Taking Time Off Work after Plastic Surgery

Taking time off work after plastic surgery can get tricky. You may need to use vacation, sick time, and even unpaid leave for your surgery and recovery. Unfortunately, there is no set amount of recovery time for all patients. Everyone’s needs are different. Dr. David Passaretti can advise you as to how much time you will need away from work to make a full recovery following body contouring or other procedures at our Fairfield, CT, office.

How Much Time Will I Need?

Recovery time is different for every procedure and even for patients undergoing the same procedure. One patient getting liposuction may need less than a week off work while another may need two weeks or more. It all depends on the extent of work patients have done and how they heal afterward.

In general, you should expect to need a minimum of a week off of work. Some procedures that require more extensive surgery may require up to two weeks or more. When you meet with Dr. Passaretti for your consultation, he can evaluate your needs and give you a more exact time frame.

How Do I Approach My Employer about Taking Time Off?

Some employers address time off for elective surgery in their employee handbooks. Check there first. If not, you’ll need to talk with your boss. They may want to know whether the procedure is medically necessary (as some plastic surgeries are). If so, Dr. Passaretti can send a letter to your employer stating as much.

You may also want to look at how much vacation and sick time you have accrued. You may be able to use some or all of this time to avoid taking time off without pay. Another option is to consider scheduling your surgery around built-in days off like holiday weekends. That gives you more time to recover without having to use as many vacation days or sick time.

Be Honest

The most important thing to do when approaching your employer about time off is to be honest. Your employer needs to know you will need time off and that when you return, you may not be back at full strength yet. This is especially true if your job is particularly active.

Have the Conversation Early

It’s usually best to have this conversation early. Getting it out of the way can ensure you get the rest you need following your surgery. Waiting to ask for time off will only build stress and anxiety and may make you more anxious about the surgery.

Schedule a Consultation

A proper recovery is critical to the success of any surgical procedure. Make sure you can get the rest you need and that you will have the ability to ease back into your work responsibilities. To find out how much time you will need off of work, contact our plastic surgery office today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Passaretti.