The Importance of Cold Compresses After Plastic Surgery: Expert Advice

Some people ask if they should apply cold or warm compresses after plastic surgery.

As many people know, cold compresses relieve pain and reduce swelling by constricting blood vessels. On the other hand, warm compresses help blood circulation by dilating blood vessels.

Therefore, it is widely known that cold compresses are appropriate for 2 to 3 days after surgery and warm compresses thereafter.
I also advise you to apply cold compresses until the third day after surgery (about 48 hours). However, warm compresses are not recommended.

One of the things I always tell patients on the day of surgery is ‘more swelling tomorrow than today, and more swelling the day after tomorrow’. This is because fine bleeding continues at the surgical site, and swelling increases for about 48 hours as bodily fluid moves to the wound due to an inflammatory reaction to heal the wound. During this time, cold compresses reduce swelling by reducing circulation. After the swelling reaches its maximum, the effect of cold compresses is only ‘pain relief’. Continuing cold compresses can constrict blood vessels, making swelling and bruising less likely to go away.

Theoretically, a warm compress after 48 hours can help by dilating blood vessels and reducing swelling quickly.

However, I do not recommend applying heat after surgery. Because there are more losses than benefits. Warm compresses may help with long-term conditions such as chronic joint pain, but recovery after plastic surgery is not a chronic condition.

After surgery, the affected area is in a state where sensation is lost. In addition, there are far fewer hot spots on the skin than cold spots on the skin. Therefore, it is said that the skin is insensitive to hot sensations rather than cold sensations. In a state where sensation has not completely returned, hot compresses often cause problems such as low-temperature burns. Heat can also increase the risk of infection, as it stimulates the inflammatory response. If you want the swelling to go down quickly, exercise such as ‘walking’ is recommended rather than using warm compresses.

Mr. A underwent facial contouring surgery. I had an important task ahead, so I was looking for a way to get rid of swelling quickly, and I found that ‘warm compresses’ were helpful. Mr. A, who was working hard on the warm pack, suffered a shallow burn on her chin.

B underwent facial fat grafting. After fat grafting, I was informed that cold compresses are good for engraftment of fat. Mr. B applied cold compresses every day for two weeks. Fortunately, the swelling did not last long, but the bruises on her face did not go away.

Both of these things happened to people who had surgery on me recently.
So, if I were to briefly write down the reason why I do not recommend warm compresses after plastic surgery, I think I could say this.

Because Koreans work hard at anything.