How to Prepare for Plastic Surgery
A plastic surgery procedure – whether it is cosmetic or not – is usually an extensive surgery. Yes, something like a Botox injection can take up to 10 minutes only. However, most surgeries are very serious and require a fair amount of preparation, and sometimes as far as a few weeks in advance. Although the preparation required is very easy and simple, it is essential. Without the proper preparation, complications could arise during your surgery, or your surgery will just not be able to be performed.
Weeks in Advance
Because it is often an extensive surgery, the preparation done around 28 days before should include a physical exam. After that, a physical report from the exam should be sent to the surgery office, advisably 10 days before your scheduled surgery. You need to be healthy before your exam in order to pass and qualify for your surgery. Unfortunately, if you are sick on the day of your surgery you may be sent home and the surgery will have to be rescheduled.
Two weeks before the surgery, to avoid excessive bleeding during the operation, any medicine containing aspirin will have to be avoided. Aspirin, as well as any herbal supplements and other medications should be removed from the patient’s diet and avoided completely. If you are on any specific herbal supplements, approach your Toronto plastic surgeon and ask him whether or not they will affect the planned surgery. Vitamin E in large doses should also be avoided.
Important Things to Note
The Nicotine found in cigarettes can be exceptionally dangerous if it is in the patient’s system during the time of the surgery. Nicotine could cause a loss of skin around the incision, and could also be the cause of serious scaring – by impairing the body’s ability to heal itself. Three weeks prior to the surgery and at least ten days after the surgery smoking should be discontinued.
Because many surgeries are extensive and require some serious planning, many people experience a reasonable amount of anxiety before the operation. If this happens, the surgeon or the surgeon’s office should be contacted. Any questions can be asked and answers will be given – getting answers will, more often than not, calm the nerves. If anxiety persists, the doctor can prescribe a sedative. It will have full effect if it is taken on the night before the big day.
Just like any other surgery, food and liquids cannot be ingested on the day and strenuous activity should be avoided after. Plenty of rest will be needed for recovery and the doctor’s instructions should be adhered to at all times. Make sure to always listen to your surgeon – they are on your side!