Here is a list of several important issues to be aware of and to do before your plastic surgery procedure.
Restrain from eating and drinking 8 hours prior to surgery
This is a rule of any surgery that, if misunderstood, may have life-threatening consequences. Food or liquids in the stomach may be vomited while being put to sleep, entering the lungs and causing a potential life-threatening pneumonia. For this reason, anesthesia is never performed without an empty stomach even if it is only a conscious sedation.
Unless you are having a procedure under local anesthetic injections, the use of IV medication for sedation or general anesthesia requires that someone be available to take you home after surgery. It is simply not safe for you to drive home after an anesthetic or most surgical procedures. Taking a taxi home is also not permitted.
Expectations
Studies and my experience have shown that informed patients feel less anxiety before and after surgery. Make sure you understand the procedure you are having, and don’t be afraid to ask questions such as: what type of anesthesia will be used? How long will the procedure take? What medications will I take? When can I start doing normal activities? When can I shower and apply makeup? There are no silly questions and it is in your best interest to have as much information as possible about your recovery.
Elective surgery should not be a mystery. The procedures you are having are commonly done and what will occur both during and after surgery can generally be predicted. Being fully informed should make you more comfortable about what you are to experience and what the outcome of surgery will be. Share this information with the person who will be taking care of you for the first few days after surgery. It can be very frightening for a spouse or your family to see bandages, bruising or swelling if they do not understand that this is normal after surgery. A good suggestion is to leave a copy of your Post-Op instructions out for your ‘nurse’ to read.
Post-surgical planning
Plan for the hours immediately after your surgery ahead of time: make trips to the pharmacy and grocery store; and arrange for child care. Plan your wardrobe for the day of surgery and a few days after. Loose-fitting clothing that can be unbuttoned or unzipped down the front is best. Designate an area in your home for yourself- such as a quiet bedroom or sofa away from busy family activities. Even if you are having a minor procedure, you will still need a minimum of 24 hours to fully 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, see if arrangements can be made for you to spend the night after surgery at the surgery center with nursing care for a fee. This option is routinuely available in my practice.
Rest and sleep, combined with a small meal and plenty of fluids are key to a quicker and more comfortable recovery. Hydration is much more important than ‘packing in the calories’.
Allow yourself adequate time for recovery. The biggest mistake most patients make after surgery is shortchanging time for recovery. The number one cause of postoperative pain and complications is ‘over-doing it’ on your arrival home. Plan to take it easy for a few days, and be patient.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana