PREPARING FOR PLASTIC SURGERY - BIRMINGHAM PLASTIC SURGEON
205-871-3361
How to Prepare for Plastic Surgery
Preparing for Plastic Surgery
Do not plan on doing anything taxing for a week because you may become tired.
You can count on some bruising, swelling, and being tired. You can count on some discomfort for the first couple of days, but if you don’t have that, what a nice surprise!
Make sure you have a positive companion taking care of you for the first few days following your surgery. Dr. Howard requires his patients to not be alone for the first 24 hours following your surgery. Make sure your caretaker is someone who will be supportive of your decision to have cosmetic surgery. The emotional stages patients experience following surgery affects the caretaker too.
Dr. Howard requires his patients stop smoking at least 2 weeks prior to facial surgery. Tobacco replacement products, including vaping, should be finish two weeks prior to your scheduled surgery date as well due to the nicotine in these products being equivalent to the nicotine in tobacco.
Dr. Howard recommends his patients consider a daily vitamin regimen prior to surgery. Do not take additional Vitamin E products other than the recommended daily allowance. Large doses of Vitamin E prior to surgical procedures has been proven to actually inhibit the body’s ability to heal.
In conjunction with daily vitamins, Dr. Howard strongly recommends the use of two herbal supplements that help reduce bruising and swelling: Bromelain and Arnica.
Do plan to have plenty of food that will be easy for you and your caretaker to prepare. Extra movies and books on tape have been very popular with previous patients.
Two weeks prior to your scheduled surgery date, you need to make sure you avoid medications that contain aspirin and/or ibuprofen. These types of medications thin the blood and increases your chance for bleeding, bruising, swelling, and anesthetic complications.
If you have any specific health concerns, you should consult with your family medical doctor before having any surgical procedure.
The following is a detailed listing of aspirin/ibuprofen containing medications to avoid prior to surgery:
4-Way Cold Tabs
4-Way w/ Codeine
5-Aminosalicylic Acid
A.C.A.
A-A Compound
Accutrim
Acetilsalicylic Acid
Actifed
Actron
Acular (ophthalmic)
Adapin
Adprin-B products
Advil Products
Aleve
Alka-Seltzer Products
All diet pills
Amigesic
Amitriptyline
Amoxapine
Anacin products
Anafranil
Anaprox Products
Anexsia
Anexsia w/ Codeine
Anisindione
Ansaid
Anturane
Argesic-SA
Arthriten Products
Arthritis BC Powder
Arthritis Bufferin
Arthritis Foundation Products
Arthritis-Pain Formula
Arthropan
Arthura-G
ASA
Asacol
Ascriptin Products
Aspergum
Asprimox Products
Aventyl
Axotal
Azdone
Azulfidine Products
B-A-C
Backache-Maximum Strength
Bayer Products
BC Powder
BC Tablets
Bismatrol Products
Buffered Aspirin
Bufferin Products
Buffetts 11
Buffex
Butal/ASA/CAFF
Butalbital Compound
Carisoprodol Compound
Cataflam
Cheracol
Childrens Advil
Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate
Choline Salicylate
Clinoril
Clinoril C
Contac
Cope
Coricidin
Cortisone Medications
Coumadin
Dalteparin Injection
Damason-P
Darvon Compound-65
Darvon/ASA
Daypro
Desipramine
Diclofenac
Dicumerol
Dimetapp Sinus
Dipentum
Dipyridamole
Disalcid
Doan’s Products
Dolobid
Doxepin
Doxycycline
Dristan
Dristan Sinus
Duragesic
Easprin
Ecotrin Products
Elavil
Emagrin
Empirin Products
Endep
Enoxaparin Injection
Equagesic
Etodolac
Etrafon Products
Excedrin Products
Feldene
Fenoprofen
Fiorgen PF
Fiorinal Products
Flagyl
Flurbiprofen IBU
Fragmin Injection
Furadantin
Garlic
Gelpirin
Genpril
Genprin
Gensan
Goody’s Powders
Halfprin Products
Heparin
Hydrocortisone
Ibuprin
Ibuprofen
Imipramine
Indochron E-R
Indocin Products
Indomethacin
Isollyl Ludiomil
Isollyl Products
Janimine
Kaodene
Ketoprofen
Ketorolac
Lanorinal
Limbitrol Products
Lodine
Lortab ASA
Lovenox Injection
Ludiomil
Macrodantin
Magan
Magnaprin Products
Magnesium Salicylate
Magsal
Maprotiline
Marnal
Marthritic
Meclofenamate
Meclomen
Mefenamic Acid
Menadol
Meprobamate
Mesalamine
Methocarbamol
Micrainin
Midol Products
Mobidin
Mobigesic
Momentum
Mono-Gesic
Motrin Products
Nabumetone
Nalfon Products
Naprelan
Naprosyn Products
Naprox X
Naproxen
Night Time Cold
Norgesic Products
Norpramin
Nortriptyline
Nortriptyline Protriptyline
Norwich Products
Nuprin
Ocufen (ophthalmic)
Olsalazine
Orphengesic Products
Orudis Products
Oruvail
Oxaprozin Profenal
Oxycodone
Pabalate Products
P-A-C
Pain Reliever Tabs
Pamelor
Panasal
Pentasa
Pepto-Bismol
Percodan Products
Pertofrance
Phenaphen/Codeine #3
Pink Bismuth
Piroxicam
Ponstel Rhinocaps
Propoxyphene Compound
Protriptyline
Relafen
Robaxisal
Rowasa
Roxeprin
Saleto Products
Salflex
Salicylate Products
Salsalate
Salsitab
Scot-Tussin 5-Action
Sine-Aid Products
Sine-off
Sinequan
Sinutab
Sodium Salicylate
Sodol Compound
Soma Compound
St. Joseph Aspirin
Sulfasalazine
Sulindac
Supac
Suprax
Suprofen
Surmotil
Synalgos-DC
Talwin
Tofranil
Tolectin Products
Toradol
Triaminicin
Triavil
Tricosal
Trilisate
Trimipramine
Trimipramine M
Tussanil DH
Tussirex Products
Ursinus-Inlay
Vanquish
Vivactil
Voltaren
Wesprin
Willow Bark Products
Zorprin
Am I healthy enough for plastic surgery?
If you are taking any medications listed above, they should be discontinued 2 weeks prior to surgery and only Tylenol should be taken for pain. All other medications that your are currently taking must be specifically cleared by your doctor prior to surgery. It is absolutely necessary that all of your current medications be specifically cleared by your doctor and the nursing staff.
Hospitals, outpatient surgical facilities and surgeons are all seeking to improve the surgical outcomes of the patients they treat especially those patients facing surgical procedures. Improving the surgical outcome is important for both surgeon and patient.
Taking steps during the pre-operative period prior to surgery can make a difference between a successful procedure and an unsuccessful outcome. Plastic and Reconstructive surgery depends on patient compliance before and after the surgical procedure. By reducing their risks of complications, patients should follow physician instructions before and after their surgical procedure. Some very important steps occur prior to surgery such as:
Stop smoking and/or vaping at least two weeks prior to your surgical procedure. This includes the cessation of any nicotine products such as nicotine gum, nicotine patches, and vaping. Nicotine can impair the patient’s ability to withstand anesthesia and also directly affects the wound healing process. As bad as smoking has been proven to be with wound healing, vaping is proving to be far worse. Nicotine use and vaping significantly effects wound healing of breast and facial surgery. Even if you think you healed fine for previous surgery such as orthopedic procedures, your ability to heal from breast and facial procedures will be significantly compromised if you smoke, vape, or use any nicotine product.
Maintain a healthy weight within your BMI rage and limit consumption of sugar in the diet. Elevated blood sugar can increase risk of surgical site infections and delay wound healing in diabetics and pre-diabetic patients.
Unless otherwise instructed, stop taking any aspirin or similar products two weeks prior to your procedure to reduce bleeding risks. This includes BC Powders, Advil, Aleve, etc. Abrupt withdrawal of some medications can lead to post-surgical complications. Continued use of other medications such as blood thinners can raise bleeding risks. Discuss with your doctor any history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or clotting issues.
Refrain from consuming alcohol for two weeks prior. The period you may consume alcohol products post-operatively will depend on your healing progress and will be directed by your surgeon. You should make plans not to consume alcohol post-operatively for at least two weeks.
Maintain a healthy fitness program prior to your scheduled procedure. The surgeon will instruct you when you may resume activities post-operative. Dr. Paul Howard abides by a thorough policy to determine the current medical status of his plastic surgery patients. Patients need to meet particular medical criteria to determine if they are healthy enough for elective surgery. In addition, Dr. Howard must feel comfortable performing elective surgery and feel confident with the doctor/patient relationship. Risks of complications must be within reason to justify an elective procedure.
Since post-operative complications can occur, Dr. Howard will need to see the patient should a complication come into question. Please contact Dr. Howard’s office for instructions should you believe you are experiencing a post-operative complication. Expect Dr. Howard to request you report to his office so he may evaluate your condition. For your convenience, an afterhours answering service phone number is available on Dr. Howard’s voicemail message system by calling our office at 205-871-3361. Maintaining patient compliance by following Dr. Howard’s post-operative instructions and keeping your appointments are important to your surgical outcome.
Prescription narcotics policy
As of 2014, federal law requires all narcotic prescriptions be presented in written form. Refills of narcotic prescriptions require a new written prescription. Narcotic pain medications are no longer allowed to be “called-in.” Narcotics will only be prescribed between one to two weeks after your procedure. There are, of course, occasional exceptions to the rule. We will need to see you to re-evaluate your condition prior to renewing your prescription.
If you are currently taking or have been recently prescribed narcotic prescriptions, you will need to discuss your elective surgery plans with that physician so a sufficient post-surgical pain management treatment plan can be arranged between that physician and Dr. Howard. If you are under the supervision of a pain management physician, we expect you to disclose this information at your initial visit. Failure to do so will jeopardize your relationship with Dr. Howard and could violate your relationship with your pain management physician.