How Should I Prepare for My Surgery?
Leading up to your surgery, you'll need to take certain steps to ensure that your body will be able to heal as efficiently as possible after your procedure. It is very important that you stop smoking, as it reduces circulation and impedes the healing process. Additionally, you'll want to stop using ibuprofen, aspirin, and any medications that include these drugs, as they can cause bleeding problems both during and after surgery.
Make sure you have all of your prescriptions filled before your surgery. You will need this immediately after your procedure, and you need to have them prepared so that you can bring them for your procedure. Additionally, we encourage patients to take daily multivitamins starting two weeks prior to their surgery. Multivitamins, and especially Vitamin C, can help the body heal to its best ability.
On the day before your surgery, we'll give you a call to confirm your appointment time. Again, make sure you have your prescriptions filled in preparation for your appointment. At night, shower using an antibacterial soap to cleanse the treatment areas. Make sure you don't eat or drink anything—including water—after midnight.
What Happens on the Day of My Surgery?
When you wake up in the morning, you have to avoid eating and drinking anything so that you have an empty stomach for your procedure. When you brush your teeth, be sure not to swallow any water. However, if you take a daily medication, you can have a small amount of water with it. You can shower the morning of your procedure, and we encourage patients to use Dial soap to wash the treatment areas in preparation. Don't wear any makeup, jewelry, hair ties, or other accessories to your appointment. You should wear only loose, comfortable clothing.
Plan to arrive at the office two hours before your scheduled surgery time. Patients under the age of 18 need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Don't forget your prescribed medications!
What Happens When I Arrive for My Appointment?
It is common that patients feel anxious or nervous when they show up for their surgery. We like to remind patients that our team includes experienced plastic surgeons, a board-certified anesthesiologist, a registered nurse, and an operating room technician who perform surgery on a daily basis. You will be given exceptional care, and our state-of-the-art surgical suite ensures your optimal safety and comfort.
When you arrive, you will be taken to your surgery suite. Here, you will change into a surgical gown in preparation for your procedure. Then, you will meet with your surgeon and anesthesiologist for final preparations. If you have any last-minute questions, don't be afraid to ask! We will also take this time to perform other basic preparations, such as marking the skin for surgery.
Once you enter the operating room, you'll be situated on the operating table. Once you are comfortable, we will insert an IV into the arm to begin delivering anesthesia. We will use monitoring devices in order to ensure your safety throughout the procedure. As the anesthesia begins to take effect, you'll begin to feel drowsy. Just take some deep breaths, relax, and you will drift into a deep sleep for the surgery.
What Happens Immediately After Surgery?
Once the surgery is completed, you'll be taken to our recovery room. Here, we will continue to monitor you for a few hours. During this time, one of our registered nurses will stay with you to take care of whatever you might need. Your stay in our recovery room may last anywhere from one to four hours. You will be able to leave as soon as you are ready. You will be fully awake within an hour of the procedure, although some of the effects of sedation may still linger. For this reason, you will need a friend or family member to take you home and stay with you for the first night of recovery.
If you have any additional questions regarding pre- and post-surgery instructions, please contact us today. Gallaher Plastic Surgery & Spa MD offers a variety of plastic surgery procedures to the residents of Powell, Maryville, Knoxville, and the nearby cities of East Tennessee.