Considering the required healing period post plastic surgery, scheduling your procedure around your least busy season is vital. The optimal time would be the period when you can have the longest time to recover, meaning fewer personal, social, and professional engagements. This is when you can have ample and proper healing without disrupting much of your active schedules.
So, what time of year is the best for plastic surgery? This will depend on your responsibilities and circumstances like work or school, peak season at work, as well as your location and weather preferences.
But when is plastic surgery season, according to industry info? Generally, demand for plastic surgery surges during cold months like autumn and winter. Therefore, compared to all other seasons, winter is considered the best time to have plastic surgery and is also known as the season of plastic surgery.
Table of Contents
Why Is Winter The Best Time For Plastic Surgery?
The Downside Of Winter Downtime
What Are The Best Procedures Done During Winter?
How About Healing and Recovery During Warmer Seasons?
Do’s and Don’ts For Faster Healing and Recovery
Why Is Winter The Best Time For Plastic Surgery?
Plastic surgery enjoys a high demand all year round, but many patients opt to schedule their procedure around winter time. This is a sensible decision because of the following reasons:
Indoor and Sedentary Mode
Cold weather gives us the perfect excuse to stay indoors, slow down, and laze around on a warm couch – a period of inactivity that’s great for recovering post-surgery. People won’t have to wonder why you haven’t been socially active, so there’s no need to explain your stay-at-home mode.
Except for those who love winter sports, the winter season is generally a downtime, even for non-surgery patients, making it ideal for healing and recovery.
Bundle Up and Cover Up Time
Because it’s cold, it’s easier to cover your wounds with layers of clothing like bulky sweaters, scarves, hats, and leg warmers. This way, you can easily blend in for a while, amply covering up swollen areas and suture marks. In addition, winter clothing is an excellent way to conceal body parts as they heal.
Less Sun Exposure
The sun is less visible during winter, which means less exposure to UV rays. However, sun exposure may affect the cosmetic procedure results in various ways, like scarring, hyperpigmentation, and discoloration. Therefore, patients are advised to avoid the sun during the first two weeks after surgery to get optimum results and limit exposure until complete recovery.
Summer-ready Body
Procedures like liposuction, breast augmentation, and tummy tuck are best done around December to January so your body can get healed and ready in time for summer!
Undergoing the procedure in summer, or close to summer, would mean missing the beach season as you must stay home most of the time and heal. Why wait for another summer to show off your beach body if you can schedule your procedure in time for a lovely beach holiday?
New Year, New You
It seems apt to have your cosmetic surgery done around the season of fresh starts. Like a rebirth, you can immerse yourself in your transition and let the winter and New Year add more significance to why you are doing your physical enhancement project.
The Downside Of Winter Downtime
Before you schedule your procedure next winter, there are a few things you need to think about. First, is winter the best plastic surgery time for you? Here are some reasons why some people don’t subscribe to this plastic surgery season and pick another time to get their procedure done.
Missing Out on Holiday Activities
Some people don’t want to be healing while others are holidaying. They prefer joining the Christmas rush instead of avoiding the crowds and having some downtime. Those who love hosting parties, skiing, or shopping would struggle to limit their holiday experience during recovery.
Aggravated Seasonal Depression
Limited activity due to post-surgical healing could worsen seasonal depression for some. Also called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), the cold months and lack of bright light can dampen spirits for those forced into downtime due to surgery.
Limited Mobility
Heavy snow can cause road closures or slow down travel time. This could mean rescheduling appointments or arranging online consultations if your surgeon is outside your local area.
What Are The Best Procedures Done During Winter?
Extensive body procedures that require a relatively long recovery period are best done during winter months or during fall or early spring. This also applies to facial procedures that are most exposed to sun rays. Here are the top cosmetic surgeries requested during cold seasons.
Face Procedures:
● Facelift
● Eyelid Surgery/Blepharoplasty
Body Procedures:
● Arm Lift
How About Healing and Recovery During Warmer Seasons?
Late spring and summer are not necessarily bad for post-surgery recovery. However, as mentioned, the best time for healing will depend on your schedule, the length of time you can recover, and weather-related preferences.
Spring
There are good reasons to get your surgery done in spring – fewer holidays, the spring break season, travel-friendly weather, and less seasonal depression. It is also the season for revitalization, rejuvenation, and spring cleaning that could inspire your body to let go of the old and welcome a fresh new look.
Summer
While the unforgiving heat and UV rays are unsuitable for wound healing, spending more time in an airconditioned room can help your recovery. Also, wearing light clothes won’t cause discomfort at your surgery sites. Summer breaks can also give you a more extended recovery period.
Do’s and Don’ts For Faster Healing and Recovery
Regardless of which season you choose to have your surgery, here are ways to help you heal better and faster. Follow these tips immediately after your surgery.
For face procedures like facelifts, rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, and chin surgery:
● Avoid sun exposure
● Apply cold compresses to reduce swelling
● Keep head elevated during sleep to minimize swelling
● Get ample rest to relax your facial muscles
● Don’t wear eyeglasses/sunglasses, as these can infect the surgical sites
● Don’t exercise to avoid straining your surgery sites
● Don’t swim or take a shower for a few days following your surgery
● Don’t blow your nose (rhinoplasty), scratch your eyes (blepharoplasty), pull your earlobes (otoplasty), or rub your chin (chin lift). Avoid touching your surgical sites
For body procedures:
● Wear a compression garment to aid healing and the desired contour, like a sports bra or medical bra for breast procedures
● Avoid exposure to the sun
● Change your bandages regularly and clean the surgical sites to avoid infection
● Get assistance in standing, sitting, walking, or lying down during your first-week post-surgery
● Get up and move around a bit every day to help with blood circulation and avoid blood clots
● Don’t sleep on your stomach, as this could strain your surgical site
How Can Beautifi Help?
Knowing when to have your surgery done is only a part of your decision-making process. Beautifi can help you with a range of needs, like choosing which specialist is right for you, giving you all the details you need to know about the type of surgery you want, and how to cover the cost of your chosen procedure.
Get in touch with us, and we will provide you with a helpful guide and an easy and flexible loan term that suits your current and future financial status. Let Beautifi help you achieve your beauty aspirations without draining your bank account.