Preparing For Your First Cosmetic Surgery – What to Expect
At your consultation, your surgeon should discuss your aesthetic goals and explore all available procedures. They’ll also want to gather more information about your medical history to ascertain whether the procedure you want is safe.
Be sure to disclose any prescription, OTC and herbal medications you are currently taking as these could affect the outcome.
What to Expect
Consultation visits offer surgeons an opportunity to get to know you, assess your aesthetic goals and decide whether any procedure will help meet them. At this visit, your surgeon will also conduct a medical screening exam to make sure it’s safe for you to undergo cosmetic surgery.
At this stage, it is essential that you provide accurate and honest answers about your health habits and lifestyle choices. By disclosing medications, recreational drugs, herbal supplements and vitamins you’re using, disclosing will enable your surgeon to ensure a faster healing timeframe while mitigating risks and avoiding complications.
Prior to your appointment, arrange for someone to drive and stay with you following your procedure. Noninvasive procedures may only need someone for transportation home; most surgical procedures will need at least overnight accommodations.
On the day of your procedure, take an antibacterial soap shower the evening before and morning of, as well as remove all jewelry such as piercings. In addition, do not wear nail polish or spray tan; leave all valuables at home.
Preparation
Your cosmetic consultation is an opportunity for you to become acquainted with the procedure you’re contemplating and ask any pertinent questions about it, including surgeon experience and pricing (does your insurance cover cosmetic surgery?). Don’t forget to inquire as to whether insurance covers cosmetic surgery as part of their coverage policy.
As part of your preparation for surgery, provide information regarding all medications you are currently taking as well as vitamins and herbal supplements that might reduce risks during and post surgery. Doing this may lower complications that could arise.
Get yourself ready for recovery and be prepared to take time off of work. Arrange for someone to help with housework, meals and transportation to follow-up appointments. If the procedure requires lying down afterward, prepare your home with pillows and blankets that provide maximum comfort, ice packs and medications. Keep an emergency and support contact list easily accessible as well as having a plan in place should a walker or lifting chair be required for getting around in your home.
Recovery
Once your procedure has concluded, you may be transferred to a recovery room to monitor your vital signs. At this point, it’s essential that you relax as much as possible and seek advice from the surgeon on how to best care for any wounds that have formed as part of their postoperative regimen.
Once surgery is complete, your surgeon will go over discharge instructions with you and you may leave once all conditions have been fulfilled. They may ask about medications you take and lifestyle habits like smoking or drinking alcohol as part of this discussion.
Make sure you bring any required prescriptions or documents with you. Also ensure someone will be available to drive you home after your procedure has taken place, and drink plenty of water and consume a balanced diet in order to promote healing.
Post-Operative Care
Your surgeon will provide post-operative instructions tailored to the particulars of your procedure, which may include instructions for caring for wounds, taking prescribed medicines and recovery times. Please disclose all medications and supplements you are currently taking so the physician can ascertain if any may increase bleeding or hinder healing.
Make sure that you set aside sufficient time off work and have someone available to stay with you after surgery for at least the initial few days post-procedure. Set up your home with necessary supplies, including comfy clothes and sleeping pillows; additionally, ask someone close by to prepare meals in advance so you can easily grab something when your appetite wanes.
Finally, avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption as this will impede the body’s natural healing process and contribute to an uneventful and successful surgery that reaches your desired results. It is normal for bruising and swelling to appear postoperatively but will subside over time.
