Following local anesthesia, it may take 4-5 hours for the numbing effects to wear off – similar to something you would have done at the dentist. You can even eat and drink like normal before your procedure. We just ask that you not consume alcohol 24 hour prior to surgery. You must be accompanied by a responsible adult on your way home, who may either drive you home or take a taxi with you. You may feel pain slowly increase as the numbing wears off. Please ensure you have some acetaminophen or ibuprofen at home to use for any discomfort.

You are able to shower as normal, you are able to use soap and water on the incisions. Please do not bathe or soak your incisions until all incisions have completely healed. It can take up to four weeks for dissolvable stitches to fully dissolve. Swelling and bruising is common following surgery and is to be expected. The swelling and bruising should subside within 2-4 weeks after surgery. We recommend icing for 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off to help reduce swelling. 

Patients are able to get up and walk around right after surgery. Most patients are back to normal daily activities the next day. However, there should be no vigorous activity such as sexual intercourse, biking or any other sporting activity for at least 4 weeks following surgery to ensure there is no separation of the surgical incisions. Most patients who have sedentary jobs do not take time off work. If your job involves a lot of physical activity be sure to speak with your surgeon during your consultation with regards to how much time off you will need for your specific daily tasks. Most patients are comfortable driving the next day. However, it is not uncommon for a spot along your surgical incisions to open up during the postoperative stages due to increased tension on the incisions with movement or poor healing. This is not a serious complication, and can be remedied with daily dressings, but it does mean a delay in your expected recovery time. 

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to give us a call at (403) 800-9157 and leave a message as necessary. If you are unable to reach us, and need medical advice please call 811 to speak to a nurse, the line is free of charge and available 24 hours a day. If it is a medical emergency please call 911 or go to your nearest hospital, or call the Peter Lougheed Centre Switchboard at (403) 943-4555 and ask to speak to the plastic surgeon on-call.