Ensuring a Safe Recovery in Cosmetic Procedures
The rise in popularity of cosmetic procedures has also fueled a rise in complications due to a lack of adequate aftercare. Post-surgery care is a critical component of the healing process and overall recovery after any surgical procedure. It encompasses a variety of practices and measures that help ensure patients recover properly, avoid complications, and regain their normal functioning.
Why Legislation Lags Behind in the Rapidly Evolving Beauty Industry
In the Beauty and Aesthetics industry, there is often a lag in legislation updating to keep up with industry trends. Every season, a new treatment pops up and becomes popular, but these treatments are often not properly regulated. This is because the regulatory bodies, which are run by the government, do not have the capacity to identify and adapt quickly enough to protect the public.
Duty of Care: A Collective Responsibility in the Aesthetics Industry
You might be wondering, what can be done? This is where duty of care comes in. The private sector has the resources and the capacity to keep up with trends—in fact, it’s the private sector that sets these trends. If every aesthetics professional, company, and manufacturer comes together, we can all identify and find solutions to problems much faster. However, for this to happen, companies need to create a culture of prioritizing the well-being of patients over profits, which unfortunately does not always occur.
As a company, some of the steps we have taken to ensure the safety of our clients and our procedures have not only instilled confidence in our staff but also allow our clients to have peace of mind, trusting that we have their best interests at heart.
Addressing the Post-Op Care Gap: Our Commitment to Client Safety
When we started seeing an increase in the number of women reaching out for lymphatic drainage post-op—many with fibrosis due to not having had the appropriate post-op care straight after their procedures—we knew we had to do something. Unfortunately, the current setup means lymphatic drainage is often offered by aesthetics or beauty therapists, many of whom are qualified with nothing but a half-day course. Meanwhile, nurses who often carry out wound management post-surgery are not trained in lymphatic drainage, creating a gap where patients are left without proper care.
Our Solutions-Driven Approach to Post-Surgery Care
When we say we are solutions-driven, it is not just a tagline. When we identified this gap, we set out to fix the problem. We partnered with a company that provides wound management training and a qualified, experienced NHS nurse. We selected two of our top senior therapists—essentially the two who could handle blood—and trained them so that when we take on a post-op client from the day after surgery, we can ensure they receive the best lymphatic drainage while also being prepared to support wound management. This minimizes the risk of infection and ensures that surgical wounds heal correctly. We also clean and change dressings, inspect that post-surgery garments are fitting and worn correctly, and even assist with showering and dressing if needed.
The First Week After Surgery: A Critical Window for Recovery
The first week post-surgery is when a patient is most vulnerable, so for us, it is important to provide as much care and convenience as possible during this time. As part of our service, we can visit clients for the first 10 days until they are well enough to travel to the clinic—subject to distance.
You can have the best surgeon in the world perform your surgery, but if you have inappropriate aftercare, this can unfortunately lead to terrible consequences. Our motto is, ‘If ever in doubt, go with the safest option.’ The safety and well-being of our clients is non-negotiable and always takes priority over everything else.
Expert Insights: Watch Our Interview with a Leading London Cosmetic Surgeon
Be sure to follow us on Instagram to watch our interview with an experienced London-based cosmetic surgeon. In this interview, we discuss many frequently asked questions and share some great tips for ensuring a safe and successful recovery.
If you have suffered complications from cosmetic surgery and would like some advice, please feel free to reach out. We will be happy to help.
Vanessa Fernandes
The Dolls London