Dr. Nicole Somas is here today to discuss something that isn’t talked about enough. Pre-surgery prep and post-surgery prep, as well as tips for a smooth recovery.
In her podcast with Lauryn & Michael on The Skinny Confidential HIM & HER Show, Nicole talks all about preventing complications, increasing range of motion, how massage can help with scar tissue and so much more.
Lauryn put it perfectly: “pre and post op care are like the bookends to a successful surgery.” And she would know. After horrific double jaw surgery and being totally unprepared, to having her 2nd boob job and being SO PREPARED, she knows it makes it all the difference.
Anyway, if you have yet to meet Nicole she’s smart, she’s savvy, has an incredible story (used to work in trauma) and we’re just so happy to have her on the blog to talk to us about The Psomas Method. Be sure to listen to her podcast episode for tons of amazing surgery tips – like get ready to take notes.
With that, let’s welcome Nicole to the blog.
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Hi everyone, my name is Nicole Psomas and I have made a name for myself as an internationally recognized celebrity physical therapist specializing in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Recovery. My story began while working side-by-side with well-known New York City plastic surgeons, I had an “Ah-ha” idea which led to pioneering a preparation and recovery method for cosmetic plastic surgery.
In the year 2010, I made the decision to have elective liposuction with famed New York City Plastic Surgeon, Dr. David Shafer, MD. With minimal information on rehabilitation after cosmetic plastic surgery, I instinctually used the skills practiced daily to facilitate healing and improve my appearance. Dr. Shafer was astounded by my results and asked me to share the secrets for a fabulous recovery. This sparked a referral service where, to date, I’ve been treating patients, implementing techniques, and educating individuals on how to take recovery into their own hands. I developed a unique recipe for recovery I call “After The Cut”…”The Psomas Method.” From years of working with thousands of patients and surgeons, I made a name for myself as a pioneer in recovery after cosmetic plastic surgery.
In 2019, I published the book After the Cut: How to Prepare for and Recovery from Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, a how-to guide that teaches the Psomas Method. For the past 15 years, I have had the pleasure of working with many influential and familiar faces like television hosts, actors, politicians, corporate CEOs, international figures, socialites, and TV personalities.
Before introducing The Psomas Method to the world, I spent 17 years at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center as a physical therapist working with trauma and reconstructive plastic surgery patients.
I have now teamed up with The Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy to teach and certify individuals in cosmetic plastic surgery recovery. For years I have been living the dream, working for myself, treating plastic surgery patients privately and on my own time and schedule.
It is an extremely lucrative field that yields hundreds of dollars per hour for a session. I want to bring my knowledge to the world so it can open up the door for many people to go into practice for themselves. The courses will be launching this year in Los Angeles, Miami, New York City and Las Vegas. Each city will be offering two courses. The first, “Facial Cosmetic Surgery Post-Op Training,” will be geared towards aestheticians, nurses, NPs, doctors, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Massage Therapists, Speech Therapists, and other allied health clinicians. The second “Cosmetic Surgery Therapy Certification” will be for Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Massage Therapists and Certified Lymphedema Therapists.
Plastic Surgery Recovery Tips
With a focus on the mind, body, and home, my hands-on approach has allowed patients to maximize their post-surgery results and appearance while preventing complications, decreasing swelling, increasing range of motion, reducing pain, increasing sensation, and minimizing scar tissue. Some common surgeries I am an expert on are: liposuction, breast implants and breast reduction, tummy tucks, facelifts, buttock implants, rhinoplasty and more.
When I meet with patients, I teach them how to prepare for and recover from any cosmetic procedure from start to finish. I begin by guiding them on how to choose the right surgeon, planning the surgery at the right time in their life, and understanding the cost factors associated with the surgery. Once the patient has made the decision for themselves to schedule surgery – I guide them on how to prepare their body, mind and home.
For example, I focus on preparing their home to ensure it will be set up easiest to negotiate with all the necessary supplies ready to go. I also guide them through prepping their body with the right diet, supplement modification and cleanse to ensure the best outcomes. Also, I guide patients through relaxation and meditation techniques, so their mind is at ease, relaxed and ready to undergo surgery.
Once the patient is home after surgery, I guide them exactly through diet, exercises routines, lymphatic and fibrosis massage techniques, proper compression wear, homeopathic remedies, proper positioning, scar management, and modalities – to speed up their recovery and achieve the optimal aesthetic results.
For example, if you were planning a “Mommy Makeover Surgery” (breast lift/implants – liposuction- tummy tuck) some of the things I would teach you would be the following: the diet you needed to be on pre and post-surgery, how to get in and out bed, a walking program, massage to decrease swelling in the body, massage to have the most natural feeling breasts and prevent capsular contracture, scar management to minimize the tummy tuck scar, proper garment wearing, and exercises to help you heal quicker and get back to life sooner. I go into detail about the do’s and don’ts of recovery, what is normal and what is a warning sign for something that might be healing poorly.
People anywhere in the world can learn my method for recovery by reading a copy of my book or contacting me directly. Over the past few years I have been doing Zoom consultation sessions with people all over the country and world. I have worked with individuals from LA to NYC to Dubai to South America. With one virtual session I am able to prep them for surgery and provide a detailed plan for recovery after surgery.
My book After The Cut: How To Prepare For and Recover From Cosmetic Plastic Surgery can be purchased on Amazon in hardcopy or eBook.
If you would like to contact me directly for a Zoom consultation- reach out to me on my Instagram @AfterTheCutBook and mention TSC for a discounted rate.
If you are an aesthetician, nurse, NP, doctor, massage therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist or certified lymphedema therapist and would like to learn these methods for treating patients post-op after cosmetic plastic surgery to start your own business – take one of my courses this year. Go to The Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy website to sign up today!
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There you have it. Hope you all found value in this blog post and Nicole’s podcast episode. Grab a copy of After The Cut to have all the whole method at your fingertips. Remember to check if it’s at your local bookstore too!
x, The Skinny Confidential team
+ stalk everything you need to know about Lauryn’s AirSculpt procedure.
++ if you’re thinking of a boob job, check out this post.
RECOVER LIKE BOSS: