Preparing For Your Upcoming Cosmetic Surgery

Your plastic surgeon wants to provide you with the best possible surgical results with as rapid and comfortable recovery as possible. Specific instructions will be provided for the procedure(s) that you will be having. However, the following tips before surgery will help a patient have the best surgical experience possible.

Presurgical Education

Studies have shown that informed patients felt less anxiety before and after surgery. Take the time to research the procedure you are having via books or the internet. Make sure you understand the procedure you are having and don't be afraid to ask questions prior to surgery such as: What type of anesthesia will be used ? How long with the procedure take? What medications will I take? When can I start doing normal activities? When can I shower and apply makeup?

Medications, Smoking and Supplements

Discontinue use of any nicotine products at least 2 weeks prior to surgery. This includes cigarettes, cigars, nicotine gum, and patches. Nicotine reduces the blood flow to the skin and may impair healing; and quitting smoking drastically improves the body's response to surgery. Stop using medications containing aspirin and ibuprofen two weeks prior to surgery. Aspirin thins the blood and can produce excess bleeding and bruising. Be sure to read the labels of any over-the-counter remedies you regularly take as many common medications contain aspirin. For the same reason, also avoid: Vitamin E and herbal supplements, herbal teas, and red wine.

Begin using an Arnica supplement 7 days prior to surgery and continue for one week after surgery. Arnica is a naturopathic remedy that helps prevent as well as clear bruising. Arnica is available in either tablet form or in topical patches. It is my preference to use both for my patient but the oral form is the most important. You should also consider adding Vitamin K to your diet. This fat-soluble vitamin plays an important role in blood clotting and can be found in such foods as spinach, broccoli, and kiwi.

Plan for Success

During your recovery, you want to be as relaxed and comfortable as possible. By planning in advance, you can set yourself up for a worry-free time when your body can completely concentrate on recuperation.

1) Plan your wardrobe for the day of surgery and the week following. Loose-fitting clothing that can be unbuttoned or unzipped down the front is best.

2) Designate an area in your home for yourself - such as a quiet bedroom or sofa away from busy family activities

3) Even if you are having a minor procedure, you will still need a minimum of 24 hours to recover from anesthesia, and will not be up to handling responsibilities by yourself. If you do not have a friend or family member to care for you the night of surgery, ask your plastic surgeon about staying overnight in the surgery center or hospital, or at a nearby hotel with the attendance of a nurse or aide.

4) Get all your prescriptions filled prior to your surgery

5) Plan your meals for the week after surgery and make the necessary trip to the grocery store

6) Arrange for child care

7) Rest and sleep, combined with small meals and plenty of fluids, are key to a quick and comfortable recovery.

8) Avoid excessive sun exposure for at least two weeks after most surgeries.

9) Be patient. Everything (swelling going done, bruising going away, etc.) takes longer than almost every patient expects or wants.

The number one cause of postoperative pain and complications is 'overdoing' it after surgery. With proper planning and arrangements, as outlined above, this can be avoided and a smoother recovery will occur.

Dr Barry Eppley is a board-certified plastic surgeon in private practice in Indianapolis, Indiana at Clarian Health Systems. (http://www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com) He writes a daily blog on plastic surgery, spa therapies, and medical skin care at http://www.exploreplasticsurgery.com

By Dr Barry Eppley

The Day After Your Cosmetic Surgery

Now that you have arrived home, either the day of surgery or the morning after if you have stayed overnight, it is time to relax and let the natural healing process take its course. However, there are a variety of things you can do and to be aware of to make your early recovery better.

Medications

Make sure that you take your antibiotics at the prescribed intervals and your pain medications as needed. When it comes to pain medications, remember that there is no reward for seeing how tough you are. If you have pain, take your medications! It is not infrequent that the strength of pain medications prescribed may be inadequate or your stomach may not tolerate them. In this case, contact your doctor immediately and get a prescription for a different type of pain medication. Occasionally, patients will develop a reaction to either the antibiotic or pain medication. This will be manifest as itching and possibly hives. More times than not, it will be to the antibiotic and this will need to be immediately stopped and changed. Contacting your doctor in this event is paramount. While some patients may develop nausea, which is also a reaction to medications, this is not a true allergy but a sensitivity to one of the medications ingredients. (often the preservative) In this case, the medication (usually the pain pills) will have to be changed. In facial surgery, usually the eyes, there may be open incisions. On these antibiotic ointments are to be placed. If it is around the eyes, the antibiotic ointment should be specifically ophthalmic, so that if it gets in the eyes it will not cause irritation. Other incisions, if exposed, should be liberally covered with an antibiotic ointment.

Dressings

Whether it is facial or body surgery, you will likely have dressings (bandages) placed at the time of surgery. This could be circumferential facial wraps for face or neck surgery or bras or compression garments for body surgery. These are to be left in place until at least 24 hours after surgery and your doctor will give you specific instructions about these dressings. In my practice, I almost always remove all dressings, face or body, the next day so the patient can shower. I usually do this myself in the office but some dressings may be able to be removed at home by the patient.

Swelling

If you have had facial surgery, it is important to keep your head elevated. Whether it be in a reclining chair or in bed with several pillows, you can have some control over how much swelling will occur. Laying down flat will cause a tremendous amount of swelling by the next day. Ice (or frozen vegetables) applied to the face or eyes can also lessen how much swelling will occur. After 24 hours, the application of cold will not make a big difference but for the first night after surgery it will. In body surgery, there is not much you can do about swelling. That is why support or compression garments are put on after body surgery. These are to be left on after surgery for at least the first night... unless they become too tight. If you are having trouble breathing from a bra, chest, or abdominal wrap or your hands (arm wraps) or feet (leg wraps) go numb or are too tight from swelling, the garments should be loosened or taken off. Contact your doctor immediately and more specific instructions will be given.

One important concept to grasp about swelling... it does not peak for 48 hours after surgery. This is unfamiliar, and often disturbing, to patients. Patients understandably think that areas of surgery start to get better beginning the day after. But this is not so, the onset of swelling and bruising will continue for several days. By the third day swelling will stabilize and start to go down thereafter.

Nutrition

Eat or drink whatever you feel comfortable or want to do. Liquids, however, are by far the most important. Staying adequately hydrated will make you feel better, allow your medications to work more efficiently, and will help clear toxins faster from your system.

Dr Barry Eppley is a board-certified plastic surgeon in private practice in Indianapolis, Indiana at Clarian Health Systems. (http://www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com) He writes a daily blog on plastic surgery, spa therapies, and medical skin care at http://www.exploreplasticsurgery.com


By Dr Barry Eppley