Some people find the run-up to cosmetic surgery exciting, while others may find it stressful and worrying. To ensure that the following day runs smoothly, you need to know how to prepare for plastic surgery.
While there are certain things that you need to do right before arriving at the clinic, some of the pre-op instructions need to be implemented weeks before. And it’s important that you follow them in order to ensure successful surgery and recovery.
How To Prepare For Plastic Surgery?
Before you have the surgery, your surgeon may recommend doing the following:
The Dos
Here’s what you should do before coming in for your plastic surgery:
Do Bring (& Wear) Comfortable Clothes
If you’re having cosmetic surgery or any other surgery, you should bring comfortable clothes with you. Loose t-shirts, button-downs, dresses, and pants can be good options for you. If you are having breast surgery, tummy tuck, arm lift, etc., you should bring a shirt with buttons or zippers. Because after the procedure, you might feel discomfort in the surgical areas, and raising your arms to wear something might cause more soreness.
Tight coarse fabric can also stick to the surgical areas and pull on them. It can even exert pressure on it, resulting in pain and discomfort. Light, loose-fitting clothing should be preferred. Of course, do not forget to check the weather before bringing the clothes with you.
If you have breast surgery, we will provide you with a special post-op bra. However, if you like you can bring a sports bra as well. If you have a tummy tuck or liposuction procedure, we will provide you with the necessary post-op garments.
Do Remove The Piercings
You should remove all your piercings before the surgery. Moreover, you shouldn’t carry any metal accessories with you. Metal piercings, and accessories in general, pose a risk during the surgery.
In surgeries where electrocautery is used to control bleeding, any contact with the metal by the cautery can cause burns. It can also impact the tissue around the piercing. Your safety is the most important thing during the surgery so it’s better for you to remove the piercings.
However, if you have to wear them, you can replace your metal piercings with plastic ones. The type of surgery and the area of your piercing is important here. If you’re having breast surgery, you can’t wear plastic piercings either if they’re on your breasts. In this case, it is okay for you to wear a plastic nose piercing, for instance. It’s important that you’re not wearing any accessories in the surgical area.
Do Bring Some Extra Cash
It’s important that before coming to Turkey, you should check the exchange rate. Your currency might be more valuable compared to the Turkish lira, so even £200 would be more than enough for 3 days!
However, if you are planning to go shopping and eat in fancy restaurants, you should bring more money with you. You can exchange your money at the airport. There are also local exchange offices in Istanbul so you can exchange your money later as you like.
Do Prepare The Hotel Room & Your Home
Following many surgeries, patients are required to sleep with the back bend at an angle. This is for swelling, and you’d need a bunch of pillows for this.
Before leaving the hotel room, make sure to get them, so you can easily set them up later on and lie down. Also, if you’re planning to head home soon after the surgery, make sure to prepare some meals in advance or hire help as moving might be a bit difficult for you.
Do Rest
Understandably, you may feel a bit stressed and anxious before your surgery takes place. That might make it difficult for you to sleep, but you should still try to do so (read a book, meditate, do breathing exercises, take a shower, etc.).
That’s because the surgery itself will be very taxing on your body and will leave you drained and tired. You might have more difficulty trying to fall asleep after the surgery because of the stitches or the position in which you’re lying. So, it’s important that you take ample rest whenever you can.
Do Clean Yourself
Before coming to the clinic, it is important that you take a shower to ensure personal hygiene. If the surgery requires making incisions, it is even more important that your body is clean. Use a soap with mild formula, and don’t bother with applying any lotion, powder, perfume, makeup or aftershave.
The Don’ts
Here’s what you shouldn’t do before coming in for your plastic surgery:
Do Not Smoke
Smoking can constrict your blood vessels, which increases the risk of complications during the surgery and slows down the recovery process.
You may also end up losing skin tissue. That’s why surgeons recommend quitting smoking (or consuming any other tobacco products) at least 2 weeks before the surgery takes place. Even after the surgery, you might have to stay away from smoking for 1 to 1.5 months.
Do Not Drink Alcohol
Alcohol is a blood thinner, which is why your surgeon is also going to advise you against its consumption a couple of weeks before the surgery takes place.
If you do drink alcohol just a few days before the surgery or on the day of the surgery, it can increase the risk of bleeding during surgery. Not just that, but it can also make your recovery more difficult. So, if you do have it, make sure to inform your surgeon as it can be dangerous for your health and safety.
Do Not Take Supplements
Usually, surgeons advise against the intake of any supplements 2 weeks before the surgery takes place because they can also thin the blood. These supplements can also interact dangerously with other drugs that might be introduced to your body as a part of the surgery.
Moreover, they increase the risk of complications during and after the surgery, which is why you should not take them. Still, make sure to first consult about this with your surgeon.
Do Not Bring Any Extra Medicines
You do not need to bring any medicine with you before the surgery takes place. We understand you might want to take it after the surgery takes place. However, do not worry.
Our surgeons will provide you with all the necessary medicines that you need after the procedure. According to the type of surgery you will undergo, your surgeon will give you antibiotics, painkillers, nasal ocean spray, and/or creams, etc.
If you are taking daily drugs like contraceptive pills, you can bring them and continue to take them as usual. However, please take your medicine at least 2 hours before your surgery and do not drink lots of water. If the surgery involves general anaesthesia, you’re not allowed to drink water.
Do Not Eat Or Drink Before Surgery
If the cosmetic procedure that you’re undergoing requires general anaesthesia, you’d be asked to not eat or drink anything at least 6 hours before the surgery is supposed to take place. That’s because there’s a risk of vomiting or food particles entering your lungs.
Do Not Wear Fake Lashes
If you’re undergoing facial surgery like a facelift, eyelid, or eyebrow lift, it’s better if you remove your fake eyelashes. Since the surgery involves the eye area, it’s better if the fake eyelashes don’t come in the way during the surgery.
If you’re having breast surgery, tummy tuck, or liposuction, you can keep wearing fake eyelashes. They’re not a part of the surgical area and won’t impact the surgery in any way either. Still, not wearing them is better.
That’s because your eyelids will be taped shut or covered with plastic dressing during the induction of anaesthesia. It is done to prevent corneal scratching. Once the tape or dressing gets removed, it’ll damage the fake eyelashes that you’re wearing. Any eye makeup that you wear will also get smeared or removed, so you should not wear that either
Do Not Wear Metal Hair Extensions
You don’t have to remove your hair extensions. That is if you’re not having a hair transplant. Of course, you’ll have to remove them if you’re going to have a hair transplant.
You can keep wearing them if you’re having any other surgery, such as a Brazilian Butt Lift, breast surgery, etc., but still, it’s better to take them off. That’s because the roots of the hair extension are made of metal. And there’s a risk of burning or sparking with metal hair extensions. You can consider replacing those extensions with plastic ones, though.
Also, keep in mind that you might feel uncomfortable with the weight of the hair extensions after coming out of the surgery. It’ll be easier for you to remove them before the surgery takes place. On the day of the surgery, you should consider wrapping your hair around your head, and making a ponytail or plain braid so that your hair is more manageable before and after the surgery.
Do Not Wear Acrylic Nails
Surgeons recommend that patients take off their acrylic nails before the surgery. The acrylic nails can prevent the pulse oximeter from going onto your finger; it measures oxygen saturation levels throughout the surgery.
Another reason why you need to remove your acrylic nails is that they might be dirty. They might not be obviously dirty, but it’s a risk that you shouldn’t take. Dirty acrylic nails can cause infection.
Do Not Wear Any Jewellery
Before coming to the clinic/hospital, it’s best if you remove any jewellery that you’re wearing (piercing, necklace, earrings). That’s because they can come in the path of the incision (or close to it), so you will have to take them off anyway.
Wearing jewellery can also be dangerous if electrocautery is being used. That’s because the current will flow towards the metal, which can cause burn injury. Therefore, make sure to take it all off.
Concluding Remarks
How to prepare for plastic surgery? There are more than just a few things that you need to do, and for some of them, you need to make arrangements well in advance. This, however, is important because knowing how to prepare for plastic surgery will help make your recovery process much smoother. And if at any time you’re doubtful about anything, make sure to get in touch with your surgeon.
We would recommend you print your itinerary and hand it over to your friend or relative. We understand your fears and want to make sure that you feel comfortable on the day of the surgery. Still, some nervousness might stay there and that’s totally normal. You can always share your concerns with us. We will do our best to ensure your safety during the surgery while doing our best to meet your expectations from the surgery.
