The Rapid Recovery Program helps you return to your normal everyday activities as quickly as possible. Individuals vary in terms of length of recovery, extent of bruising and swelling, and general healing. Following the program outlined by Dr. Ahn helps to:

• Reduce postoperative downtime
• Minimize bruising and swelling
• Return you to normal life as soon as possible
• Reduce pre- and postoperative anxiety

Before Surgery

Relaxation. Having reviewed over 100 articles from the anesthesia literature, Dr. Ahn has concluded that patients with less anxiety before surgery require less pain medication and have less discomfort during the recovery. The first building block to reducing anxiety is education.

Education. Dr Ahn is board certified in both Head and Neck Surgery and Facial Plastic Surgery. He is one of only 22 doctors in all of New England to have achieved this distinction. As a doctor, he feels that his responsibility is to educate the patient. During your initial consultation he will attempt to inform you fully of the treatment options, their benefits, alternatives and expected outcomes. This will allay any of your concerns. In Dr. Ahn’s experience, an informed patient will typically have a better outcome.

Supplemental medications. One to two weeks before surgery, Dr. Ahn will have you stop all blood thinning medications and supplements. A list will be provided to you. Before surgery you will start taking Bromelain, an effective anti-inflammatory medication. After surgery you will start taking Arnica Montana, a homeopathic medication that has been proven by Dr. Ahn and his colleagues to reduce bruising and swelling after surgery. Dr. Ahn may also prescribe a sleep aid to help those who are particularly anxious.

Day of Surgery

Just before surgery. Both you and Dr. Ahn will be well rested and will meet again in the preoperative area. Dr. Ahn will talk with you briefly at which time it is quite normal for you to be slightly nervous. Dr. Ahn will instruct the anesthesiologist to administer a relaxing medication. He will then ask for two medications, Decadron and Zofran, to be administered intravenously to reduce postoperative swelling and the chance of nausea. You will also receive an intravenous antibiotic solution. In the operating suite, Dr. Ahn will use a judicious amount of long-lasting local anesthesia so that the anesthesiologist can use less narcotic, also reducing the chance of postoperative nausea.

Surgical technique. Dr. Ahn uses a gentle surgical technique to minimize your recovery time. He has developed modifications to the Deep Plane Facelift that achieve a natural, non-operated appearance with less bruising and swelling, particularly around the mouth and cheeks.

Immediately after surgery.  Dr Ahn applies loose dressings to the face and neck with ice-cooled pads around the eyes. This reduces swelling and provides soothing comfort. Most patients need little pain medication. The next morning Dr. Ahn’s nurse, Rebecca Hoffey RN, removes the dressing, cleans the sutures and applies a soft, supportive terry cloth headband.

After Surgery

Bruising reduction/camouflage. For several days after the procedure you continue taking Arnica, further reducing bruising and swelling. Our aestheticians are expert makeup artists and can help camouflage temporary discolorations. This often lets you go back to your normal activities in 7-10 days.

Re-entering society. Dr. Ahn encourages you to get out of the house and go to lunch or dinner with friends after 5-7 days. Re-entering society is a key component to both mental well-being and a speedier recovery.

Returning to normal life. While some patients may be slightly behind the curve, most patients who follow the Rapid Recovery Program return to normal activity within 10-14 days after surgery.