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General Pre-Operative Care Instructions 

In an effort to prepare you for your upcoming procedure, we’ve created a list of general pre-operative and post-operative guidelines for you. You will receive a very specific set of pre-operative guidelines at your pre-operative visit with us, but we provide these just to help you adequately prepare ahead of time.

Pre-Operative Guidelines for Local Plastic Surgery Patients

 

• STOP SMOKING AT LEAST 2 DAYS PRIOR TO SURGERY and at least 10 days AFTER surgery. Smoking reduces circulation to the skin, impedes healing, and can lead to major postoperative complications.
• DO NOT EAT for at least 1 hour prior to your appointment. It is O.K. to have small amounts of clear liquids, but refrain from coffee or tea.
• DO NOT DRINK ALKOHOL from the night before your appointment
• FOLLOW THE GENERAL SKIN CLEANSING INSTRUCTIONS for bathing using Chlorhexidine shower to prevent infections
• DISCONTINUE MEDICATIONS CONTAINING aspirin, ibuprofen, blood-thinners, Vitamin E, and ALL herbal supplements at least 1-2 weeks prior to and 1 week after surgery. These medications can cause prolonged bleeding.
• PLEASE CALL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. We are all here to make your surgical experience as comfortable as possible.
Warning About Blood Thinning Medications
Blood-thinning products can cause excessive bleeding during and after surgery. Both prescription and over the counter medications can have blood-thinning properties. If you currently take any of the medications or herbal preparations listed below, make sure you discontinue use 1 to 2 weeks prior to your procedure. Remember this is only a partial list. If you have any questions, please contact your local pharmacist.
If you were told by a doctor to take a blood-thinning medicine on a regular basis for stroke or heart attack prevention, severe arthritis, atrial fibrillation, or a prosthetic heart valve, ask your surgeon when this medicine should be discontinued.
Read the labels on all the medications that you take on a regular basis. Many products contain Aspirin (ASA or acetylsalicylic acid) and must be stopped 7 to 14 days prior to surgery.
Read the label on any new medications you take during the 14 days prior to your surgery. Many headache, cough, and cold remedies contain Aspirin (ASA or acetylsalicylic acid) and should not be used.

Below is a list of medications that must be stopped for the 7 to 14 days before surgery:

• Aspirin (ASA or Acetylsalicylic Acid)
• Ticlid
• Coumadin
• Garlic
• Gingko
• Ginseng
• Heparin
• Ibuprofen
• Lovenox
• Naproxen
• Plavix
• St. John’s Wort
• Vitamin E

If you need pain, headache, cough, or cold medicine during the 7 to 14 days prior to surgery, you may take products containing Acetaminophen (Tylenol).
The Day of Your Surgery
Keep the following tips in mind for the day of your procedure:
• PLAN TO WEAR LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING (such as a jogging suit) and easy on/off shoes.
• DO NOT WEAR ANY MAKE-UP, JEWELRY, OR BRING VALUABLES on the day of surgery. Please remove all JEWELRY prior to your surgery, including rings, watches, earrings, nose piercings, tongue piercings, and naval piercings. If this is not possible, you must discuss with your surgeon.
• YOU WILL BE ASKED TO CHANGE INTO A GOWN. Your surgeon will mark the surgical site and your anesthesiologist will have you sign a consent form for anesthesia. You will have the opportunity to ask any last minute requests.
• ONCE YOU’RE IN THE OPERATING ROOM you will be asked to lie on the table. We will give you medication to relax you as soon as you are lying down. These medications also help you to forget being in the operating room.
• YOU WILL BE GIVEN SPECIFIC DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS, necessary supplies, and a 1 week post-op appointment. Ask questions anytime.
• MOST IMPORTANTLY, REMEMBER TO LISTEN TO YOUR BODY…Rest when you feel pain or fatigue. BE PATIENT with the healing process, and remember you may have good and bad days….

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