Statistics released by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and analyzed by the surgery.org website show that the most popular times of the year for plastic surgery are the Fall and Winter months. There are a number of reasons for this, and the article goes on to recount three of them – easier recovery (because you spend more time indoors anyway), ‘staycationing’ (an excuse not to go away but to stay home), and giving or receiving the procedure as a present.
These are good reasons, but there is also another one, and it’s especially important for those recovering from even minimally invasive procedures, and that’s protection from the harmful rays of the sun. We all want to look our best for summer, and some people regularly visit their surgeon for chemical peels, microdermabrasion and laser procedures as part of maintaining their look. If it isn’t possible, or desirable, to completely halt all treatments during the sunnier months (and we’re talking from just after the start of spring right through to the start of fall), protection is vital.
Firstly, make sure that you are adequately nourishing the skin to start off with. Fragrance-free, pH neutral creams and washes (hypoallergenic, naturally) will help to feed the skin, and keep it looking great between treatments. For those going out in direct sunlight after a deep chemical peel, an SPF 40 is the order of the day. Any higher and there is a risk of blocking the pores, which is never desirable. Finally, drink lots of water. Hydrating from within is a surefire way to help the skin recover from any mild to severe traumatic experience. Even microdermabrasion and mild chemical peels will cause the skin to be exposed to some trauma, so keeping it hydrated is a must.
Naturally, for those recovering from a surgical procedure, giving the wound time to heal, and protecting the scar tissue from the sun is a priority. Your surgeon will give exact guidelines as to what you can and cannot do, and it is important that they are followed to the letter. While that might mean taking a little better care of your skin during the warmer, sunnier months, summer can still be an excellent time for a little rejuvenation.
To learn more about cosmetic surgery, contact the Naderi Center at 703-481-0002 in Virginia or 301-222-2020 in Maryland for a consultation today.
