Taking Time off Work after Facial Plastic Surgery By Dr. William Cohen on January 28, 2017

At THE SKIN CENTERx, Dr. William Cohen provides his patients with comprehensive instructions on how to promote proper and timely healing after undergoing facial cosmetic surgery before they undergo their procedures. Following these post-operative instructions is essential to ensuring not only the shortest, most comfortable recovery period possible, but also the longest lasting, most aesthetically pleasing results. In order to be considered good candidates for facial plastic surgery, patients must be willing and able to follow Dr. Cohen’s instructions to the letter.

One of the post-operative issues Dr. Cohen discusses with patients is how much time they should plan to take off from work after undergoing their procedures. In discussing the issue of taking time off work after facial plastic surgery during consultations at his Orange County, CA practice, he details the factors that can influence when the optimal time to resume normal activities might be. For most patients, it is possible to return to work approximately two weeks after surgery, with some able to return within ten days or so and others requiring somewhat longer than two weeks.

To learn what your recovery from facial plastic surgery will be like, we invite you to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. William Cohen at THE SKIN CENTERx today.

Factors That Determine How Quickly You Can Return to Work after Facial Plastic Surgery

When advising patients on what to expect from their plastic surgery recoveries, Dr. Cohen takes into account many factors unique to each patient. In general, however, he advises his facial plastic surgery patients to take two weeks off work to recover, if possible. While most pain and discomfort subside within the first 48 hours after surgery, and most patients start to feel like their normal selves by the end of the first week of the recovery period, a second week allows for a significant decrease in remaining bruising and swelling, as well as an opportunity to restore energy levels through increased walking.

Here are just some of the factors that can influence how quickly you can return to work after facial plastic surgery:

How much walking you do after surgery: While it is important that you get plenty of rest after your procedure, it is equally important that you don’t spend all of your time in bed. You will want to do as much light walking as you can, as soon after surgery as you can. This will help to promote circulation, decrease swelling, and rebuild your energy levels.
Whether you kept your head elevated at all times: When recovering from facial plastic surgery, it is important to keep your head elevated to decrease bruising and swelling. Your head should be elevated even when you are sleeping, and you should avoid bending over, especially for prolonged periods.
The type of job you have: If you have a desk job that requires no lifting or strenuous activity on your part, it may be possible to return to work - with Dr. Cohen’s clearance - even before two weeks. However, if you have a more physically demanding job, you should prepare to take more than two weeks off work or request alternate duties upon your return, as you will not be allowed to participate in strenuous activities for at least a month after surgery.