So, you've finally determined that it is time to undergo a cosmetic procedure. First, congratulations on your decision to give your appearance a fresh start for the New Year. You are probably excited to show off the results of your cosmetic procedure to your family and friends. Of course, Dr. Paul Pin will be there with you to help you get the optimal results from your procedure.
However, before you get ahead of yourself, you will need to consider how much time you may need off from work in order to ensure that you fully healed from your procedure so that you will get those optimal results. Of course, the amount of time you will need to take off will greatly depend on the type of procedure you will be undergoing. Below is a handy guide to let you know what to expect in terms of time off from work, depending upon how invasive your procedure is likely to be.
Sick Leave or Personal Time Off?
The most common question that prospective patients ask Dr. Pin regarding time off following a cosmetic procedure is whether or not it can be considered sick leave or personal time off. Of course, you should check with your HR department to verify, but in most cases, companies will only allow sick leave to be used for a cosmetic procedure if it is medically necessary, rather than elective. For example, a breast augmentation because you are unhappy with the size of your breasts is an elective procedure done for aesthetic reasons, so would likely not be covered under sick leave. On the other hand, a breast reconstruction following a mastectomy due to breast cancer is a medically necessary procedure, so sick leave would cover your recovery time.
Up to One Week Time Off
Any minimally invasive cosmetic procedure, such as dermal fillers or BOTOX® Cosmetic should only require a few days off from work, if even that. You will have some bruising and swelling around the injection sites, but these can easily be covered with a good makeup concealer. In many cases, if you schedule your dermal filler or BOTOX® Cosmetic procedure for a Friday, you may be able to return to work the following Monday without any of your coworkers realizing you have undergone any cosmetic work.
Two Weeks
Cosmetic procedures that are moderately invasive, such as liposuction, eyelid surgery or partial facelifts, are somewhat more involved than just dermal fillers, but do not involve repositioning major muscle groups or large amounts of body tissue. For these procedures, Dr. Pin recommends anywhere from 10 days to two weeks off from work to recover. You will be given a special compression garment to wear following your surgery, which will help reduce the amount and duration of bruising and swelling. Part of the reason for the two weeks of recovery time is to get you past the major part of this phase before returning to work.
More than Two Weeks
If you are planning major cosmetic surgery, such as a tummy tuck or body lift, be prepared for time off from work from two to three weeks. The reason for this is because these procedures involve either major muscle groups (such as for a tummy tuck) or removing significant amounts of body tissue. Due to the more invasive nature of these procedures, your body will need an extended amount of time to heal. Attempting to rush the process may result in less-than-optimal results from your surgery.
Dr. Pin understands your desire to incorporate your new look into your life, and part of that involves getting back to work. However, your body does require a certain amount of time to heal following any cosmetic procedure, regardless of how invasive it may be. Taking the proper amount of time off from work, even though it may seem to be a hassle to do so, will pay off in the long run with better results and a more confident appearance.