Though plastic surgery procedures are usually elective, it is just as important to follow close guidelines for an easy and prompt recovery. If patients do not follow doctors’ orders and take care of themselves following surgery, complications such as infections, incisions re-opening, and increased swelling can occur. In addition, because patients look forward to the results of plastic surgery procedures, they often fail to prepare themselves for how they will feel and look during the first few days and weeks while in the healing process. Learning how to heal after plastic surgery is an important step to achieving desired results after leaving the operating room.