Since the main reason for getting cosmetic surgery is often to change your appearance, many people are keen to get back into a regular exercise routine as quickly as possible. With some types of surgery, such as body contouring procedures, a targeted exercise program can drastically improve the results. The problem many people face is that they are bombarded with contradicting information and it can be difficult to decide what is best. The most important thing to remember is that you should always return to exercise at your own pace.
Listen to Your Doctor
Before your consult the internet, social media or magazines, make sure you follow your Doctor’s advice first. How you return to exercise will depend a lot on how active you were before you had the surgery. The weeks following cosmetic surgery probably aren’t the best time to start up a new CrossFit routine. And if you were already very active, you should start off with exercises that are much easier than you are used to.
Regardless of the type of surgery, you shouldn’t do any physical activity for 48 hours after the procedure. After this stage, you should aim to take a few five-minute walks per day and increase the amount of time at a pace that suits your recovery. By week four, you should be able to take a few 15 minute walks per day. At week six, you should talk to your doctor about resuming a light version of your usual workout routine.
Listen to Your Body
During your recovery, there are no set rules about how quickly you should resume exercise and how intense that exercise should be. If a 5 minute walk is too much for you to handle after week 1, then listen to your body and reduce the duration or pace. There is no sense in pushing yourself to work harder as this will ultimately impact on your recovery.
In the case of breast augmentation, many people don’t understand how limited their movement will be in the days following surgery. Pushing yourself too hard and trying to get back to normal activity levels could lead to complications in your post-operative recovery which might not be covered under breast surgery claims.
Remember that it can take anything from four to six months to return to normal activity levels, and this is based on a number of factors. You should never feel bad about your recovery time, as it is a very personal thing that is influenced by a number of factors.
Exercise for Different Procedures
Your recovery will depend mostly on the type of surgery you have. In you have any facial surgery, such as rhinoplasty, the vessels in your nose and face will be more sensitive and prone to nosebleeds. You should avoid any high impact sports such as running, or any sport that requires bending over. The slightest bruise can drastically change the shape of your nose as it heals and could lead to further surgery.
In the case of liposuction, you will probably be concerned about inactivity causing you to put on weight again. After one week of light walks, you should be able to return to around 25% of your normal activity levels, but avoid anything too vigorous and high impact. Even a yoga class could end up pushing you too hard.
Breast augmentation will make you appreciate just how well the muscles in your arms, chest, back and neck work together. You will have to focus on keeping your lower half active for the first few weeks. Stretching your chest and back will help to ease some discomfort and keep you flexible. After six weeks, you should be able to return to your normal physical activity levels, but you should make sure you are wearing the best possible sports bra to ensure you are well-supported.
Prevention is Best
If you are concerned about putting on weight due to inactivity after surgery, the best possible thing you can do is prepare for this before your procedure. Your recovery will depend a lot on your baseline levels of fitness before the surgery, so if you are in good shape, you will find it easier to recover and return to normal activity levels. If you are largely sedentary, you might find it difficult to resume normal activity levels, depending on your type of procedure. But regardless of whatever shape you’re in, you are going to face a period of time where you will be inactive so your need to prepare for this – therefore if you’re not in the best of physical places, take action whether it’s a diet or a new fitness program. If you want to get in shape prior to surgery, you should start your new exercise or diet program between 6-8 weeks before, that way it gives you enough time to get yourself in shape before your surgery.