Post-Op Instructions

General instructions for patients who underwent plastic and cosmetic surgery

The followings are for all procedures. Additional instructions which are more specific for your surgery will be informed directly at consultation and after the surgery.

  1. If the wound heals properly, permanent stitches will be removed during the first follow-up appointment, typically scheduled for one week after surgery.
  2. For the first 2-3 days post-surgery, it’s recommended to keep the operated part(s) elevated above the level of your heart and apply cold packs as much as possible (except for procedures that involve skin flaps, subcutaneous mastectomy and fat injection). This means you should prepare more than one cold pack.
  3. Older-generation anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, and aspirin, are not recommended.
  4. For all suture wounds, it is recommended to clean them daily with clean water due to the hot and humid weather in Thailand, as well as sweat and dust. Keeping the wounds dry does not mean they are clean. Clean water means boiled water that has cooled, a new unopened bottle of drinking water, or commercially sterilized water that has not been opened (it does not have to be saline as salt does not help). After cleaning the wound, dry it with a clean cloth or use a hair dryer.
  5. Daily wound dressing at the hospital is not necessary.
  6. Sutured wounds can be left open, not covered by any dressing, after 2-3 days when there is no more oozing. Dressings mainly protect your clothes and/or compression garment from being stained by your blood. Covering a surgical wound does not prevent infection. Germs get into the wound during surgery, not after the wound is already closed. Without dressing, you can easily check your wound every day and identify if there is a problem.
  7. As a rule, the operated area and wound(s) should be kept still for at least 1-2 weeks. Please avoid moving or massaging the operated area excessively.
  8. Avoid exercising for at least 1 week.
  9. Avoid alcohol and smoking for at least 2 weeks.
  10. In the case of rhinoplasty with dorsal implant, you should avoid wearing glasses for 1 month.