Pre-Operative Information

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Advanced Cosmetic Surgery of New York Pre-Operative Information

The following instructions should be followed except when one of our surgeons instructs otherwise:

TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO SURGERY

• Starting two weeks before surgery, we recommend taking a high-quality multivitamin one time each day to help prepare your body for surgery. We ask that you continue taking your multivitamin for at least one month after surgery as well. The more nutrients your body has, the healthier you will be, and your healing process will be faster.
• Do not take any ASPIRIN or medication that contains aspirin (salicylic acid) since it impedes the body’s ability for normal blood clotting.
• The following are some medications that contain aspirin and should NOT be taken: Alka-Seltzer, Excedrin or Excedrin Migraine, Darvon, Dristan, Aspirin Ascription, Emprin, and Percodan.
• Do not take any IBUPROFEN containing medications, either prescription or over-the-counter because ibuprofen impedes blood clotting.
• Here are just a few of the medications that contain ibuprofen and should be avoided: Midol, Motrin, and Advil.
• Do not take any ALEVE or medications containing naproxen or naproxen sodium as it also interferes with the blood’s ability to clot. These are a list of medications that have naproxen and should not be taken: Aleve, Naproxen and Naprosyn.
• DISCONTINUE ALL HERBAL MEDICATIONS because many of these “natural” substances can have serious side effects and could complicate your surgical procedure by: interfering with blood clotting, adversely affecting your blood pressure, or could interfere with anesthetics used during your procedure. The following herbal medications should be discontinued at least two weeks prior to surgery: Ginko Biloba, Garlic, and Ginger.
• Please STOP ALL DIET PILLS regardless if they are prescription, over-the-counter or herbal because many will adversely affect anesthesia and can even cause blood clotting, heart rate, respiratory, or blood pressure concerns.
• DO NOT TAKE “MEGADOSES” OF VITAMIN E. Instead, see above; take a multivitamin once per day that contains vitamin E in reasonable doses.
• NO SMOKING; nicotine reduces the flow of blood to the skin and can cause substantial complications during the healing process.
• Tylenol or acetaminophen (the generic form of this drug) is safe for pain relief after surgery. These do not interfere with blood clotting or healing.
• Other medications to stop taking TWO WEEKS prior to your surgery include:

1. SSRI’s:

• Prozac
• Luvox
• Paxil
• Celexa
• Zoloft
• Lexapro

2. TCA’s:

• Amitriptyline
• Nortriptyline

3. Others:

• Wellbutrin
• Effexor
• Cymbalta

• Be sure to tell us about all medications you are taking (over-the-counter, prescription, or herbal supplements). Contact our office if you have any questions about which substances are safe.

ONE WEEK PRIOR TO SURGERY

• DO NOT drink alcohol or take any medications for one week before surgery and one week afterward as these can affect the blood’s ability to clot as well as interfere with anesthesia.
• Use an anti-bacterial body soap or body wash such as Dial, Safeguard, or Lever 2000 for at least 7 days prior to surgery.
• Report any symptoms of a cold, infection of any kind, boils, or pustules (whitehead-like pus-filled sores) before surgery. Your procedure may need to be delayed until you are healthy enough for surgery.
• DO NOT take any cold medications or cough syrup without permission from us.
• Arrange for an adult to transport you to and from our surgical center on the day of your procedure; you will not be allowed to drive yourself home afterward. We can also arrange for pick up and drop off transportation if you need.
• Arrange for a responsible adult to care for you for the first FULL DAY AND NIGHT after your procedure, since you CANNOT be left alone.

NIGHT BEFORE SURGERY & MORNING OF SURGERY

• If you are undergoing local anesthetic, you may eat a light breakfast or a small lunch up to three hours prior to your procedure. General anesthesia: no food or drinks after midnight the night before.
• If you take medicine for a specific medical condition, please clear these with us and find out the optimal time to take medications or if you should skip them.
• Wash your body thoroughly with anti-bacterial body soap the night before and the morning of your surgery. Shampoo your hair the morning of surgery. This decreases the number of bacteria on your skin and decreases the risk of infections post-surgery.
• DO NOT apply any of the following products to your skin, face, or on your hair the morning of surgery: make-up, cream/lotion, hair styling products of any kind, body spray, perfume, powder, or deodorant (including anti-perspirant). Using these products will actually add bacteria to your skin and will increase the risk of getting an infection.
• REMOVE your contact lenses. If you wear glasses, bring your eyeglass case.
• Wear loose, comfortable-fitting clothes that do not have to be put on over your head (no tee-shirts or pullover sweaters). The best clothing to wear are button-up tops and elastic-waisted pull-on pants. You will also want to bring easy flat house slippers or shoes with you; no laces.
• DO NOT bring valuables or wear jewelry into the surgery room (rings, earrings, necklaces, toe rings, other metal piercings or wrist watches). We will tape your wedding ring, if worn.
• We will provide you with free transportation to and from surgery if you need. We will not allow a cab or bus driver to take you home after your procedure.
• If you are staying somewhere other than your home after surgery, it is imperative that we have the telephone number where you will be staying during recovery.

**REMEMBER TO TAKE ALL MEDICATIONS AS PRESCRIBED BY DR. ASARE OR DR. DIKTABAN**

 

1. Arnika Forte – one capsule 2x per day for 5 days beginning on the day of surgery.

2. Keflex (antibiotics) – 500mg 2x per day for 5 days beginning on the day before surgery.

3. You will be provided with pain medicine upon arrival at the surgery center on the day of your surgery.

 

INSTRUCTIONS PRIOR TO SURGERY

We are committed to providing you with superior surgical care. You can help us by minimizing the risk of complications by adhering to all of our preoperative and postoperative instructions.

Please ask us to clarify any item you may have questions or doubts about.

1. YOU MAY NOT DRIVE HOME Your will need to have someone drive you home from the surgical center after your procedure.
2. CHANGING YOUR DRESSING the morning after your procedure is much easier if someone is there to assist you.
3. WEAR LOOSE CLOTHING If you have had liposuction performed, there will be a lot of draining of slightly blood-tinged anesthetic solution in the first days after your procedure. Since this drainage might stain your clothing, we suggest that you choose clothing keeping this in mind. Depending upon the procedure, you may also be wearing elastic support garments on top of some absorbent gauze padding; your clothing needs to be loose and comfortable. For breast surgery and tummy tuck patients, wearing button-up shirts is recommended.
4. MEN: Wear Speedo-type underwear because it is the easiest type of undergarment to wear into the surgery room. Jockey-type underpants are also OK. Boxer shorts are not recommended because they actually may prevent optimal results; please do not wear them.
5. DO NOT WEAR jewelry, body fragrance of any kind, deodorant/antiperspirant, or body lotion.
6. DO NOT USE SOAP WITH MOISTURIZERS the day of your procedure. The ink markers we use to outline the areas on your body that will be targeted will rub off very easily if you have used a moisturizer.
7. FOR LIPOSUCTION AND GYNECOMASTIA PATIENTS: Use towels and plastic sheets. Avoid staining your car seat with blood-tinged anesthetic solution by bringing a towel and plastic sheet (a trash can liner works well) to protect the car seat on your way home. BEFORE SURGERY, pad your mattress at home and cover your living room sofa or recliner chair with towels and plastic sheeting. Be careful to avoid drainage to spill and stain the carpets.
8. DO NOT UNDERGO DRAMATIC WEIGHT LOSS OR FASTING: Just before your surgery, all patients should have a healthy, balanced diet. Liquid fasts, dramatically low-calorie diets, and extreme weight loss diets may make you more susceptible to heart rate irregularities, complications during or after surgery as well as poor healing of your incisions and surgical sites.