Pre-operative
Care and Tips
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Pre-operative in Plastic Surgery
If you are preparing for plastic surgery, understanding preoperative guidelines is essential for a safe procedure and satisfactory results.
Here, we will cover everything you need to know about preparing for surgery, from dietary considerations to preparation for the day of surgery.
Dietary considerations
Medicinal and physical
During the preoperative period, it is crucial to follow the dietary guidelines recommended by your surgeon to ensure that your body is in optimal condition for the procedure.
- Fasting: You will need to follow a strict fasting regimen before surgery, usually for 8 to 12 hours. This means you cannot eat or drink anything during this period. Fasting is crucial to prevent complications during anesthesia.
- Healthy eating: In the days leading up to the surgery, maintain a balanced and nutrient-rich diet. This will help your body recover more quickly.
- Hydration: Stay well-hydrated in the days leading up to the surgery, unless your doctor advises otherwise.
Following your doctor’s instructions regarding physical preparation and medication use is essential to avoid complications.
- Medication: Your doctor may advise you to discontinue the use of certain medications before surgery, such as aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, or anticoagulants. Always follow your doctor’s instructions closely.
- Physical exercise: Depending on the procedure, it may be advisable to avoid intense physical exercise a few days before surgery to prevent excessive stress on the body.
- Quitting Smoking: If you smoke, it is highly recommended to quit at least 4 weeks before surgery, as smoking can impair healing and increase the risk of complications.
Procedures
On the day of your surgery
It’s important to follow the guidelines below to ensure everything goes smoothly on the day of your procedure:
- Choose comfortable clothing: Wear loose-fitting and easy-to-wear outfits, such as sweatsuits and slip-on shoes. Clothes with zippers or buttons are ideal if your surgery involves the upper body.
- Avoid makeup, jewelry, and hair products: On the day of surgery, do not wear makeup, jewelry, or bring valuables. It is recommended to remove any piercings, earrings, or metal accessories before the procedure. If this is not possible, discuss it with your surgeon. Additionally, avoid wigs, hairpieces, hairspray, clips, pins, or headbands.
- Remove artificial nails: Remove artificial nails, tips, or any other nail accessories from at least one finger, preferably the index or middle finger. This will allow the anesthesiologist to accurately monitor your oxygen levels during surgery.
- Bring your pain medication: If you are already using pain medication, bring it with you on the day of surgery so that the medical team can verify and administer it as needed.
- Change into surgical gown: Before the procedure, you will be instructed to change into a specific hospital gown. The surgeon will mark the surgical site, and the anesthesiologist will discuss the anesthesia process, giving you the opportunity to clarify any last-minute questions.
- IV Insertion: An intravenous (IV) line will be inserted into your hand or forearm in the pre-op area for the administration of medications and fluids during the surgery.
- Operating room preparation: Once in the operating room, you will be positioned on the surgical table, and the medical team will begin monitoring your vital signs. Medications will be administered to help you relax and feel comfortable.
- Monitors and equipment: Various devices will be applied to your body to monitor your condition during surgery, such as a blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter, and cardiac monitoring electrodes.
- Induction to sleep: You will be comfortably and safely put to sleep. If a breathing tube is required, it will be inserted after you are asleep and removed before you wake up.
- Recovery room: After the surgery, you will be transferred to the recovery room, where you will stay for approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. Most patients regain consciousness within 15 to 60 minutes but may not remember much due to the effects of the anesthetics.
- Discharge instructions: Both you and the responsible person accompanying you will receive detailed instructions for post-operative care, including medications, dressings, and scheduling follow-up appointments.
Information
PLEASE REALLY *IMPORTANT*
Hi, this is the Coordination Team at Smart Plastic Surgery. We are trying to contact you because you are scheduled for surgery. Here is some important information you should know. Please remember to have ALL results from the lab order done!
IF YOU’RE UNDERGOING A BREAST PROCEDURE, REMEMBER TO HAVE A BREAST ULTRASOUND IF YOU’RE UNDER 40 YEARS OLD, OR A MAMMOGRAM IF YOU’RE 40 OR OLDER. ADDITIONALLY, IF YOU HAVE ASTHMA OR YOU ARE OLDER THAN 40, A CHEST X-RAY IS REQUIRED.
Other Informations
YOUR MEDICAL CLEARANCE SHOULD SAY LOW RISK AND HAVE A MEDICAL STAMP.
WE ALSO REQUIRE EKG (GRAPH).
VERY IMPORTANT!
YOUR HEMOGLOBIN SHOULD BE AT 12.0.
SAVER MACHINE (COST $550).
YOUR A1C DEPENDS ON PROCEDURE YOU WILL HAVE DONE.
FOR EXAMPLE:
BREAST OR TUMMY TUCK 5.7%
LIPO OR BBL 6.0%
COMBO PROCEDURES 5.7%
YOUR BMI IS VERY IMPORTANT!
WE REQUIRE YOUR CORRECT WEIGHT AND HEIGHT.
BMI FOR SINGLE PROCEDURES:
LIPO OR BBL IS 39;
BREAST OR TUMMY TUCK IS 36;
COMBO PROCEDURES IS 36.
