Before and After Procedure Care
General Instructions to Follow Before and After Any Plastic Surgical Procedure
A successful procedure involves a partnership between you and Dr. Laverson. Following these instructions is essential to a safe experience and a good outcome. If you have questions about these instructions or are unable to comply, notify Dr. Laverson.
Three or more weeks before surgery: Proper skin care (hygiene, sun protection, control acne), good nutrition, regular exercise, and STOP SMOKING COMPLETELY. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption. Call Dr. Laverson’s office if unexected illness develops. Be sure underlying medical issues are under control, such as blood pressure, medication levels, etc, and that required medical clearance and/or required laboratory studies have been checked. If you use insulin, be sure the dose for day of surgery has been planned. Schedule time off of work for recovery, and help at home if needed. Be certain a responsible adult is confirmed to drive you to and from surgery, and to stay with you around the clock for at least 24 hours after your procedure.
Two to three weeks before surgery: Prepare and plan your schedule for the day before, the day of, and the first few days after your procedure. If you are having a facial procedure, schedule hair coloring/perm because this is not recommended for 4 – 6 weeks following surgery. Fill your prescriptions for pain medicine, sleeping medicine, anti-anxiety medicine, anti-nausea medicine, GI supplements, and anti-viral medicine or antibiotics if needed. Schedule your pre-surgical visit at the surgery center (North Coast Surgery Center, 760-940-0997, 3903 Waring Road, Oceanside, CA 92056 www.northcoastsurgerycenter.com, or Center for Surgery Encinitas, 760-942-8800, www.surgery477.com, 477 North El Camino Real, Suite 100, Encinitas, CA 92024). STOP taking any and all medications that can increase your chance of bleeding or delay healing. Medicines to completely avoid include, but are not limited to: ASPIRIN, IBUPROFEN, MEDICATIONS CONTAINING ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID, VITAMIN E, ST. JOHN’S WORT, GARLIC, GREEN TEA, ESTROGEN, CORTICOSTEROIDS, CHEMOTHERAPY, and others. If you regularly take these medications and/or other supplements, please inform Dr. Laverson in advance so appropriate management can be arranged.
One week before surgery: Confirm day of surgery plans, review prescription orders and instructions, and shop for necessary items. This may include surgical preparation solution (povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine gluconate with alcohol), cool compresses, gauze, ointment, extra pillows, waterproof underpads, and/or other items. Call the office at 760-753-6464 if questions arise about what you will need. Locate the most comfortable areas for you to gently recline during recovery. Arrange magazines, books, and/or other diversions during the early period of healing. RELAX.
One day before surgery: Pack your bag for the day of surgery. This should include any necessary paperwork, personal identification, all prescription medications, and warm cotton socks. If you are having facial surgery, bring large framed dark tinted sunglasses and a wide brimmed hat or light scarf. Confirm your route to and from surgery with the responsible adult who will drive you. Confirm plans with your 24-hour support person. Have Dr. Laverson’s contact number(s) available at your bedside, 760-753-6464 or 760-729-8016. Anesthesia may call to review your state of health. Shower as directed with anti-bacterial soap and/or surgical prep solution. Do not use hair gel or styling products or cosmetics. Remove finger nail and toe nail polish. Do not eat or drink anything after 12 midnight the night before your procedure, with the possible exception of your usual morning medication with a small sip of water. RELAX. If you need medication to help control stress or help you get a good night’s sleep, call Dr. Laverson’s office 760-753-6464 or 760-729-8016.
Day of surgery: NOTHING by mouth. Dress appropriately in comfortable, loose fitting clothing. A top that zips or buttons up the front, sweatpants or loose shorts, cotton socks, and slip on shoes are best. Do not wear cosmetics, jewelry, contact lenses, hair clips, or body piercing jewelry. If there is something you cannot remove, let the admitting nurse know right away.
Please read and understand the above instructions. Following these instructions is your responsibility. It is also your responsibility to ask Dr. Laverson and/or his staff questions related to these instructions, or about your health, healing, and/or your procedure.
Laser Skin Resurfacing and Deep Chemical Peels
Preparation Before: Consider topical tretinoin with hydroquinone (GOLD formula) before for 4-8 weeks (optional). Schedule when you can take at least one week off of work and social events. If you have had cold sores in the past, be sure the doctor prescribes Valcyclovir or another anti-viral medication for you to take two days before and for several days following the procedure to prevent cold sores from recurring. Have Vaseline®, Aquaphor®, or other recommended topical application ready at home before your procedure. Also consider asking for a medication to help you sleep and/or relax for those several difficult days immediately after the procedure.
Care after treatment: Healing is gradual, your face is an open wound that will heal, but needs gentle care. Moisture is important, and an emollient such as Aquaphor® or Vaseline® several times daily helps maintain a moist environment for skin cells to proliferate, migrate, and resurface your face. Shower the face, daily, but avoid a strong stream of water directly on the face. Soft irrigation of the face is best. Elevate your face on several pillows at night to minimize swelling. Medication to help you relax and/or sleep may be helpful to avoid touching the face. Cool compresses (bag of frozen peas or corn) may help. Avoid direct sun exposure. Find pursuits (movies, books, paperwork, creative projects) to keep your mind off of your face during the few days immediately following your procedure. Rest as needed, allowing your body to allocate available energy to healing. Call Dr. Laverson if questions 760-753-6464.
Eyelid procedure(s) (Blepharoplasty)
Plan for someone else to drive you home from Dr. Laverson’s office , and at least several days (five or more) off work following your procedure. You may not be able to drive for several days following the procedure. Blurry vision and difficulty closing and/or opening the eyelids is common. Have shaded glasses to protect and conceal the eyes for two to three weeks. Eyelid skin is the thinnest in the body, very delicate, and prone to swelling. Additionally, there are glands, muscles, and nerves in the eyelids. All of these structures are temporarily disrupted by cosmetic surgery of the eyelids. Dry eye is common after eyelid surgery. Eyedrops and ophthalmic ointment can help maintain necessary moisture of cornea and conjunctiva, delicate membranes that cover the eyeball. Dr. Laverson supplies these products for you to use as needed following your procedure. Application of cool compresses may offer relief, as well as analgesics (medication for pain) that Dr. Laverson will prescribe. Pick this medication up at the pharmacy, and have it available at home following the procedure. Upper eyelids heal faster than lower eyelids. If you have only the upper eyelids done, recovery is brief and uncomplicated. Lower eyelid surgery, in Dr. Laverson’s hands, rejuvenate the entire middle portion of the face. The results are generally much more dramatic, but recovery is commensurately longer. Questions or problems should be referred directly to Dr. Laverson at 760-753-6464
Nose (rhinoplasty)
No special preparation. Be prepared to breathe through your mouth for one week following the procedure. External and internal splints are removed six to nine days after surgery. Your appearance and nasal breathing improve rapidly after this. For the first one to three days after your nose surgery, a moustache dressing to absorb nasal drainage may be required. Avoid bending down, nose blowing, or sneezing. Take medication for pain as needed. Sleep on several pillows; Head elevation controls swelling. Do NOT remove your splints, and do NOT use nose drops. Neosporin, Bacitracin, or Polysporin ointment can be applied once or twice daily to sutures near your nostrils. Swelling diminishes rapidly during the first two weeks, then more slowly for many months.
Lips
There is no special preparation required for these procedures. Operations to enhance shape of the lips may involve sutures on the inside or outside of the lips. Bacitracin, Polysporin, or Neosporin ointment should be applied daily or twice daily to skin sutures. Chlorhexidine gluconate 0.12% or another oral antiseptic rinse should be swished inside the mouth between teeth and lips three to four times daily to cleanse sutures on the inside of the lips. If sutures are inside the lips, stay on a liquid or soft foods only diet for one week after your procedure. Lip swelling for two to four weeks can be expected. After this, your appearance improves, and scars generally fade to imperceptibility.
Facelift/Necklift
Prepare for several days of inactivity at home immediately following your procedure. Consider covering mirrors, because you will look worse before looking better. Color hair before, because the use of strong colorants is not advised for several weeks after. You will need to sleep with head elevated to minimize post-procedure swelling. Bulb reservoirs should be emptied twice daily, the volume of drainage recorded, and suction restored. These drains typically are removed 3-6 days after necklift. If laser skin treatment and/or eyelids are done as part of the procedure, the above recommendations for those procedures apply. Your neck will be stiff, and driving is not recommended for at least one week, usually longer before you can see well enough and move your neck to look in different directions. The misery lasts for about one week; By then, most see almost daily improvement as swelling resolves, and the beautiful result becomes apparent. The best approach is slow, cautious resumption of activity as able.
Breast Augmentation
Any lump or mass in the breast must be examined (by mammography and your physician) before getting implants. Augmentation is generally not advised until at least several months after breast feeding/breast milk is finished, and breasts have been stable in size for two months. Shower with povidone-iodine or another surgical skin disinfectant the evening before or morning of your procedure. The point is not to scrub skin of the breasts, but SOAK the breasts including area around the nipples and beneath the breasts, under your arms, and all of the skin on your chest from the neck down to and including belly button. Have analgesics (pain medicine) at home before the procedure, because you will need it immediately after. Dr. Laverson will apply a bra at the completion of your procedure. Adjust it for comfort, but wear until at least your first post-surgical appointment. Expect swelling around the implants, most significantly for two weeks following implant placement, then gradually resolving for several months. Report any significant size and/or pain difference between right and left sides to Dr. Laverson immediately.