How to Bounce Back after Surgery
It is expected that the majority of people will undergo surgery at some point in their lives. Whether that’s life-saving surgery or a small aesthetic change, bouncing back after surgery can be a tough ask.
For some, the challenge is bouncing back physically. For others, it’s mental-shaped hurdles that they will need to overcome. Fortunately, whatever your reason, a return to your lifestyle before surgery is well within reach.
Here are four ways in which you can ensure you bounce back after surgery.
Update Physical Goals
Depending on what type of surgery you’ve had, the physical effects can be severe. So you may find that your confidence takes a hit when it comes to physical activity. It may take time to build up to your pre-surgery fitness routine, and the first thing you can do is accept this.
It’s okay if you can’t immediately return to the gym five times a week. It’s also ok if you find yourself needing to go a little lower in terms of weight, reps or intensity. With this in mind, set yourself new physical goals. For example, you could start with a goal of attending the gym half as much as you did before surgery. Alternatively, you could reduce the weight you’d usually lift by 20kg.
The important thing is to have a gradual progression plan that slowly leads you back to your usual self. Not only will this see you gradually improve your fitness levels, it will also see you slowly improve your mental health and confidence levels.
Update Mental Goals
While the effects of surgery can be physical, it’s just as common for surgery to impact individuals in a mental capacity. Aiming to rediscover yourself mentally is a crucial part of regaining your pre-surgery confidence.
For some, this could be achieved through therapy sessions or counselling. A trained counsellor will know how to adapt therapy sessions to the individual’s personal circumstances. Someone who is suffering with confidence after undergoing plastic surgery may be very different to someone who is suffering after having surgery related to cancer treatment.
If you don’t want to enlist the help of a therapist or counsellor, setting small confidence-based goals can be a great way to start bouncing back after surgery. For instance, starting with something as simple as leaving the house and working up to things like going on a date is a good way to ensure you’re not putting too much pressure on yourself.
Build a support group
Sometimes the best way to build confidence is simply by leaning on the people around you. If you’ve undergone drastic surgery and find yourself struggling with confidence, one of the first things you should do is surround yourself with the people you trust the most.
You’ll often find that you can be your usual self around the people you are closest to, without the fear of judgement. This should help you slowly regain any lost confidence. However, your support group doesn’t have to be your nearest and dearest. Sometimes it can be more beneficial to form relationships with people who have already gone through what you are currently going through.
Try reaching out to people who have undergone the same surgery you have. If your surgery is linked to an illness, hospitals and medical centres may be able to assist you with this. Hearing from people who have already walked the path to regaining confidence after surgery will allow you to learn how they did it and pick up any tips and tricks.
Similarly, hearing success stories from others will show you that it’s possible to return to your pre-surgery lifestyle. This realisation is the first step to achieving a return to full confidence.
Adapt Your Wardrobe
A lot of surgeries impact the way we look. This could be surgery related to the nose, lips, hair, breasts, or any other area of the body. If your surgery is related to aesthetics, it’s perfectly natural to go through some form of body confidence issues as you get used to your new look.
One of the best ways to counteract this is by adapting your style to reflect your new look. It’s perfectly normal to dress for your individual shape, size and style. So if your body has undergone changes due to surgery, it would only be natural to update your wardrobe to match.
For example, if you’ve undergone breast augmentation in Manchester, it may be worth purchasing specialist clothing that will enhance your new shape. Similarly, if you’re waiting for your hair transplant to heal, you may look to add some more hats to your wardrobe. Although it’s always worth carrying out some research first – it’s recommended to wait around two weeks before wearing a hat after a hair transplant.