Recent Plastic Surgery? PT Can Help!

How can we help boost confidence and improve one’s appearance post plastic surgery!?

Physical Therapy interventions can help restore aesthetic appeal by assisting with scar tissue, regaining functional mobility, decreasing lymphatic swelling, and reducing recovery time getting you back to your normal routine feeling better and healthier than ever!  

Breast and abdominal work can result in swelling at surgical sites. Lymph nodes are located throughout the body and are most concentrated in the armpit and inguinal regions. This makes PT important for management of this swelling and other symptoms in these parts of the body that may happen after surgery. Another vital consideration in the abdomen are the core muscles. Physical therapists will work strength, stability, and endurance through an individualized exercise program to restore regular muscle activity.  Specialized pelvic floor PT can improve core canister techniques. For common procedures such as “mommy makeover,” addressing strength, stability, and regular muscle engagement, along with other techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing can optimize the recovery process. Our therapists can also help patients though shoulder or neck pain that may occur following breast augmentation procedures.

Enhancing skin tone of the face may cause reduced skin mobility or facial muscle weakness responsible for conveying emotions – who doesn’t speak with their face!? PT can help restore full functionality of these muscles to assist with facial movements of the eyes, forehead, mouth, and cheeks.  Gaze stabilization programs for patient's post-eye surgeries can help with vision and control of eye movements, which may help decrease complications associated with that of dizziness or vertigo.

Physical therapy includes therapeutic ultrasound, dry needling, cupping, lymphatic drainage, muscle strengthening and stabilization exercises, and a comprehensive home exercise program.  Please feel free to reach out to one of our physical therapists for more information and whether PT after plastic surgery is a good fit for you! 

-Angeline Petersen, DPT