not take aspirin or certain anti-inflammatory medications, and you should not smoke for a while following surgery.

Your dressings will be temporarily removed within several days so that your plastic surgeon can examine the treated areas. You will notice swelling and bruising, which is to be expected. Swelling usually begins to subside a week or so following surgery, while bruising can last three weeks or longer. There may also be numbness in some areas, and it may take several weeks before feeling returns. If stitches need to be removed, this is typically done within ten days after surgery.