Rare conditions & special situations

Recent surgery (any operation) — beauty treatment safety

Name: Recent surgery (any operation): which treatments are safe?
Creator: Anna

Also called after an operation, post-surgical, recovering from surgery, how long after surgery can I have a massage.

In short

On this page, Recent surgery (any operation) is checked against 88 treatments: 88 are ones to avoid. The tightest restrictions are in Facials and Body Treatments.

Most oftenAvoid

Every treatment name opens its own page

Facials

25 treatments · all 25 to avoid

Facials — Recent surgery (any operation)
What we found	Treatment
Avoid	AHA Peel (Glycolic / Lactic / Mandelic)Also: glycolic peel, lactic peel, mandelic peel, alpha hydroxy peel, light chemical peel Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — AHA Peel (Glycolic / Lactic / Mandelic) Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	BHA Peel (Salicylic)Also: salicylic peel, beta hydroxy peel, acne peel Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — BHA Peel (Salicylic) Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Carbon Laser FacialAlso: Hollywood peel, China doll peel, carbon peel Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Carbon Laser Facial Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Classic FacialAlso: European facial, deep cleansing facial, traditional facial Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Classic Facial Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Cryo FacialAlso: ice facial, cold therapy facial, frotox Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Cryo Facial Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	DermaplaningAlso: blade exfoliation, facial shaving, peach fuzz removal Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Dermaplaning Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Enzyme PeelAlso: fruit enzyme peel, papain peel, bromelain peel Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Enzyme Peel Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Express FacialAlso: mini facial, 30-minute facial, lunchtime facial Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Express Facial Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Galvanic FacialAlso: iontophoresis, desincrustation, galvanic current Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Galvanic Facial Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	HIFU (Ultherapy)Also: Ultherapy, high-intensity focused ultrasound, non-surgical lifting, ultrasound lifting Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — HIFU (Ultherapy) Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	High-Frequency FacialAlso: high-frequency wand, violet ray treatment Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — High-Frequency Facial Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	HydraFacialAlso: hydradermabrasion, hydra facial, aqua facial Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — HydraFacial Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Jessner's PeelAlso: combination peel, modified Jessner Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Jessner's Peel Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	LED Light TherapyAlso: red light therapy, blue light therapy, yellow light therapy, LED facial Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — LED Light Therapy Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Mesotherapy (Facial)Also: meso facial, vitamin injections, skin booster injections (face) Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Mesotherapy (Facial) Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Microcurrent FacialAlso: NuFace, non-surgical facelift, facial toning Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Microcurrent Facial Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	MicrodermabrasionAlso: crystal microdermabrasion, diamond microdermabrasion, MDA Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Microdermabrasion Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	MicroneedlingAlso: dermapen, dermaroller, collagen induction therapy, CIT, skin needling Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Microneedling Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Oxygen FacialAlso: Intraceuticals, oxygen infusion facial Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Oxygen Facial Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Phenol Peel (Deep)Also: deep chemical peel, Baker-Gordon peel Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Phenol Peel (Deep) Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	PRP Facial (Vampire Facial)Also: platelet-rich plasma facial, vampire facial, blood facial Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — PRP Facial (Vampire Facial) Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Radiofrequency (RF) FacialAlso: Thermage, Venus Freeze (face), skin tightening RF Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Radiofrequency (RF) Facial Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	RF MicroneedlingAlso: Morpheus8, Profound, Vivace, Genius RF, radio frequency microneedling Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — RF Microneedling Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	TCA Peel (Medium)Also: trichloroacetic acid peel, medium depth peel Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — TCA Peel (Medium) Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Ultrasound FacialAlso: ultrasonic facial, cavitation peel Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Ultrasound Facial Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England

Injectables

11 treatments · all 11 to avoid

Injectables — Recent surgery (any operation)
What we found	Treatment
Avoid	Biostimulators (Sculptra, Radiesse, Ellanse)Also: Sculptra, Radiesse, Ellanse, collagen stimulators, PLLA, calcium hydroxylapatite Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Biostimulators (Sculptra, Radiesse, Ellanse) Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Botox / NeurotoxinAlso: botulinum toxin, Dysport, Xeomin, Azzalure, Bocouture, anti-wrinkle injections, wrinkle relaxers, tox Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Botox / Neurotoxin Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Cheek FillersAlso: midface filler, cheek augmentation, Voluma Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Cheek Fillers Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Dermal Fillers (General)Also: hyaluronic acid fillers, HA fillers, Juvederm, Restylane, Belotero Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Dermal Fillers (General) Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Fat-Dissolving InjectionsAlso: Aqualyx, Kybella, deoxycholic acid, lipolysis injections Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Fat-Dissolving Injections Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Lip FillersAlso: lip augmentation, lip enhancement, lip injections Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Lip Fillers Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Mesotherapy (Body)Also: body meso, fat-loss mesotherapy, cellulite mesotherapy Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Mesotherapy (Body) Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	PDO Thread LiftAlso: thread lift, PDO threads, PLLA threads, Silhouette Soft, non-surgical thread lift Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — PDO Thread Lift Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	PolynucleotidesAlso: Plinest, Newest, PN injection, salmon DNA injection Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Polynucleotides Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Skin Boosters (Profhilo, Restylane Skinbooster)Also: Profhilo, Restylane Vital, Restylane Skinbooster, hydration injections Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Skin Boosters (Profhilo, Restylane Skinbooster) Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Tear Trough FillersAlso: under-eye filler, under-eye treatment Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Tear Trough Fillers Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England

Laser & Light

7 treatments · all 7 to avoid

Laser & Light — Recent surgery (any operation)
What we found	Treatment
Avoid	Fractional Ablative LaserAlso: CO2 laser, Erbium laser, ablative resurfacing Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Fractional Ablative Laser Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Fractional Non-Ablative LaserAlso: Fraxel, Clear + Brilliant, non-ablative resurfacing Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Fractional Non-Ablative Laser Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)Also: intense pulsed light, photofacial, fotofacial, IPL photorejuvenation Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Laser Hair RemovalAlso: LHR, diode laser, Alexandrite laser, Nd:YAG laser, permanent hair reduction Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Laser Hair Removal Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)Also: PDT, blue light + ALA therapy, Levulan therapy Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Pigment Laser (Q-Switched / Pico)Also: Q-switched laser, Pico laser, PicoSure, PicoWay, tattoo removal laser Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Pigment Laser (Q-Switched / Pico) Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Vascular LaserAlso: V-Beam, KTP laser, pulsed dye laser, broken capillaries laser Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Vascular Laser Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England

Body Treatments

15 treatments · all 15 to avoid

Body Treatments — Recent surgery (any operation)
What we found	Treatment
Avoid	Aromatherapy MassageAlso: essential oil massage Why, and the source — Aromatherapy Massage Massage and hands-on body work wait after an operation. They move fluid and tissue around the whole body, not just the part being worked on, and a recent operation is exactly the wrong time for that — whatever has been repaired inside you is still knitting together. The usual wait after a general anaesthetic is six to eight weeks, longer for abdominal surgery. Your surgeon's clearance is the answer that counts, not a number from a website. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Body PeelAlso: chemical body peel, back peel, body acid treatment Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Body Peel Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Body ScrubAlso: body exfoliation, salt scrub, sugar scrub, body polish Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Body Scrub Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Body WrapsAlso: algae wrap, mud wrap, paraffin wrap, seaweed wrap, detox wrap Why, and the source — Body Wraps Massage and hands-on body work wait after an operation. They move fluid and tissue around the whole body, not just the part being worked on, and a recent operation is exactly the wrong time for that — whatever has been repaired inside you is still knitting together. The usual wait after a general anaesthetic is six to eight weeks, longer for abdominal surgery. Your surgeon's clearance is the answer that counts, not a number from a website. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Cryolipolysis (CoolSculpting)Also: CoolSculpting, fat freezing, cool sculpting, Zeltiq Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Cryolipolysis (CoolSculpting) Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Deep Tissue MassageAlso: sports massage, remedial massage, firm pressure massage Why, and the source — Deep Tissue Massage Massage and hands-on body work wait after an operation. They move fluid and tissue around the whole body, not just the part being worked on, and a recent operation is exactly the wrong time for that — whatever has been repaired inside you is still knitting together. The usual wait after a general anaesthetic is six to eight weeks, longer for abdominal surgery. Your surgeon's clearance is the answer that counts, not a number from a website. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	EMSculpt / EMS Body TreatmentsAlso: EMSculpt, Emsella, electromagnetic muscle stimulation, HIFEM Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — EMSculpt / EMS Body Treatments Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	EndermologieAlso: LPG, mechanical roller massage, endermology, cellulite massage Why, and the source — Endermologie Massage and hands-on body work wait after an operation. They move fluid and tissue around the whole body, not just the part being worked on, and a recent operation is exactly the wrong time for that — whatever has been repaired inside you is still knitting together. The usual wait after a general anaesthetic is six to eight weeks, longer for abdominal surgery. Your surgeon's clearance is the answer that counts, not a number from a website. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Hot Stone MassageAlso: stone therapy, geothermal massage Why, and the source — Hot Stone Massage Massage and hands-on body work wait after an operation. They move fluid and tissue around the whole body, not just the part being worked on, and a recent operation is exactly the wrong time for that — whatever has been repaired inside you is still knitting together. The usual wait after a general anaesthetic is six to eight weeks, longer for abdominal surgery. Your surgeon's clearance is the answer that counts, not a number from a website. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Lymphatic Drainage MassageAlso: MLD, manual lymphatic drainage, Vodder technique Why, and the source — Lymphatic Drainage Massage Massage and hands-on body work wait after an operation. They move fluid and tissue around the whole body, not just the part being worked on, and a recent operation is exactly the wrong time for that — whatever has been repaired inside you is still knitting together. The usual wait after a general anaesthetic is six to eight weeks, longer for abdominal surgery. Your surgeon's clearance is the answer that counts, not a number from a website. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Prenatal / Pregnancy MassageAlso: pregnancy massage, maternity massage Why, and the source — Prenatal / Pregnancy Massage Massage and hands-on body work wait after an operation. They move fluid and tissue around the whole body, not just the part being worked on, and a recent operation is exactly the wrong time for that — whatever has been repaired inside you is still knitting together. The usual wait after a general anaesthetic is six to eight weeks, longer for abdominal surgery. Your surgeon's clearance is the answer that counts, not a number from a website. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	PressotherapyAlso: compression boots, Ballancer, lymphatic pressotherapy Why, and the source — Pressotherapy Massage and hands-on body work wait after an operation. They move fluid and tissue around the whole body, not just the part being worked on, and a recent operation is exactly the wrong time for that — whatever has been repaired inside you is still knitting together. The usual wait after a general anaesthetic is six to eight weeks, longer for abdominal surgery. Your surgeon's clearance is the answer that counts, not a number from a website. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Radiofrequency Body TreatmentsAlso: Venus Legacy, Exilis, body RF, skin tightening RF (body) Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Radiofrequency Body Treatments Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Swedish MassageAlso: classic massage, relaxation massage, full-body massage Why, and the source — Swedish Massage Massage and hands-on body work wait after an operation. They move fluid and tissue around the whole body, not just the part being worked on, and a recent operation is exactly the wrong time for that — whatever has been repaired inside you is still knitting together. The usual wait after a general anaesthetic is six to eight weeks, longer for abdominal surgery. Your surgeon's clearance is the answer that counts, not a number from a website. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Ultrasonic CavitationAlso: body cavitation, ultrasonic fat reduction, cavi-lipo Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Ultrasonic Cavitation Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England

Hair Removal

6 treatments · all 6 to avoid

Hair Removal — Recent surgery (any operation)
What we found	Treatment
Avoid	Depilatory CreamAlso: chemical hair removal, hair removal cream, Veet, Nair Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Depilatory Cream Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	ElectrolysisAlso: needle electrolysis, permanent hair removal, galvanic electrolysis Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Electrolysis Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Hot WaxAlso: hard wax, Brazilian wax, hot wax depilation Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Hot Wax Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Strip Wax (Soft Wax)Also: soft wax, strip waxing, honey wax Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Strip Wax (Soft Wax) Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	SugaringAlso: sugar paste depilation, Egyptian sugaring, Persian sugaring Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Sugaring Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	ThreadingAlso: eyebrow threading, facial threading, khite Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Threading Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England

Nails

10 treatments · all 10 to avoid

Nails — Recent surgery (any operation)
What we found	Treatment
Avoid	Acrylic NailsAlso: liquid and powder nails, L&P nails, sculpted acrylics Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Acrylic Nails Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Builder Gel / BIABAlso: BIAB, builder in a bottle, hard gel, structure gel Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Builder Gel / BIAB Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Classic ManicureAlso: regular manicure, traditional manicure, polish manicure Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Classic Manicure Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Classic PedicureAlso: regular pedicure, spa pedicure Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Classic Pedicure Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Gel ManicureAlso: Shellac, gel polish, soak-off gel, CND Shellac Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Gel Manicure Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Gel PedicureAlso: Shellac pedicure, gel polish pedicure Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Gel Pedicure Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Medical PedicureAlso: med pedi, podiatry pedicure, Margaret Dabbs pedicure Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Medical Pedicure Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Nail Strengthening TreatmentsAlso: IBX, nail repair treatment, nail bond treatment Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Nail Strengthening Treatments Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Polygel NailsAlso: poly gel, gel-acrylic hybrid Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Polygel Nails Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Press-On NailsAlso: adhesive nails, stick-on nails, nail tips Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Press-On Nails Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England

Lashes & Brows

8 treatments · all 8 to avoid

Lashes & Brows — Recent surgery (any operation)
What we found	Treatment
Avoid	Brow LaminationAlso: brow perm, brow sculpting Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Brow Lamination Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Brow TintAlso: eyebrow tinting, brow dye Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Brow Tint Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Classic Lash ExtensionsAlso: individual lashes, 1:1 lash extensions Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Classic Lash Extensions Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Henna BrowsAlso: henna brow tinting Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Henna Brows Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Hybrid Lash ExtensionsAlso: mixed lash extensions Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Hybrid Lash Extensions Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Lash LiftAlso: lash perm, keratin lash lift Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Lash Lift Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Lash TintAlso: eyelash tinting, lash dye Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Lash Tint Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Volume Lash ExtensionsAlso: Russian volume, fan lashes, 2D-6D lashes Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Volume Lash Extensions Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England

Permanent Makeup (PMU)

6 treatments · all 6 to avoid

Permanent Makeup (PMU) — Recent surgery (any operation)
What we found	Treatment
Avoid	Areola TattooAlso: 3D nipple tattoo, post-mastectomy tattoo Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Areola Tattoo Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Eyeliner TattooAlso: permanent eyeliner, lash line enhancement, lash line tattoo Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Eyeliner Tattoo Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Lip Blush / Lip TattooAlso: lip tint tattoo, permanent lip colour, aquarelle lips Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Lip Blush / Lip Tattoo Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Microblading (Eyebrows)Also: eyebrow embroidery, feather brows, hair-stroke brows Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Microblading (Eyebrows) Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Powder Brows / Ombré BrowsAlso: machine brows, ombre brows, shading brows Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Powder Brows / Ombré Brows Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England
Avoid	Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP)Also: SMP, hair tattoo, scalp tattoo Avoid over the affected area — other areas are fine. Why, and the source — Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP) Nothing goes over or near the surgical site while it is still healing — no wax, no heat, no needles, no products worked into the skin there. Away from the site the picture is different, and plenty of treatments are reasonable once you are past the first week or two of recovery. Because we cannot know where you were operated on, treat this as a restriction on the area itself rather than on the treatment everywhere, and get your surgeon to confirm when the site is closed and settled. Sources: British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsNHSRoyal College of Surgeons of England

Sources

British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsPost-operative recovery timelines
NHSRecovering from an operation
Royal College of Surgeons of EnglandRecovering from surgery — patient information

Written by Anna · London-trained cosmetologist

Last updated 3 September 2026

Every treatment, checked