Apex Protocol: Optimal Plastic Surgery Recovery

At CREO Clinic, we’ve spent over 15 years refining a patient-first approach to plastic surgery recovery. The result? Our exclusive APEX Recovery Protocol, which is designed to help you heal faster, with less pain, fewer complications, and no drains or morphine.

We believe recovery should be part of the procedure, not an add-on – not an additional cost. That’s why most services mentioned here are included at no additional expense. For those who wish to further customise their experience, we also offer optional enhancements.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the APEX Protocol and show you why it sets a new standard for post-surgical care.

Ready for a smoother recovery? Book a consultation with Dr. Tillo.

Why Our Exclusive Apex Protocol Is Superior

Our APEX protocol is optimised to help you recover faster when compared to the traditional approach.

1. Better Healing, Better Results

Proper aftercare and nutritional support lead to healthier tissues, reduced scarring, and more refined surgical outcomes. Simply put: better recovery means better results.

2. Minimal Hospital Stay

Traditional recovery often involves 1–2 nights in the hospital due to pain and the use of drains.
With APEX, most patients are awake within 15–20 minutes post-surgery and can be safely discharged in just 60–90 minutes.

3. No Opioids, No Side Effects

Opioid painkillers commonly cause drowsiness, nausea, and constipation.
Our opioid-free approach avoids these complications altogether.

4. Quicker Mobility

Patients are typically walking to the bathroom within 30 minutes and leaving unaided within 90 minutes — a major leap forward in plastic surgery recovery.

5. More Support, Fewer Complications

Unlike standard aftercare, which may include only 2–3 follow-ups, our APEX system includes frequent touchpoints with our care team. You’ll always have access to expert guidance if concerns arise.

From Pre-surgical Prep to Post-Operative Strategy

The APEX protocol is a full-spectrum approach that supports you from preparation to full recovery. Here’s how it works:

Pre-Surgical Preparation

• Basic Supplementation: We believe that the correct nutrients provide the fundamental building blocks for the body’s recovery after surgery, which is why all of our patients are given supplements to prepare their body for effective healing.  
• Advanced Supplements: We also provide additional, advanced supplement packages which would be offered to you at a discounted price (from market rates). 
• Functional Medicine Specialist: We work with Dr. Gina Schoeman who will run a series of in-depth blood and DNA tests to determine a bespoke plan that will optimise your recovery and boost your overall vitality. (Discounted packages only for CREO clients)

Intraoperative Precision

We have developed a unique approach to surgery with our anaesthetists that allows us to effectively reduce discomfort while allowing the body to recover quicker:

Morphine-Free Protocol

We use local anaesthetics to target and numb the treatment area(s), and low dose general anaesthesia to reduce grogginess in the recovery room straight after surgery. 

Most importantly, we do not use morphine so that you can avoid unpleasant side effects, reduce the risk of addiction and get back on your feet sooner.   

You’ll wake up feeling clearer and recover faster — without the risk of dependency.

Drain-Free Approach

Dr. Tillo is a master of surgical techniques that minimise fluid build up.

As a result, we do not need to use drains, which can often be a source of discomfort for patients as they recover. In addition, this means that you don’t need to learn how to care for drains once you are discharged from the hospital, making the recovery process simpler, less invasive and less stressful.

Advanced Sutures & Dressing: 

We use advanced sutures and dressings to heal the wound quicker. Notably, we do not charge an extra fee for this as other hospitals do. 

This combination of steps helps you bounce back quicker and feel better as your body recovers.

Post-Surgical Strategy

After surgery, every patient receives a detailed, customised recovery roadmap. Depending on your procedure, your post-op care package may include:

• Manual lymphatic drainage massage
  
• Laser scar therapy
  
• Specialised wound care treatments

These services are designed to reduce swelling, improve healing, and help you feel like yourself again — sooner.