Getting facial plastic surgery can be a life-changing experience, whether it’s for beauty or medical reasons. But like all operations, there are risks involved. One big concern is the chance of getting an infection after the operation.
It’s really important to spot any signs of infection early on because acting quickly means you could avoid more serious problems, and your healing process will go well overall. Here, we’ll give you tips about what symptoms might mean that an infection is brewing post-surgery.
Redness and Swelling
Your face will be red and a bit puffy after facial surgery. That’s normal. The worst of it tends to happen in the first couple of days, then eases off slowly.
But if that redness gets darker or spreads out more than usual, and if your swelling seems too big or just doesn’t go down even several days post-surgery, you might have an infection on your hands. Also, keep an eye for warmth around where you had work done as another sign something could be wrong.
Fever and Chills
It’s not all that surprising to run a bit of a temperature after surgery as your body heals. If it goes over 100.4°F (38°C) or sticks around for more than just one day, then you should start worrying about an infection being the cause, especially if there are chills and shaking happening too.
This could mean bacteria are trying to crash the healing party in your body. So remember, while low fevers might be okay post-op, high temps sticking around need immediate attention.
Pus or Unusual Discharge
If you notice any gooey stuff coming out from where your surgery was, especially if it’s yellow or green or smells bad, that could be a big red flag for an infection.
The body fights off nasty bacteria by sending white blood cells to the rescue, which can end up as pus – made of dead tissue, too. Clear fluid might leak in small amounts early on during healing, but when things start changing like its color getting darker or a weird smell pops up, call your surgeon right away.
Increased Pain or Tenderness
Sure, there’s usually some pain after any operation. But if that pain gets worse instead of better, alarm bells should start sounding.
If touching the area where you had surgery is too tender or a throbbing hurt doesn’t go away even with meds, that could mean an infection lurking underneath it all. Remember, everyone feels pain differently, but if yours worsens, get yourself checked out immediately.
Conclusion
Facial plastic surgery can be a life-changing experience, but it’s essential to be vigilant during the recovery phase. Early detection of infection is vital to ensuring a smooth recovery and achieving the desired results.
Always follow your surgeon’s post-operative care instructions, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you notice any signs or symptoms discussed above. Your health and safety should always be the top priority.
