Knowledge is Power, and the Austin Plastic Surgery Center wants to provide you the power (or at least the knowledge) to achieve a comfortable and smooth recovery after your surgery. Some initial suggestions are to eat lightly, starting with liquids for the first couple of days, and then moving onto soft solids. If the surgical procedures involve the face, patients should know that keeping the head elevated controls swelling. We also advise to sleep on their backs, elevated by three pillows, for at least a span of a week. Patients shouldn't strain themselves in any way, whether it's bending, lifting, or exercise of any kind.

The amount of information below may seem overwhelming at first, but it's there to be a guide for you, in your pursuit of a smooth, comfortable, and effective recovery.

Here are some great tips for you:

- Pillows, pillows, pillows! Place one at the base of the spine and one under the knees.

- Safe skincare products with which to wash their faces for the first time. Make sure that all of their skincare is hypo-allergenic and formulated for sensitive and dry skin. Its important that the cleanser must have a moisturizing component.

- Mouthwash to rinse the mouth. It might be days until a toothbrush can fit into the mouth after a facelift.

- Gentle, effective creams to use on the incisions and laser-surgery sites, if needed. This will include a triple antibiotic cream, a cream to massage into scars, sunblock for any outside venturing, moisturizer for their lips with vitamin E, an emollient body lotion.

- Since the pain medications are usually binding, a stool softener or mild laxative can be useful.

- Rest and sleep are imperative to your healing process. Melatonin is an effective sleep aid, and there's no grogginess after waking.

- Soft foods and water, including protein shakes, pureed applesauce, oatmeal and yogurt.

- Drink plenty of juice. Patients should be careful with highly acidic juices, such as orange and grapefruit juice that could sour their stomachs. Use flexible straws for drinking liquids easily in a reclining position.

- A hand-held shower head in the tub or shower enclosure, plus a plastic chair upon which to sit. There will be no other way to safely bathe for the first time without these items.

- Mild hair products to wash your hair for the first time, including a leave-in conditioner. You will also require tools to unsnarl your hair; a pick and a vented hair brush work very well. We recommend new items, since they will be used over newly sutured areas.

- A telephone with a speaker near the bed. Holding a phone to your ears will be impossible immediately after a facelift.

- Lubricating eye drops. Many patients have dry eyes from the anesthesia, whether or not they had procedures involving their eyes.

- Have all of your prescription drugs in the house before you need them.

- Two large bags of frozen peas and six large self-sealing plastic storage bags to make cold packs. These make at least six cold packs, since you could use as many as three at a time and will need to replace them after 20 minutes.

- Lots of patience and a sense of humor. These may be the most vital requirements of all. Patients should rely on their families and friends to help them. Hugs help immensely, as long as they are administered gently.

Most of these requirements seems pretty straightforward, yet you would be amazed by how easy it is to overlook these helpful hints. Most people are consumed with the more obvious issues, such as covering for their absences at work and at home. Don't lose focus on all the items you will need for a successful recovery. We hope these help you and give you a head start in any procedures you may be considering.