Preparing for plastic surgery involves more than scheduling your procedure and taking time off work. Where and how you recover can also make a meaningful difference in your experience during the first days and weeks after surgery.
Once you arrive home, your priorities should be to rest, follow your post-operative instructions, attend follow-up appointments, and allow your body time to heal. The last thing you want to discover is that everything you need is upstairs, your refrigerator is empty, or the laundry basket you normally carry suddenly exceeds your lifting restrictions.
Preparing your home in advance can make everyday tasks easier while reducing unnecessary physical demands during recovery.
Every procedure and patient is different, so your plastic surgeon’s specific instructions should always guide your preparation. However, there are several practical steps you can take before surgery to make your home more recovery-friendly.
Why Preparing Your Home Before Plastic Surgery Matters
It’s easy to underestimate how much bending, lifting, reaching, and walking are involved in an ordinary day.
Something as simple as getting a glass from a high cupboard, carrying a laundry basket, bending down to feed a pet, or climbing the stairs several times can become difficult or restricted after surgery.
Depending on your procedure, your surgeon may temporarily limit certain activities while you heal. Preparing ahead means you won’t have to reorganize your home when you’re already recovering.
Think about the routines you perform every day and consider how you can make them easier for your future post-surgery self.
Create a Comfortable Recovery Space
Before your procedure, choose the primary area where you’ll spend the first portion of your recovery.
For some patients, that’s the bedroom. Others may be more comfortable in a recliner or on a couch where they can easily adjust their position.
Your ideal setup may depend on the procedure you’re having. For example, patients recovering from a facelift may be instructed to keep their head elevated, while those recovering from a tummy tuck may need to adjust their resting and sleeping position to avoid placing unnecessary tension on the abdomen. Preparing the right arrangement ahead of time can make those first few days much easier.
Consider having:
- Extra pillows and blankets
- Your phone and charger
- Water
- Tissues
- Any approved medications
- Books, a tablet, or other entertainment
- Television remotes
- A small garbage bin
- Frequently used personal items
Depending on your procedure, your surgeon may recommend sleeping or resting in a particular position. If you need to keep part of your body elevated or avoid sleeping in a treatment area, arrange your pillows or sleeping space before surgery rather than trying to figure it out when you get home.
Move Everyday Essentials Within Easy Reach
Take a walk through your home and pay attention to where you store the things you use every day.
Are your plates in a high cabinet? Is your shampoo underneath the bathroom sink? Do you keep your medications on a low shelf?
Temporarily moving essential items to waist or counter height can reduce unnecessary reaching and bending.
You may want to reposition:
- Toiletries
- Comfortable clothing
- Towels
- Dishes and cups
- Snacks
- Medications
- Pet supplies
- Chargers and electronics
This preparation can be especially helpful after procedures such as breast augmentation, breast lift, or arm lift surgery, when reaching overhead or lifting everyday objects may be temporarily restricted. Following facial procedures such as a facelift or neck lift, limiting unnecessary bending may also be part of your early recovery instructions.
You don’t need to reorganize your home completely. The goal is to make the items you’ll need most frequently easy to access.
Prepare Meals and Groceries Ahead of Time
Cooking can require more energy than you expect, especially during the early stages of recovery.
Before surgery, stock your kitchen with simple meals, snacks, and drinks that require minimal preparation. You might also prepare and freeze several meals or arrange for someone else to handle cooking temporarily.
Try to avoid storing everything in large or heavy containers. Dividing meals into smaller portions can make them easier to lift and reheat.
Your surgical team may provide specific instructions regarding food, hydration, medications, or supplements before and after your procedure. Follow those recommendations rather than making major dietary changes on your own.
Having food ready isn’t just convenient. It also removes another responsibility during your first few days at home.
Arrange Help Before You Need It
One of the most important parts of preparing for plastic surgery recovery is accepting that you may need help temporarily.
Depending on your procedure, you may need someone to drive you home and stay with you during the initial recovery period. You may also have temporary restrictions involving driving, lifting, housework, or other daily activities.
Before surgery, decide who can help with things like:
- Transportation
- Meal preparation
- Grocery shopping
- Laundry
- Cleaning
- Taking out garbage
- Picking up prescriptions
- Childcare
- Pet care
It’s much easier to coordinate help beforehand than to start making phone calls when you’re already home recovering.
Plan for Children and Pets
Children and pets don’t always understand that you’re recovering from surgery.
If you have young children, arrange help with lifting, bathing, transportation, bedtime routines, and other physically demanding tasks.
Pets require similar planning.
A dog that normally jumps into your lap or pulls on the leash can create challenges during early recovery. Even bending down repeatedly to fill food bowls may be uncomfortable after certain procedures.
Lifting can be particularly important to plan around after breast surgery or body contouring procedures, including tummy tuck surgery. If you normally lift a child or larger pet, ask your surgeon how long you’ll need assistance before your procedure so you can make appropriate arrangements.
Consider arranging for someone to help with:
- Dog walking
- Feeding
- Litter boxes
- Picking up pets
- Cleaning cages or enclosures
- Veterinary appointments or grooming already on the calendar
You don’t necessarily need to be separated from your pets during recovery. You want to avoid situations where an enthusiastic greeting or unexpected tug on a leash could interfere with your healing. Avoid allowing your pets in bed with you because one excited puppy leap could cause serious complications with healing at the incision site.
Get Household Tasks Out of the Way
Nobody wants to spend the day before surgery deep-cleaning their entire house, but getting a few routine tasks done beforehand can make returning home more comfortable.
Wash your bedding, do the laundry, take out the garbage, and make sure commonly used areas are reasonably organized.
It can also help to clear pathways through your home.
Move clutter, cords, loose rugs, or other items that could become tripping hazards, particularly between your recovery area and the bathroom or kitchen.
If your home has multiple floors, think about whether you can temporarily keep most of what you need on one level. Your surgeon can tell you whether stairs are appropriate during your specific recovery.
Choose Comfortable, Practical Clothing
What you wear after surgery may depend on the procedure you’ve had.
In general, loose, comfortable clothing is easier to manage during early recovery. Some patients may find clothing that opens in the front more convenient because it doesn’t need to be pulled over the head.
Your surgeon may also provide or recommend a surgical bra, compression garment, or another post-operative garment depending on your procedure.
Prepare several easy-to-wear outfits before surgery so getting dressed doesn’t become another complicated task.
Follow Your Surgeon’s Instructions for Recovery Supplies
The internet is filled with plastic surgery recovery checklists containing everything from supplements to specialized pillows.
You don’t need all of it.
Before buying a cart full of recovery products, ask your surgical team what is actually recommended for your procedure.
Depending on your surgery, you may receive instructions regarding dressings, compression garments, incision care, medications, or other post-operative needs.
Some seemingly harmless over-the-counter medications or supplements may not be appropriate around the time of surgery. Don’t add something to your recovery routine simply because it appeared on someone else’s online checklist.
Your own surgeon’s instructions should always take priority.
Prepare for Your First Night Home
The first night after surgery is not the time to discover that your phone charger is across the house or that your medication instructions are buried somewhere in your email.
Before leaving for your procedure, make sure your immediate recovery area is ready.
Keep your surgeon’s post-operative instructions accessible and make sure the person helping you knows where they are as well.
You should also know who to contact if you have any questions or concerns after returning home.
Your surgical team will explain which symptoms are expected during recovery and which may warrant contacting the office or seeking medical attention.
Give Yourself Permission to Recover
One of the hardest parts of recovery for some patients is simply allowing themselves to slow down.
Feeling a little better doesn’t necessarily mean your body has finished healing.
You may be tempted to catch up on housework, return to exercise, pick up your child, or handle errands because you feel capable of doing so. However, your activity restrictions exist for a reason.
Follow the timeline provided by your surgeon and attend your scheduled follow-up appointments before resuming restricted activities.
Recovery isn’t a race. Giving your body the appropriate time and conditions to heal is part of the surgical process.
FAQ
What should I have at home after plastic surgery?
Your needs will depend on your procedure. In general, it helps to have comfortable clothing, easy-to-prepare food, water, frequently used personal items, entertainment, chargers, and any medications or post-operative supplies recommended by your surgeon.
Avoid purchasing supplements, medications, wound-care products, or specialized recovery equipment without first checking whether your surgical team recommends them.
How should I set up my bedroom after surgery?
Keep frequently used items within easy reach and prepare enough pillows to maintain any sleeping or elevation position recommended by your surgeon. You may also want water, your phone, charger, medications, tissues, and other essentials beside the bed.
Will I need someone to stay with me after plastic surgery?
This depends on the procedure and type of anesthesia used. Some patients will need a responsible adult to drive them home and assist them during the initial recovery period. Your surgical team will explain your specific requirements before surgery.
Should I prepare meals before cosmetic surgery?
Preparing meals ahead of time can make the first few days at home easier. Choose simple options that require little preparation and follow any nutrition or medication-related instructions provided by your surgical team.
When should I start preparing my home for surgery?
You can begin planning once your procedure is scheduled. Try to complete grocery shopping, laundry, household arrangements, and your recovery space setup several days before surgery so you’re not rushing right before surgery.
Prepare for Your Plastic Surgery Recovery With ICLS
Plastic surgery recovery begins before the day of your procedure.
Preparing your home, arranging support, and planning for temporary changes to your routine can help you spend less time worrying about everyday responsibilities and more time focusing on healing.
At ICLS, pre- and post-operative care is tailored to the individual patient and procedure. Your surgical team will provide specific instructions to help you understand what to expect, how to prepare, and what you’ll need during recovery.
If you’re considering plastic surgery, schedule a consultation with ICLS to discuss your goals, treatment options, and what the recovery process may look like for you.