HEALING AFTER COSMETIC SURGERY: DURATION, PRECAUTIONS AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS

The stages of the healing process after cosmetic surgery

The post-operative healing process takes place in several phases with distinct durations, each requiring
particular attention:

1. Inflammatory phase (1 to 7 days)
   As soon as the operation is over, the skin reacts with redness and swelling around the wound. This phase is crucial for preventing
   infections and promoting a good start to healing.
2. Proliferative phase (1 to 6 weeks)
   During this period, the body produces collagen to rebuild damaged tissue. The wound begins to close
   progressively and gives way to a scar.
3. Remodelling phase (1 to 12 months)
   This is the longest phase. The scar evolves, its colour fades and its texture gradually improves. The care given
   during this period is essential to obtain an optimal result.

To find out more about the specific post-operative effects of each operation, do not hesitate to seek advice
from your cosmetic surgeon, who will be the person best placed to give you the appropriate treatments.

Learn more about how to care for wounds and the healing process on the HUG website.

Precautions and care to promote good healing

To avoid complications and promote optimal healing, certain precautions must be taken:

Contraindications to avoid during healing

• Exposure to the sun: UV rays can cause excessive pigmentation of the scar, making it more visible than before.
  Applying SPF 50 sun protection is essential.
• Tobacco and alcohol: these substances slow healing by reducing tissue oxygenation and increasing the risk of infection.
• Premature physical exertion: excessive tension on the wound can cause scar enlargement or delayed
  healing.

Good practices to speed up healing

• Gentle hygiene: clean the area with antiseptic solutions recommended by your surgeon.
• Adapted hydration and nutrition: a diet rich in vitamin C, zinc and protein promotes tissue regeneration.
• Adapted dressings: the use of silicone dressings can help maintain a moist environment conducive to
  cutaneous repair.

Need personalised advice? Make an appointment for a consultation with our cosmetic surgery experts.

Modern techniques to reduce scars

Thanks to advances in aesthetic medicine, several solutions now make it possible to effectively reduce the appearance of
post-operative scars. These techniques can be segmented into two groups:

1. Non-invasive treatments

To improve the appearance of scars after cosmetic surgery, several non-invasive solutions are available. Among the
most effective, silicone-based dressings and gels are often recommended. These devices help to maintain
optimal scar hydration while reducing tension on the skin, promoting more discreet and
homogeneous healing.

Another effective approach is photobiomodulation LED. Using a cold light that penetrates deep into the skin, this
technology stimulates cell regeneration and diminishes persistent redness. Photobiomodulation sessions can be
performed in addition to other treatments to optimise results, sometimes as early as the day after the operation.

Finally, scar massages play a key role in softening the tissues. Carried out with gentle, regular movements,
they help to improve skin suppleness and prevent the formation of thick or adherent scars. Practised from the first
weeks following surgery, these massages help to progressively smooth the scar and reduce its appearance.

2. Medical-aesthetic treatments

When the scar is more pronounced, more advanced medical-aesthetic treatments can be considered to improve its
appearance.

Fractional laseris one of the most popular solutions. This technology is based on the emission of microbeams of light that
penetrate the skin deeply, stimulating collagen production and attenuating irregularities in texture and pigmentation. The
results are generally progressive, with visible improvement after several sessions.

Medical microneedling, coupled with radiofrequency of the Exion type, is another popular option. It involves using a device with
micro-needles that gently perforate the skin to induce a natural cellular repair process. This treatment promotes skin renewal and improves the suppleness and evenness of the scar. It is particularly effective for scars
discreet and superficial.

In some cases, corticosteroid injections
are recommended to treat hypertrophic or keloid scars. These
injections reduce the thickness of the scar and limit associated itching or pain. They are
generally administered in several sessions spaced a few weeks apart, in order to achieve optimal results.

These different medical-aesthetic techniques offer solutions tailored to each type of scar, depending on its depth,
colour and texture, enabling more even and aesthetically pleasing skin to be achieved.

Discover the solutions best suited to your needs by consulting our aesthetic treatments for the body and for the face.