How to reduce swelling after surgery? Proven tips by JW Plastic Surgery staff.

Are you thinking about plastic surgery? You almost decided to do it but, you’re anxious?
You’re scared that the surgery will go wrong, you’re scared that it will hurt, and you’re afraid about the recovery process?
How long is the recovery period is one of the most frequently asked questions for plastic surgery. When will the swelling go down? When can I go out and meet people?
Everyone knows that no matter what surgery you perform, even if you have a non-incision double eyelid surgery, you will get swollen.
Most plastic surgery shows the most severe swelling within 3 days after the surgery, and then it gradually begins to decrease.
The speed and time required to reduce swelling are related to the surgical plan, more importantly, to the doctor’s method and proficiency. Individual features, such as inborn healing abilities and tendency to swelling are also very important.  
You can trust JW doctor’s surgical skills and proficiency and relax. Plastic surgery, such any other surgical procedure is an invasive method and swelling will appear, but here we come with couple of secrets to shorten the recovery period after plastic surgery and reduce swelling quickly.

1. Use the ice pack.


When JW’s patient returns to the recovery room after surgery, the nurse gives them an ice pack. All they need to do at this time is to lie down apply the ice pack on swollen area. Within 3 days of surgery, cold packs can contract expanded blood vessels and help restore tissue to suppress edema.
Cold packs are recommended for about 10 minutes at a time and the time to dry. Using time at once should not be too long.


Tip: There are surgeries where ice packs are not recommended. Ice packs should not be applied after facial fat transplantation (face fat graft).

JW’s patient resting in the recovery room after the surgery

2. Keep your surgical site is higher than the heart.


Keeping the surgery site higher than the heart within two to three days after surgery will help blood circulation and reduce swelling.

However too many patients ask, “Should I sit down and sleep?”
You don’t have to do that at all. If pillow is too high or the posture is too uncomfortable, it affects rest and thus rather increases the degree of swelling, so let’s keep the common sense. Tip 1: Lying in bed for a long time can increase swelling just because you performed surgery. Don’t lie down for a long time during the day, except times when ice pack is applied.

Tip 2: It’s a good idea to sleep on your back for at least 1 month after surgery. Sleeping sideways can cause asymmetry and irritation.

3. Do walking and stretching.

It is recommended to take enough rest on the day of surgery but take a proper walk starting from the next day. Doing light stretching exercises to promote blood circulation and relieve swelling is also highly recommended.

4. Eating proper food.


Drank a lot of water before going to bed at night and got swollen the next day. Ate too salty and stimulating food and whole body got swollen? Didn’t you have this experience?
It is recommended to eat light and digestible foods after surgery and avoid foods that are rich in sodium (Na). Reducing water intake before bed is also a secret to reducing swelling.

Food to avoid to reduce swelling (ref. myfooddata.com)
Food reach in potassium (K) – recommended to reduce swelling (ref. myfooddata.com)


Koreans often enjoy pumpkin juice after plastic surgery. It will also be helpful to drink pumpkin juice and corn tea to help reduce swelling. Pumpkin is very reach in potassium (K), that helps to reduce swelling.

5. LED anti-swelling treatment.


Through JW’s free swelling management service, LED ray treatment, swelling and bruises that occur after surgery are quickly recovered. Moreover, the service is totally for free.

JW’s patient is getting an anti-swelling LED treatment

Tip: It is not possible immediately after surgery. Two or three days must pass after the surgery. It is not recommended for facial fat transplants as it may decrease the fat cells survival rate.

Why the post-operation recovery time differs for every person?

We’ve introduced you some ways to quickly reduce swelling and return to daily life after plastic surgery. So how do you think about it now? We believe one question is still stuck in your mind.
Why some people lose swelling after surgery quickly and someone lasts long?
That’s right. This is due to inborn features of every person. We are all different, thus some people recover quickly, some don’t.  
Let’s compare the recovery process of patients who had nose surgery.

This patient’s swelling was quite persistent. It was very visible even 1 month after the surgery. She could enjoy her new nose 3 months after the surgery, when the swelling came off. Even though, the recovery time might be long, it is worth patience and waiting.

This is how she looked 6 months after the surgery.

This patient had multiple surgeries, including rhinoplasty (the same surgery previous patient had). However in her case the recovery process was much quicker. She was almost completely recovered in 2 weeks after the surgery.

Postoperative swelling is a normal phenomenon in the recovery process. It is necessary to fully understand this point, manage it calmly, and wait.
So far, we have learned how to reduce swelling after plastic surgery. I hope everyone succeeds in their surgery and the recovery process will be as smooth and quick as possible.