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Certain steps can be taken in preparing for surgery in order
to maximise the chances of everything going well during your operation.
At the first appointment, the surgeon will usually inquire about your general health. Any areas of concern will need to be investigated before you are admitted to hospital, for example, cardiac problems, asthma, previous illnesses or operations, allergies or any drugs or medications you are using.
Blood tests will be arranged to eliminate any significant medical conditions which could cause complications during the operation.
It is unlikely that a blood transfusion will be required in cosmetic surgical procedures.
Smoking may adversely affect the results of surgery and may lead to post-operative chest or blood clotting complications. If you are a smoker it is wise to stop for two or three weeks before your operation.
You may need to discontinue oral contraceptive pills if you are having a long operation. This is because they can lead to clotting in the veins of your legs, especially if you smoke. Ask your surgeon about this.
It is important not to take any aspirin or any aspirin-containing pain relievers or headache tablets for 14 days before surgery because they may cause excessive bleeding. Even one tablet in the 10 days preceding surgery can lead to complications. Paracetamol (Panadol or Panadeine) and codeine do not have this effect and can be taken without any risk. Do not take any tablets such as Brufen, Voltaren or Tilcotil, commonly called NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents), which may have been prescribed for rheumatism or arthritis as they may also cause bleeding problems.
Check with your surgeon if you have any concerns about regular medication you are taking for other disorders. In most cases you will be advised to keep taking them. It is advisable not to take any tablets, capsules or any other type of medicine or treatment, whether or not it is prescribed by another doctor, obtained from a pharmacy or even from the supermarket or health food shop unless you have discussed this with your surgeon.
When you go home you will need to rest the treated part as much as possible. For example, if you have an operation on your face or head, you should keep your head up whenever possible to minimise any bleeding, bruising and swelling. It is important to keep all dressings dry unless you are told they are waterproof.
If you have had a long operation it may take several weeks to recover fully from the effects of the surgery and anaesthetic. Remember to find out when the surgeon wants to see you again after surgery to change dressings or to remove stitches. It is important to keep these appointments because if stitches are left in for too long, they may cause unnecessary scarring.
It is imperative that you follow your surgeon's instructions about caring for your wound after surgery, as this phase is as important as the operation itself.
Sometimes your surgeon may feel the procedure has been a success, but you may not feel so confident about the new you. It can take some weeks to accept any physical change. Allow time for this mental readjustment.
For example, people often feel initial disappointment with nose surgery. Once the plaster is removed, most people expect to look stunning. But swelling and bruising may distort your appearance for up to three weeks. Younger people appear to adjust more readily to physical change because their body image is not as fixed as with older people.
Sometimes patients become depressed before cosmetic surgery. It is not uncommon, also, for women to feel quite depressed for several weeks after facelift surgery. As her new appearance becomes evident, the depression lifts and a sense of well-being returns.
Surgery which restores physical appearance, for instance, facelift and abdominoplasty procedures, are easier to cope with psychologically. Surgery which alters physical appearance, for example, rhinoplasty, may be much more difficult to cope with after the operation until the new appearance is incorporated in the body image.
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