Energy-based technologies in rehabilitation after plastic surgery: from complications to recovery

Objetivos: To show how energy-based technologies can be used in multimodal rehabilitation after plastic surgery and how to choose the right treatment depending on the main clinical problem and the stage of healing. After the lecture, participants will be able to define the main treatment goals, select suitable technologies, and consider treatment timing, settings, skin phototype, and the risk of PIH. Introducción: The number of aesthetic surgical procedures is growing, and more older patients are undergoing plastic surgery. At the same time, patients expect faster, safer, and more predictable recovery. Surgical trauma can lead to inflammation, swelling, hematomas, impaired microcirculation and lymphatic drainage, ischemia, fibrosis, abnormal scars, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Materiales / método: Based on current scientific literature and the author’s clinical experience, the lecture reviews photobiomodulation, local dynamic micromassage (LDM), low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), extracorporeal shock wave therapy, vascular and pigment lasers, intense pulsed light IPL, fractional ablative lasers, and microneedling radiofrequency. These technologies are discussed according to the main treatment target, the stage of healing, treatment timing, and treatment settings. Resultados: In the early postoperative period, the main goals are to reduce inflammation, pain, swelling, and hematomas and to support lymphatic drainage and microcirculation without causing additional tissue damage. Once healing is stable, the focus shifts to persistent redness, dyschromia, fibrosis, and scars. A clinical case shows the benefits of using different energy-based technologies step by step rather than all at once. Conclusión: Energy-based technologies can be an important part of personalized multimodal rehabilitation after plastic surgery. Using them step by step and choosing the right technology, timing, and settings for each stage of recovery may shorten postoperative downtime, reduce the risk of complications, and improve the quality and predictability of the final aesthetic result.