Cosmetic Surgeries for the Seasons
After any cosmetic surgery that used invasive techniques, the surgeon will schedule a follow-up appointment for patients. These appointments may seem like wastes of time for some patients who are busy or who may not feel like crawling out of bed for a 20-minute appointment. Some patients believe that everything is fine, do not feel as if they have any pain and simply cancel their appointments or fail to show up at the scheduled time. However, follow-up appointments certainly have their place after any surgery, including elective cosmetic surgeries.
Dr. Tavoussi always schedules follow-up appointments for all of his cosmetic surgery patients at the OC Cosmetic Surgery Clinique in Newport Beach, California. These appointments are often scheduled within the first week following the surgery. Patients with extensive surgeries or those who had issues following surgery may need more than one follow-up appointment.
The Recovery Process of Cosmetic Procedures
Follow-up appointments are not wastes of time. Instead, they are times when the surgeon can determine whether incisions are healing well, any signs of infection are present, and pain is under control. Some patients may even have drains or stitches removed at this appointment. Patients should be aware that improper care of incisions as well as post-operative infections can lead to dangerous problems in the future, such as poor wound healing and body-wide infections that can land them in the hospital.
The importance of follow-up appointments cannot be overstated. In fact, one study that was published in the JAMA Surgery periodical in 2014 demonstrated that patients were less likely to have to be readmitted to a hospital within the first month post-operatively if they saw their physicians soon after their procedures. Patients who may be complaining of just a little fever, a tiny bit of itching or a little yellow drainage may need extra care.
Some patients may need long-term follow-up appointments. For example, those who have had breast augmentations may need to return yearly to ensure that their implants are doing well. The surgeon will always want to ensure that the healing process is progressing well, that the patient is comfortable and happy with the outcome and that no additional cosmetic changes need to be made. While it may seem frustrating to go back to the clinic for additional appointments, Dr. Tavoussi strongly recommends that each of his patients keeps his or her scheduled appointments for the sake of their own health.
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