Abigail Aaronson

Plastic Surgery Do's and Dont's

This article highlights the various do's and don’ts for a patient who will have and have recently undergone plastic surgery. These are focused on the patient and not on the surgeon.

Plastic surgery is usually employed when a person is unhappy with his or her looks or the function of a particular area of the physical body. There are two basic aspects of this type of operation and they are reconstructive and cosmetic. The first is usually aimed at improving both form and function of the damaged area while cosmetic is more of an aesthetically based operation.

General Health of the Person
This is one of the more important factors that can influence the operation. Before having either a major or minor procedure done, the individual should be generally healthy, both mentally and physically. Don't go for any procedure if there is an underlying condition such as a fever or even an upset stomach. Immediately tell the attending physician if there is something amiss physically since it might affect the operation.

Do get a general check up and bring up any sickness that may be of importance before undergoing any procedure. An interview with the doctor who is supposed to do the operation should be able to yield if the patient is mentally fit to have plastic surgery. Some individuals have issues regarding their looks which they feel may hinge on having some form of alteration done to the way they look.

Do minimize or better yet stop smoking and drinking alcohol for several months before the procedure. These can severely impair how the body reacts to medications often used for operations. Do be well rested a day or two before the undertaking of the operation. Stress and anxiety are often magnified by not having enough sleep or rest.

Post Operative Period
Do prepare for plastic surgery in terms of medicines and paraphernalia for the recovery period. It is dangerous for the patient to buy medications or materials for dressings when just out from the operating room. Don't overtax oneself especially within the week of any major procedure. The doctor usually recommends moving about within 24 hours of any operation of this kind but not too the extent of having the incisions burst open or bleed.

Do follow the doctor's prescription with regards to the kind of medication to take as well as the dosages, interval of time to take them and the length of time to take them. Don't miss follow up visits with the surgeon since these are crucial times when the surgeon who has done the procedure checks up on the state of the operation.

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