Plastic Surgery Preparation – What Not to Do Before a Procedure

Plastic surgery has been a popular option for patients for many years and the demand for cosmetic procedures does not look to be slowing down in the near future. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were around 15.6-million cosmetic procedures performed in the United States in 2020. While plastic surgery is certainly popular, it is important for patients to follow the recommendations provided by their surgeon when it comes to preparing to have a procedure. Let’s take a look at what not to do when preparing to have plastic surgery procedures such as breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, or a tummy tuck.

Plastic Surgery – How Not to Prepare for a Treatment

It is important for patients to stop smoking before they have any type of plastic surgery. The act of smoking can have a negative impact on the ability of the body to recover after a surgical procedure. Cigarettes contain nicotine and carbon monoxide and both of them can lessen the amount of oxygen circulation in the body. In turn, this can compromise the amount of air flow to the lungs and can result in post-op complications with the lungs. The chemicals in cigarettes can also negatively impact the immune system of the patient.

Anyone who consumes high levels of caffeine needs to stop their regular amount of caffeine consumption before having plastic surgery. This is necessary so the person will not go through any type of withdrawal during the procedure. Depending on the amount of caffeine that a person consumes on a regular basis, the patient will either need to reduce their amount of caffeine or completely avoid consuming caffeine as a whole. In addition, there is some research that suggests caffeine might be able to slow down the rate of wound healing after a surgical procedure. Plus, an excessive amount of caffeine consumption can also give a person an elevated heart rate on the day of the surgery.

Patients should also stop excessively drinking alcohol on a regular basis. A person who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal during surgery might suffer from tremors and seizures due to the strain on the central nervous system. The regular use of alcohol can also result in issues with the heart or even an extended stay in the hospital due to strain on the body.

The need to remain healthy leading up to the surgery includes the eating of nutritious meals. The doctor will provide instructions and suggestions of how to eat leading up to the procedure. For example, surgeons will usually recommend avoiding excessive amounts of salt and sugar leading up to the procedure. Plus, patients need to avoid eating food that is lacking in nutrition such as candy and potato chips. Instead, patients need to eat healthy meals that include fish, chicken, and greens.

Surgeons often advise patients against taking NSAIDs or anti-inflammatory medications at least a week (or more) before having plastic surgery. Aspirin can cause an excessive amount of bleeding during surgery as well as after a surgical procedure. Before a surgical procedure, the doctor will review the medications the patient takes on a regular basis to increase their safety and to create a plan for a smooth surgery and recovery period.

Exercising on a regular basis is a great way to remain healthy and in good shape. While many patients think they need to rest before their surgery, it is actually important to increase their level of activity leading up to the procedure. The performance of daily exercise in the weeks before surgery can lead to a quicker recovery period. It is also important to keep moving after surgery as a lack of movement can increase the risk of the formation of blood clots. It is also vital to maintain a stable weight as massive fluctuations in weight can have a negative impact on the overall health of a person.

Makeup and nail polish should not be worn to a plastic surgery procedure, The removal of nail polish is necessary so doctors and nurses can easily check the blood circulation of a person by taking a look at the nails. Acrylic nails also need to be removed so a pulse oximeter can be attached to the fingers in order to monitor the oxygen levels of the person during the surgery as well as during the recovery period. Makeup also needs to be removed before surgery because these materials can be toxic or flammable. Makeup also causes discoloration of the skin during surgery, and this includes pigmentation issues. Plus, wearing makeup during surgery could cause the skin to become irritated.

Anyone who is interested in having plastic surgery needs to schedule a consultation appointment with their surgeon of choice. The doctor will examine the patient to make sure the person is healthy enough to have the desired procedure and also create a treatment plan so the person can properly prepare to have the surgery.

- MA