In medicine today, the concepts of holistic practice and the credo of integrative medicine are growing rapidly in virtually all fields of practice.
So how does integrative and holistic medicine fit into the practice of plastic surgery? It’s a great question and here is how I see it from my perspective.
I have always applied a holistic and integrative approach to my own health and wellness as well as for my family. It really just stems from my thinking that we should not treat everything with just medicine or medical procedures and that we can incorporate complementary, holistic and integrative approaches at the same time. I incorporate into my plastic surgery practice the same perspective with my own patients. The art of plastic surgery procedures is not just in the medical procedure or treatment itself, but also the way patients prepare themselves for procedures and the way they take care of themselves when healing.
So how can one take a holistic approach to Plastic Surgery? Below are a few things to consider:
4-6 Weeks Prior to Surgery:
I encourage my patients, if time permits, to begin preparation prior to surgery. I work with a team of professionals, so a typical prep could include working with a nutritionist on a nutritional detox or weight loss. Often times and based on blood work, Vitamin supplements or IV therapy for nutrient support and wound healing can be necessary. Exercise is also very important to build health before surgery. Good forms of exercise include walking, cycling and swimming. I suggest exercising minimally for thirty minutes every day. Lastly, herbal teas and tinctures that include ingredients such as turmeric, bromelain, or oats all help with inflammation, stress and healing.
Get Your Body and Mind in a Good Place:
Cosmetic surgery is voluntary surgery but preparing mentally is still very important. I am a huge believer in meditation and visualization, so I built a meditation room in my office. Visualizing yourself healthy, resting, healing post surgery and happy all helps. There are also a lot of meditation apps to choose from.
Touch Therapy:
After surgery, have Reiki, lymphatic drainage, massage therapy or touch therapy. After operating for 20+ years, my opinion is that these light hand placements and healing energies have a powerful way to enhance the healing process.
How I approach each patient differs, but my experience over the years is that holistic and integrative preparation prior to procedures usually results in a quicker, less painful healing experience. Getting the mind and the body working together prior to surgery helps patients heal after surgery.
Partner with your doctor. From the beginning of patient contact, our office is proactive by introducing holistic and integrative approaches to both pre-surgery treatment as well as healing. These non-traditional techniques as a follow on to cosmetic surgery procedures can set any plastic surgery practice apart. I think it is one of the calling cards of a practice because the key to achieving the best result still lies in taking the same big picture holistic stance.
Dr. Tamy Faierman is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Writer, Beauty and Wellness Expert, and founder of the Tamy M. Faierman Holistic Spa and Wellness Center. Her office is located at 17130 Royal Palm Boulevard, Suite 1, in the Windmill Professional Campus. For more information, please call 954-322-2742 or visit www.reshapeyourimage.com.