Honor The Recovery

When it comes to recovering from facial surgery, the most critical factor is time. Time is a valuable resource, and once lost, it cannot be regained. In today’s fast-paced world, where balancing work, home, and family is a daily challenge, it's natural for patients to be concerned about recovery time.

One of the most common obstacles to scheduling plastic surgery is finding enough time to properly recover. This is understandable—our busy lives often make it difficult to take enough time off from work for a full recovery. As a result, many patients may be tempted to rush the healing process.

However, if there’s one essential rule to remember about surgery, it’s this: “Honor the recovery.” Be patient. Those who respect this phase will find the overall process much smoother. Give yourself the time to heal and embrace a few days of rest without productivity. The benefits will be well worth it.

Setting Up Your Support System

You’re about to undergo plastic surgery—what an exciting milestone! While it’s natural to feel a bit nervous, establishing a strong support system can greatly ease the stress leading up to your procedure.

Maintaining a positive mindset and surrounding yourself with encouraging, supportive people can make a significant difference in your recovery process. To help reduce any pre-surgery anxiety, here are some helpful suggestions.

First and foremost, remember that we’re here for you. Anxiety often stems from fear of the unknown, so don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. We’re available by phone or email to provide guidance and support. No question is too small or unimportant—ask away, and we’ll be glad to assist you in any way we can.

Your Caregiver

Many patients are naturally independent and accustomed to being the ones who support others, not the ones receiving help. As you prepare for your surgery, asking for assistance may feel unfamiliar or even uncomfortable. However, don’t hesitate—it’s completely normal and necessary to ask for help. You may need someone to assist you directly or to take over responsibilities, such as caring for children or elderly parents.

If possible, choose a caregiver who is calm and positive. You know who they are—the people in your life who always bring you comfort and uplift your spirits. Their support can make a meaningful difference in your recovery journey.

Who Will Drive You Home?

You will need someone to pick you up from the surgery center, as this is a safety requirement and you cannot use a taxi or car service. The surgery center will only release you into the care of a responsible adult, such as a spouse, significant other, family member, or friend. Additionally, you may need someone to drive you to follow-up appointments, especially the first visit during the initial week. Remember, you cannot drive while taking pain medication.

If arranging transportation is difficult, please let us know. We can assist in finding a home health service to support you for the first few days or for as long as you need. Don't hesitate to reach out for help.

Preparing Your Recovery Space

Creating a recovery-friendly environment in your home is essential, and many of these tips come from past patients who found them helpful. You might not need everything right away, but when your caregiver isn’t around, you’ll appreciate having these preparations in place.

Set Up a Convenience Table: Place a small table next to your bed or recliner stocked with essentials like your iPad, phone charger, remote control, books, magazines, water, snacks, and any other items you’ll want within arm’s reach.
Pillows and Blankets: Keep plenty of pillows and throw blankets near your bed or recliner to stay comfortable and supported.
Important Contact Numbers: Ensure you have a list of key phone numbers readily available, including our office number (512-339-1661), your caregiver’s number, and the contact information of friends or family members who lift your spirits.
Recovery Clothing: Arrange easy-to-access clothing that’s suitable for recovery. Opt for button-down or front-zip shirts to avoid anything that has to be pulled over your head. Choose comfortable clothing, and don’t wear anything too nice, as ointments can stain fabric.
Prepared Meals and Snacks: You and your caregiver might not feel like cooking during the first few days post-surgery. Have pre-cooked or frozen meals ready to heat up, and stock up on snacks like protein bars, nuts, fruits, peanut butter, and protein shakes for quick nourishment.
Entertainment Ready: Gather your favorite magazines, books, and create a playlist or queue on streaming services like Netflix or Prime. Choose light, uplifting content to help keep your mood positive—it’s the perfect excuse for a binge-watching session.
Pet Considerations: Think about how to manage your pets post-surgery. While they may be loving companions, pets can jump up, sleep in your bed, and pose tripping hazards. Plan for someone to help with walking or letting them outside if needed. Ensure your pets don’t sleep in your bed for the first two weeks and have fresh sheets ready for when you return home.

Absolutely No Smoking

It’s well-known that smoking is harmful, but many don’t realize just how much nicotine use can negatively impact recovery after plastic surgery. This applies to all forms of nicotine.

Nicotine compromises blood circulation to the skin, which is crucial during the healing process. A strong blood supply ensures proper healing and minimizes scarring. Additionally, nicotine use increases the risk of complications when undergoing anesthesia.

To prepare for surgery, it is essential to stop using all nicotine products—including cigarettes, e-cigarettes (vaping), pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, nicotine gum, and patches—at least six weeks before your procedure. This abstinence is critical and cannot be overstated.

This step is extremely important for your recovery and final result.

We want to ensure that your healing process goes smoothly, so we urge you to take this seriously. From now on, you are a non-smoker and non-nicotine user!

Avoid Pregnancy Before Surgery

This might seem like common sense when planning surgery, but it’s worth emphasizing: make sure you are not pregnant. If you are a woman of childbearing age, it’s highly recommended to take a pregnancy test before your procedure.

Occasionally, patients have been surprised with an unexpected result (“Wait, I’m what?!?”), which can be quite a shock.

The key takeaway: if you’re sexually active and of childbearing age, be sure to use reliable birth control to avoid any surprises.

Two Weeks Before Surgery – Discontinue These Medications and Avoid Alcohol

It’s important to stop taking certain over-the-counter medications, multivitamins, and supplements at least two weeks before your surgery. Many of these can contain substances that thin the blood, leading to increased bleeding, swelling, or elevated blood pressure during and after the procedure.

If you experience pain or headaches, Tylenol is safe to use. Should you feel the need for anything beyond Tylenol before your surgery, please consult with us first.

Do not take the following:

Aspirin (if your doctor recommended it, please let us know)
Advil/Motrin/Ibuprofen/Aleeve
Vitamin E
Chromium
Garlic
Ginger
Ginkgo Biloba
Goldenseal
Flaxseed

Fish Oil
Echinacea
Licorice
Saw Palmetto
Ephedra
Ginseng
Feverfew
Kava-Kava
St. John's Wort
Valerian Root

Refrain from consuming alcohol for two weeks prior to surgery and for one week afterward. Alcohol can increase bleeding, swelling, and elevate blood pressure both before and after your procedure.

Discontinue the use of any Retin-A/Retinol products two weeks before surgery. We will inform you when it is safe to resume using them.

Ensure you pick up all your prescriptions a few days before surgery. These should have been sent to your pharmacy during your pre-operative appointment. Double-check each prescription to confirm you have no allergies and that you understand how and when to take them.

Refer to your ‘Shopping List’ and gather any additional items you’ll need while you’re at the pharmacy.

The Day Before Your Surgery

Confirm Arrival Time: Double-check your arrival time at the Ambulatory Surgery Center with your caregiver, ensuring they are aware of the schedule.

Know the Location: Make sure you have the correct address for the surgery center and have a good estimate of your travel time to avoid any last-minute stress.

Fasting Instructions: Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery. If you need to take any morning medications, do so with only a small sip of water.

Pack Essentials: Prepare your bag ahead of time, ensuring you have your driver’s license, insurance card (if applicable), and all your prescribed medications.

Showering Instructions – The Day Before Surgery: To minimize bacteria on the skin, take a thorough shower the day or evening before your procedure. Use soap to gently scrub your body and wash your hair with shampoo, paying special attention to your neck, behind the ears, underarms, feet, groin, and skin fold areas. Leave the soap on your skin for 1-2 minutes to kill bacteria effectively, then rinse well. Be cautious not to get soap in your eyes or mouth. For your face, use a gentle cleanser like Cetaphil instead of soap to avoid drying out your skin.

Avoid Skincare Products: After washing, do not apply any lotion, cream, powder, or perfume. Wear clean pajamas and fresh clothes on your way to the surgery center.

The Day Of Surgery

If you haven’t already showered and shampooed the evening before, you may do so on the morning of your surgery. If you showered the night before but wish to shower again, feel free to do so.

Personal Care Guidelines:

Do not wear any makeup (including eye shadow, foundation, mascara, or lipstick), hair products (sprays or gels), or dark nail polish. Acrylic nails can be left on.
Avoid wearing jewelry or bringing any valuables to the surgery center.
Do not wear contact lenses on the day of surgery.
If you use dentures, please keep them in.

Clothing Recommendations:

Wear comfortable underwear and choose loose-fitting clothes that do not need to be pulled over your head. Opt for a button-down shirt or clothing with a zipper for easy wear.

Bring all prescribed medications with you and review the labels in advance. Contact our office if you have any allergies and do not take any medication you are allergic to.

Transportation and Care:

Arrive at the Ambulatory Surgery Center at the scheduled time. Arrange for a caregiver to drive you to and from the surgery center and to stay with you for the first 24 hours post-surgery (it is required by law to have a responsible adult with you for 24 hours after anesthesia). You may not drive while taking pain medication and cannot use a taxi, ridesharing, or car service during this time.

The Emotional Rollercoaster

like a gentle ride or an intense roller-coaster, understanding that emotional ups and downs are common can make the experience easier for both you and your caregiver. Being aware of this in advance can help you both manage any unexpected emotional moments and, if they don’t happen, it’ll be a pleasant surprise.

Surgery can impact everyone’s emotions differently. It’s common to feel a mix of excitement and discomfort in the first couple of days. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, you might feel down or frustrated because recovery isn’t as smooth as you hoped. This emotional dip often occurs between days 2 and 5, but it can happen at any point. You may find yourself feeling sad, second-guessing your decision, or even regretting having the procedure. Even those who are usually steady and composed might feel teary or overwhelmed without any clear reason, which can lead to further frustration. This is entirely normal—allow yourself the space to experience these emotions.

Procedures that result in significant facial swelling and bruising can lead to an especially challenging emotional recovery. You might not feel your best and looking in the mirror may not offer much comfort initially. But don’t lose hope—swelling and bruising do subside, and you will return to feeling like yourself. Around days 5 to 10, most people start to notice improvement and see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Remember: These feelings are completely normal. Be kind to yourself and give yourself grace during this time.

How to Prepare for Surgery