• Prepayments are due, in full, two (2) weeks prior to surgery
• Do not eat or drink anything after midnight. This includes water, chewing gum and mints or candies. Nothing by mouth.
• Do not wear fingernail polish on the day of surgery. Artificial nails must be removed from both index fingers only.
• Women: On the morning of surgery, wash your face thoroughly with soap and water, making sure to remove all make-up. Please do not wear any make-up, including mascara and eye liner, creams or lotions on the day of your surgery.
• Women: all females are required to take a urine pregnancy test and will need to have a full bladder.
• Men: On the morning of surgery, wash your face thoroughly with soap and water. Please have a clean-shaven face with no application of after-shave or other lotions. Full-grown beards and mustaches are acceptable.
• Wash your hair thoroughly the night before surgery, and do not wear any type of hair spray or hair grooming products on the day of surgery.
• On the morning of surgery, bathe thoroughly with antibacterial soap or solution. Do not apply any body creams, lotions, or deodorant.
• For ease of dressing when dismissed, please wear loose clothing, loose fitting jeans, shorts or sweats. Do not wear clothes that slip over your head.
• It will be necessary for you to make arrangements for an adult (18 or over) to drive you home or to a local hotel and take care of you the first night of surgery. No one will be released to drive themselves, nor will they be allowed to travel by cab, bus, etc.
• Please do not take Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen or anything with these for two (2) weeks before or one (1) week after surgery.  This includes Anacin, Alka-Seltzer, Fiorinal, Pepto-Bismol, Empirin, Bufferin, Ascripton, Excedrin, Advil, Aleve, and some cold remedies.
• If you have questions about a particular medication, please call the office.
• Stop taking any herbal medication such as St. John’s Wart, Vitamin E, Fish oil (Omega 3), energy drinks, or diet pills two (2) weeks prior to surgery.
• If you are taking any phentermine, weight loss supplements, or any other appetite suppressants please stop them 2 weeks prior to surgery.
• No nicotine use three (3) weeks before surgery and two (2) weeks after surgery.
• If you have a change in medications prior to surgery, please notify our office so that we may be aware.
• Please do not take Metformin 24 hours prior to surgery. Please notify your prescribing physician If you use a CPAP/BiPAP machine, you must bring with you day of surgery or your surgery may be cancelled.
• If you have an advance directive, please bring a copy of it to your procedure.
• Bring storage containers and preparations materials for contact lenses.
• Please leave any money, jewelry (includes ALL body piercings) or valuables at home.
• Contact your family doctor’s office to arrange for your preoperative laboratory tests. Tests are to be run three weeks prior to your surgery date.
• Any lab work, pathology or prescriptions are your financial responsibility or that of your insurance company. You, as the patient, are responsible for obtaining any necessary referrals for lab, pathology or anesthesia when required by your insurance company.
• If you live over one and a half (1 ½) hours away, we might recommend that you stay the night in town.
• Make arrangements for childcare and pet care – You can’t do everything. Have someone around to help take care of your loved ones while you recover at home. Prepare a list of important telephone numbers. Contact home care specialists or RNs if needed. Ask the plastic surgeon for a nursing agency if no one else is available.
• Plan Meals – Do grocery shopping and prepare meals to be frozen and eaten during recovery. Consider stocking low sodium soup, crackers, and soft, high protein meals. It’s important to take in lots of fluids. Have water available at all times.
• Prepare your Surgery Recovery Area – Put a plastic mattress liner (for protection) and clean linens on your bed. Have extra pillows on hand if needed. Make items such as a remote control for the TV, laptop computer and cell/portable phone accessible.
• Have someone stay with you for 24 hours – Have a friend or family member stay with you overnight to assist with dressings, medications, going to the restroom, and/or in case of emergency.

Please note: These instructions are only a guide. Your surgeon will give you specific instructions at your appointment. Thank you.           

REGARDING ANESTHESIA:

You received GENERAL anesthesia, please pay particular attention to the following for 48 hours.

• Do not drink alcoholic beverages.
• Avoid smoking.
• Do not drive a motor vehicle, operate machinery or power tools.
• Do not make any important decisions or sign any legal papers.
• Rest at home with slow, moderate activity as tolerated
• You may be lightheaded, dizzy and drowsy following. Please do not stay alone. A responsible adult should be with you for at least 24 hours.
• Progress slowly to your regular diet. Start with liquids working up to solids. Eat slowly and chew your food well. 

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS:

PAIN:  Take prescription medication as directed.  Do not take on an empty stomach.  Do not drive, operate machinery or power tools, and avoid alcoholic beverages while taking this medication. Please do not take aspirin or medication containing aspirin for two weeks after surgery. This includes Anacin, Alka-Seltzer, Florinal, Empirin, Bufferin, Ascriptin, Excedrin, and some cold remedies. Do not take ibuprofen products. You may take Tylenol, extra strength Tylenol, Co-Tylenol. If you have any questions about a particular medication, please call our office.

DRESSING:  Reinforce dressings as needed for the first 48 hours. If no longer having drainage, dressings can be removed after that. If your physician placed drains, keep dressings over drain site until follow up appointment.

BATHING:  You may shower after 48 hours. Remove all dressings, allow clean, warm water to run over incisions; do not scrub! You may gently wash your hair. Pat face dry.

INCISION CARE:  Apply bacitracin ointment to incisions 3 times daily.

ELEVATE:  Head and shoulders on at least two pillows at all times.

CONSTIPATION:  This is a common problem after surgery due to anesthesia, inactivity, and prescription pain medications. Walking stimulates your bowels, so keep moving. Eating a diet of whole grain cereals, fruits, fruit juices or by using over-the-counter laxatives such as Senokot, Milk of Magnesia, Miralax, Colace, Magnesium Citrate, etc. can help alleviate constipation. If constipation persists, try a Fleets enema or glycerin suppository which can be obtained over the counter at most pharmacies.

OTHER:  No strenuous activity for two weeks. Do not bend over at the waist. Avoid straining, heavy lifting/pulling/pushing greater than 10 lbs (no greater than a gallon of milk). Turn head and shoulders as a unit. Soft diet for one week.

PLEASE CALL if you have any problems or you experience:

• Unusual pain, bleeding, swelling, or bruising in operative area.
• Signs of infection: pus, redness, fever, chills or excessive drainage.
• Pain that the prescribed medication does not alleviate.
• Difficulty in breathing, persistent nausea or vomiting.

AFTER HOURS: if you are needing to speak with someone after normal business hours, please call the office at 316-688-7500.

*Prescriptions will not be filled on the weekends