It is probably self-evident to most cosmetic surgical patients that they should expect to undergo follow-up visits during the initial healing phase following the procedure. However, many patients may not understand why Dr. Paul Pin still insists on having his patients come in for follow-up visits at anywhere from six months to a year following surgery, depending on the type of procedure. The truth is that healing from cosmetic surgical procedures does not necessarily have a short timeframe. It takes the body time to adjust, and the results from the cosmetic surgical procedure may not be immediately apparent.

One to Two Weeks Following Surgery

The immediate post-surgical phase is obviously the most critical. This is the time when Dr. Pin will need to make sure that the incisions are initially healing well and that no infection has set in. He will also check any dressings and the progress of any surgical drains that may have been inserted, such as following a tummy tuck procedure. Most, if not all, of any surgical drains will usually be removed at a follow-up visit in this timeframe. While there is likely to still be some bruising and swelling during this phase, some may be subsiding if the procedure was not overly invasive.

Three to Six Weeks Following Surgery

Most bruising and swelling will be gone by this point. This will allow Dr. Pin to get an initial idea of what the final outcome from the procedure will be. Patients should also be well past the danger point of any infection setting in.

Six Weeks and Beyond

At this point, the final results will usually be entirely apparent. Dr. Pin can determine if the procedure results meet both his and the patient's goals. If the procedure results do not meet these goals, Dr. Pin will discuss with the patient ways in which to correct for the problem. These methods may range from special exercises (such as breast massage to get implants to settle into their proper position) to a second, revision surgical procedure. Patients may also begin considering any other procedures that may enhance their results even further, such as a facelift following a rhinoplasty (nose job).

Why Don't Patients Keep Follow-up Appointments?

Given all the important reasons outlined above for keeping follow-up appointments, it is interesting to see the reasons why patients don't keep them. A 2004 study from the Aesthetic Surgery Journal analyzed survey responses from 1,350 patients who had undergone a breast augmentation cosmetic surgical procedure.

Although 80 percent of the women said that they kept all their appointments for the first year, it dropped to 33 percent for the second year following the procedure. Almost half (45 percent) stated that their main reason was because their implants were not causing them problems. However, almost all (90 percent) said they would see their original surgeon if a problem developed.

Based on the results of this study, it is clear that education is key to helping patients keep all of their follow-up appointments. Dr. Pin works closely with his patients to explain the necessity for each visit so that he can properly monitor the progress of their healing.

Contact Dr. Pin today to schedule a consultation.