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Cosmetic surgery can cause scars if you do not treat your body properly. By taking a few preventative measures you can reduce this risk. Just remember these principles for before and after your surgery and your cosmetic surgery results will be improved.

Smoking is one of the worst things you can do after surgery. When you smoke, blood vessels constrict which results in reduced blood circulation. Blood circulation is important for your body to receive proper oxygen and nutrients. This is even more important when your body needs to heal an injury such as cosmetic surgery. All forms of nicotine such as gum, patches, and of course cigarettes should be avoided. You increase your chances of scarring if you smoke.

When you do not get the proper amount of oxygen to your cells it can cause cell death also called necrosis. Smoking reduces this proper oxygen amount and ultimately kills off skin cells making it much more difficult to heal. Many cosmetic surgeons will recommend that you quit smoking so your body will heal quicker and lessen the chance of scarring.

Aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs should also be avoided. About 2-3 weeks before and after surgery you should avoid these such drugs because they cause your blood to thin. The thinner your blood is the more at risk you are for post operative bleeding. Also do not take any type of multivitamin with Vitamin E. Vitamin E will cause your blood to thin as well. Your doctor will give you a list of OTC medications and other things you should avoid.

Drink more water. When you are properly hydrated toxins are flushed from the body. Your skin will receive more oxygen when you drink more water because your blood volumes will be higher. It is recommended that you should drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

Dehydration is also caused from not drinking enough water. It causes dry skin, loose skin elasticity, and your skin to lose its fullness. Drink more water to keep your body hydrated. There have been studies that correlate caffeine with dehydration. There results are inconclusive but try to avoid caffeine. Many cosmetic professionals recommend just this to their patients.

The cosmetic surgeon will give you instructions on how to take care of your body during the healing process. The surgeon will explain proper ways to protect yourself from infection. This may include how to change your bandages or dressings properly. To avoid or reduce your risk of complications during this time pay close attention to your surgeon.

After the surgery you should dedicate some time to recovery. There should not be any strenuous activity during this time. Recovery time varies between three days to even weeks, it depends on the type of surgery. You should also avoid direct sunlight after surgery. If there is swelling you should also apply ice packs to the area. Place a towel between the swollen area and then apply ice. Do not apply it directly.