Cosmetic Post-op
General Post-Surgery Instructions
An adult should stay with you for a least the first 24 hours after surgery. You should rest with your head elevated on at least 2 pillows for the first 24 hours after surgery. You should restrict your activity for at least a week after surgery. Avoid bending at the waist or picking up heavy objects. Typically, you can return to work 2 weeks after the surgery. You may have wear camouflage make-up.
It is not unusual for you to have a sore throat for 24-48 hours after surgery. You pain medication should help with this discomfort. Throat lozenges may help.
Do not drink alcoholic beverages, smoke, drive a car, or sign legal documents for 24 hours after surgery.
It is best to take your pain medication before pain is experienced. It is easier to prevent pain than control it. If the pain medication causes nausea, take a few teaspoonfuls of vanilla ice cream, then take you pain medication with a full glass of water, then ea half a cup of vanilla ice cream.
Mild bleeding from the surgical site is not unusual. Mild pressure will control the bleeding. If bleeding persists or is heavy, contact us immediately.
Cold tends to prevent swelling. We recommend cold packs immediately after surgery and the day following the surgery. This is especially important after eyelid or browlift surgery. After 48 hours after surgery, warm (not hot) packs may be beneficial. Avoid excess heat on skin that has reduced sensation following the surgery. Cold or heat over dressings will not be helpful.
Swelling and bruising is a normal sequel to surgery and should be expected. Resolution of swelling and bruising takes time and may not be complete for several weeks to a few months depending on the type of surgery and the individual patient. Bruising can be covered up with camouflage make-up.
Incisions
Exposed sutured or stapled skin incisions should be washed with soap and water three times per day. After drying, the incisions should be cleaned with 3% Hydrogen Peroxide and a Q-tip. The incisions should then be constantly covered with the antibiotic ointment dispensed to you. Incisions should not be allowed to become dry or crust over.
Some sutures may be self-absorbing and will disappear after a few days if kept moist with ointment. Other sutures must be removed. We typically remove these 3-5 days after the surgery.
Care of staples is the same as for sutures. Staples are painlessly removed 8-12 days after the surgery.
Beginning 6 weeks after the surgery, application and gentle massage with ointment or Mederma may promote a softer, less conspicuous scar.
Incisions normally will be red for several months but will gradually fade. Incisions can be covered with make-up 10 days after surgery.
Incisions should not be exposed to direct light for 6 months after surgery.
Dressings
Different surgical procedures require special dressings, while some require none. Do not remove dressings unless specifically instructed to do so. Some dressings are removed the day following surgery and some remain in place for a significant period of time.
Diet
Start with clear liquids, then advance to soup and crackers when able, then resume you regular diet.
If you have any questions, please call our office at 704-987-3132.
In the event of an after hours emergency, please call 704-728-1055.
Blepharoplasty
Post-Surgery Instructions
- Carefully read the “General Post-Surgery Instructions” sheet.
- Keep head elevated on at least 2 pillows.
- Swelling and bruising of the eyelids is variable. Ice packs over the eyes for the first 24-48 hours are very helpful. Place wet gauze over the eyelids and then place ice packs over the wet gauze for 20 minutes. After 30 minutes without the ice packs, repeat the procedure. Continue this for 24-48 hours during your waking hours if possible.
- If a canthopexy (raising of the lower lid) was performed, the swelling and bruising of the eyelids will be significantly increased. It also is not unusual to have swelling of the white part of your eyes, accompanied by some blurred vision for several days. Ice packs over the eyes will decrease the discomfort.
- Care for skin incisions as directed in “General Post-Surgery Instructions.”
- When you shower or bathe, wash over skin incisions gently. Do not allow the shower stream to directly hit the incision lines.
- Camouflage make-up may be applied to discolored areas 5 days after surgery.
- Contact lenses should not be worn for 2 weeks after the surgery.
- Don’t hesitate to call us anytime with questions.
- Artificial tears medication (over-the-counter) may be placed in eyes during the day if needed.
Endoscopic Browlift (Eyebrows)
Post-Surgery Instructions
- Carefully read the “General Post-Surgery Instructions” sheet.
- Keep head elevated on at least 2 pillows.
- Swelling and bruising of the eyelids, cheeks, and forehead is variable. Ice packs (ice cubes, crushed in a towel with a hammer, place in a baggie) over the eyes for the first 24-48 hours is very helpful. Place wet 4x4 gauze or wet wash cloth over the eyelids and then place the packs over the wet gauze for 20 minutes. Keep pressure over the ice packs with the “Ace Bandage” provided to you. After 30-60 minutes without the ice packs, repeat the procedure. Continue this for 24-48 hours during your waking hours if possible.
- If a midfacelift was performed along with the endoscopic browlift, the swelling and bruising of the eyelids will be significantly increased. It also is not unusual to have swelling of the white part of your eye accompanied by some blurred vision for several days. Ice packs over the eyes will decrease the discomfort.
- Staples are used to reapproximate the 5-6 incisions behind the hairline. These stapled incisions should be covered with antibiotic ointment for 4 days after the surgery.
- You may shampoo, rinse, dry, and comb your hair 2 days after the surgery. Apply antibiotic ointment for 4 days after the surgery.
- Staples are painlessly removed 8-12 days after surgery.
- Camouflage make-up may be applied 2 days after the surgery.
- Contact lenses should not be worn for one week after surgery.
- Artificial tear medication (over-the-counter) may be placed in eyes if needed.
- No high impact exercise for one month after surgery.
- Don’t hesitate to call us anytime with questions.
Facelift
Post-Surgery Instructions
- Carefully read the “General Post-Surgery Instructions” sheet.
- Keep head elevated on at least 2 pillows. Sleep only on your back; do not roll on your side.
- Swelling and bruising of the lower eyelids and anterior cheeks is variable. Ice packs (ice cubes, crushed in a towel with a hammer and placed in baggies) over the eyes and cheeks for the first 24-48 hours are very helpful. Place wet 4x4 gauze or wet wash cloth over the eyes and cheeks and then place the ice packs over the wet gauze or wash cloth for 20 minutes. Keep pressure over the ice packs with the “Ace Bandage” provided to you. After 30-60 minutes without the ice packs, repeat the procedure. Continue this for 24-48 hours during your waking hours if possible.
- Different facelift procedures require different types of dressings. Portions of these dressings are removed 12-24 hours after surgery. Some portions of the dressing may remain longer.
- After the dressings are removed, you may shower or bath and shampoo your hair. Do not allow the shower stream to directly hit the incision lines. You may gently wash over the incision lines whether they are closed with sutures, staples, or Dermabond (tissue glue). Do not put ointment over Dermabond.
- Care for all incisions as directed in “General Post-Surgery Instructions.” The incisions behind the ears take the longest to heal completely.
- Avoid unnecessary turning of the head and neck for 4 weeks.
- Camouflage make-up may be applied to discolored areas 5 days after the surgery.
- Do not wear earrings for 2 weeks after the surgery.
- No high impact exercise for 1 month after the surgery. You may exercise on a stationary exercise cycle. No weight lifting for one month.
- Don’t hesitate to call us anytime with questions.
Otoplasty (Ears)
Post-Surgery Instructions
- Carefully read the “General Post-Surgery Instructions” sheet.
- Your bulky dressing will be removed 3-5 days after the surgery.
- After this dressing is removed, we will place an elastic support band with Velcro straps that should remain constantly in place for another week. After this, the elastic band and cotton over the ears should be worn every night while sleeping for at least 4 more weeks.
- For 2 months after the surgery, the elastic band and cotton over the ears should be worn during all strenuous physical activity.
- Don’t hesitate to call us anytime with questions.
Rhinoplasty (Nose)
Post-Surgery Instructions
- Carefully read the “General Post-Surgery Instructions” sheet.
- Bloody drainage from the nose is normal for 24-48 hours after surgery whether there are nasal packs in place or not. Keep a pad taped in place. Rarely, some bleeding will occur about a week after surgery. If the bleeding is excessive, notify us immediately.
- Swelling and bruising under the eyes is variable. Ice packs over the eyes intermittently for the first 24-48 hours are helpful.
- Keep head elevated on at least 2 pillows.
- Limit your activity for the first week after surgery. Slowly resume normal activity after one week. Strenuous activity should not be resumed for 4 weeks. Contact sports are to be avoided for 6 months.
- Contact lenses should not be worn for one week after surgery. Glasses should not rest on the nose. Tape the glasses to your forehead with a piece of tape from the bridge of the glasses to your forehead for 6 weeks after surgery.
- We will remove the splint, nasal packing, and skin sutures 3-5 days after the surgery. We will then place clear tape over your nose which will remain in place for another 3-5 days.
- The final shape of your nose may not be apparent for several weeks and often months after surgery. Occasionally, touch-up surgery is required which is usually done about 6 months after the first surgery at no charge to you.
- Camouflage make-up may be applied under the eyes after the splint is removed.
- Avoid direct sunlight on nose skin incision for 2 months after surgery.
- Don’t hesitate to call us anytime with questions.