Even in Marbella, the arrival of winter means colder weather, wrapping up warm in clothes and spending more time indoors. This is why a plastic surgeon´s calendar gets busy in the winter months, as December-March is typically the time people choose to have their surgery! It is the perfect time to recover from a surgery; scarves to hide a neck lift recovery, bulkier jumpers to hide the dressings from a breast augmentation and the option of staying indoors is easy.
So, if you are thinking about a breast augmentation, a rhinoplasty or another procedure which requires a surgery and some downtime ask yourself these questions to decide what time of year a plastic surgery is right for you;
- Is there a special event that you need to prepare for? A breast augmentation can take up to 3 months to heal from, for example, so ensure that you share this date with your surgeon so that you can be fully recovered in time for your event.
- Will I be able to take some time out to recover? We do not mean a day or two, if you are having a surgery you should take a good week or two to recover in bed. This is why many people choose a surgery just before the Christmas holidays to give them a good period of rest. But it also depends on your lifestyle – if you have children you might prefer to take the surgery when they are in the middle of the school term.
If you decide to go ahead with a surgery here are the pros and cons of the different times of the year…
December – March
This is typically the busiest time of year in a plastic surgeon´s calendar. Why? The winter months bring bulkier clothing, a weaker sun and more time indoors which all deliver the perfect recovery situation. It´s the ideal time of year to take a “bigger”, more invasive surgery such as a breast augmentation or face lift. Any bruising and swelling can be hidden under thicker clothes and a scarf.
This is also the perfect time of year if you are hoping to hit the beach feeling more confident than ever – it takes around six months to recover from a facelift and tummy tuck, and around 3 months post eye lift or breast augmentation. A winter surgery should give you ample time to recover and feel your best.
Top surgeries: Facelift, Rhinoplasty, Breast Augmentation, Blepharoplasty (eye lift) and Tummy Tuck.
April – June
The spring can still be a great time to take a surgery. With the warmer weather, people are more in the mindset of the summer; the beach, bikinis and want to look and feel their best. If you put on some weight over the winter, this gives plenty of time to shift the holiday kilos so that your surgery will have the best results. The sun is becoming stronger, so it will be important to take time in the shade as sun exposure can intensify scarring.
Top surgeries: Breast surgery (Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, Breast Reduction), body contouring such as Liposuction and facial surgeries including the Eye Lift.
July – August
Time for the plastic surgeons to take a holiday, because this is the quiet season! With the weather, particularly in Marbella, hot and with the sun at its strongest, it does not suit recovery. The heat will intensify and prolong post-surgery swelling, plus it is very uncomfortable to sit in bandages and compression wear in the scorching temperatures. New scars should be hidden from the sun as they may tan and stay pigmented. It is also the worst time of year to take a laser surgery on the skin, as it typically requires several months of hiding from the sun.
If you do choose to take a surgery in the summer months, listen carefully to your surgeon to optimise your recovery. This means recovering in the comfort of an air-conditioned home, not by the pool.
Top surgeries: fillers and minor aesthetic treatments.
September – December
Lazy summer days roll into cooler ones and a calmer pace of life. It´s a good time of year to start planning your surgery and leaves ample recovery time throughout the winter. Children go back to school so there will be more time to recover quietly at home.
Top surgeries: Breast surgery and facial surgeries (Eye Lift, Rhinoplasty etc).
