Do’s and Don’ts of Surgery Holidays

Is cosmetic surgery good or bad? Based on past client feedback and interviewing the surgeons, we detail 10 essential points to keep in mind before you travel on a surgery holiday.

DO have realistic expectations

The biggest factor that determines what you will look like after surgery is what you look like before!

We are all different, so the same surgery will look different for 2 different people, even if you are the same age, shape and size. Likewise the same size implant will look completely different in 2 different breasts, as all nipples and chest shape and sizes are completely different. Therefore, you cannot hope that your breasts will look like Angelina Jolie’s and your bottom will not look like Jennifer Aniston’s! Judging yourself on others is just a recipe for disappointment and regret.

Do your homework, but be prepared for improvement, not perfection. Also remember that surgery will not change your life, that is up to you.

DON’T smoke!

Smoking promotes poor healing and bad scarring, therefore our surgeons recommend that you give up smoking completely for at least 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after surgery. You should not take Nicorette gum or nicotine patches either. The chance of developing keloid scars are greatly increased if you do smoke.

DON’T fall prey to the trends of new surgery methods

Plastic surgery methods are sophisticated now, and available the world over. However, occasionally new names crop up for old methods, which are particularly favoured by the more expensive surgeons at home to portray that they are inventors of new methods! More often than not, these ‘new’ methods are dressed up from traditional procedures, and all that has changed is the name! e.g. Liposculpture = Liposuction and “Feather Lift” is simply APTOS threads.

Beware of surgeons and websites that throw fancy words at you and then charge double!

DON’T feel pressured by the opinions of others

There should be only one reason that you are getting the surgery done – because YOU want to! Well-meaning friends and family will have their own comments, but don’t be swayed into or out of making a decision based on the opinions of others. People have surgery for a million reasons, but make sure that this is YOUR reason!

DO get your body into tip top condition before your holiday

A good diet and regular exercise in the weeks leading up to surgery can benefit healing and recovery. The goal is to get your body in optimal health, the blood and oxygen circulating. We have consistently found that the clients who are in good health and condition prior to surgery have the best healing and less obvious scarring in the months after surgery.

The measure of ideal body weight is BMI or Body Mass Index, which is a ratio of body weight in Kg to height in metres squared. Normal BMI is between 18 to 25. Candidates who are more than 15kg over the ideal body weight are not good candidates for cosmetic surgery such as liposuction or abdominoplasty, because these procedures are designed only for body sculpting and are definitely not for weight reduction.

Doing surgery on overweight or obese patients will not achieve the goals and only result in patient dissatisfaction and higher chance of complications. Overweight patients should enter an exercise and diet regime to lose weight to near normal level and become suitable candidates.

DO get yourself some advice before you leave on wound/scar healing

Some scars can be treated with compression therapy, and some with topical creams. The creams are applied to reduce scarring and to speed up the healing process. Rose hip, aloe vera and some Vitamin E lotions have been found to help speed recovery. Massaging these creams helps soothe and soften the scars. The surgeon can also prescribe a specialized crème for reducing the appearance of scars. This must be applied morning and evening.

DO ensure you have a thorough consultation

The consultation is the most important part of the surgery, it is when you can ask all the questions that you have before the surgery. The surgeon will have as much time for you as you need, so use this time and don’t be shy to ask all the questions that you need.

DO cover up from the sun

Whatever treatment that you have, one thing is essential – keep all scars out of the sun! All good surgeons will advise you to do this – it is absolutely necessary for proper scar healing. Exposure to the harmful UV rays of the sun may damage the skin and lead to bad healing. So, bring your sunscreen and a good hat.

DON’T be afraid to ask questions!

Before you go, when you get to your destination, and after surgery, never hesitate to contact your booking manager to ask any questions. We will pass all medical questions to the surgeon and get back to you as soon as possible. We will be in touch with you after your holiday, we also like to ask if you can send across photos regularly so the surgeon can see wound healing and how the results are forming.

DO have fun!

The world is a great place to visit, so don’t forget to have a great holiday while you are recovering! There is plenty to do, as our team will show you, so take a bit of spare cash to make sure that you have a great holiday. Pampering treatments, shopping trips, day trips, dinners and nights out are all possible, and can all be booked after your surgery, when you are feeling well. So make the most of your holiday – get some rest, get some fun nights in and out, and you will be feeling on top of the world when you arrive home!

We also encourage you to call the surgeon to ask any questions on any surgery treatments, questions about is cosmetic surgery good or bad and also past clients. If you would like their number, please email us: care@gorgeousgetaways.com