Preparing for a Facelift
Dr. Paul Howard, Plastic Surgeon
Don’t plan on doing anything taxing for a week because you may become tired and want to close your eyes sooner than you normally do. You may find that watching TV is also a strain. You may also experience some facial pain during the first couple of days.” You can count on some bruising, swelling, and being tired. You can count on some discomfort for the first couple of days, but if you don’t have that, what a nice surprise!
Make sure you have a positive companion taking care of you for the first few days following your surgery. Dr. Howard requires his patients to not be alone for the first 24 hours following your surgery. Make sure your caretaker is someone who will be supportive of your decision to have cosmetic surgery. The emotional stages patients experience following surgery affects the caretaker too.
Dr. Howard requires his patients stop smoking at least 2 weeks prior to facial surgery. Tobacco replacement products should be finish two weeks prior to your scheduled surgery date as well due to the nicotine in these products being equivalent to the nicotine in tobacco. For more information read Dr. Howard's blog article: Smoking & Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Howard recommends his patients consider a daily vitamin regimen prior to surgery. Patients may purchase a vitamin regimen appropriate for them at any local health food store, Whole Foods, or if you prefer a liquid vitamin regimen you may order “Daily Build” from Genesis Pure. Do not take additional Vitamin E products other than the recommended daily allowance. Large doses of Vitamin E prior to surgical procedures has been proven to actually inhibit the body’s ability to heal.
In conjunction with daily vitamins, Dr. Howard strongly recommends the use of two herbal supplements that help reduce bruising and swelling: Bromelain and Arnica.
Do plan to have plenty of food that will be easy for you and your caretaker to prepare. Extra movies and books on tape have been very popular with previous patients.
Two weeks prior to your scheduled surgery date, you need to make sure you avoid medications that contain aspirin, ibuprofen & other certain medications. Taking these medications prior to surgery increases bleeding, bruising, swelling, and could cause anesthetic issues. The following is a detailed listing of medications to avoid prior to surgery:
- 4-Way Cold Tabs
- 4-Way w/ Codeine
- 5-Aminosalicylic Acid
- A.C.A.
- A-A Compound
- Accutrim
- Acetilsalicylic Acid
- Actifed
- Actron
- Acular (ophthalmic)
- Adapin
- Adprin-B products
- Advil Products
- Aleve
- Alka-Seltzer Products
- All diet pills
- Amigesic
- Amitriptyline
- Amoxapine
- Anacin products
- Anafranil
- Anaprox Products
- Anexsia
- Anexsia w/ Codeine
- Anisindione
- Ansaid
- Anturane
- Argesic-SA
- Arthriten Products
- Arthritis BC Powder
- Arthritis Bufferin
- Arthritis Foundation Products
- Arthritis-Pain Formula
- Arthropan
- Arthura-G
- ASA
- Asacol
- Ascriptin Products
- Aspergum
- Asprimox Products
- Aventyl
- Axotal
- Azdone
- Azulfidine Products
- B-A-C
- Backache-Maximum Strength
- Bayer Products
- BC Powder
- BC Tablets
- Bismatrol Products
- Buffered Aspirin
- Bufferin Products
- Buffetts 11
- Buffex
- Butal/ASA/CAFF
- Butalbital Compound
- Carisoprodol Compound
- Cataflam
- Cheracol
- Childrens Advil
- Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate
- Choline Salicylate
- Clinoril
- Clinoril C
- Contac
- Cope
- Coricidin
- Cortisone Medications
- Coumadin
- Dalteparin Injection
- Damason-P
- Darvon Compound-65
- Darvon/ASA
- Daypro
- Desipramine
- Diclofenac
- Dicumerol
- Dimetapp Sinus
- Dipentum
- Dipyridamole
- Disalcid
- Doan’s Products
- Dolobid
- Doxepin
- Doxycycline
- Dristan
- Dristan Sinus
- Duragesic
- Easprin
- Ecotrin Products
- Elavil
- Emagrin
- Empirin Products
- Endep
- Enoxaparin Injection
- Equagesic
- Etodolac
- Etrafon Products
- Excedrin Products
- Feldene
- Fenoprofen
- Fiorgen PF
- Fiorinal Products
- Flagyl
- Flurbiprofen IBU
- Fragmin Injection
- Furadantin
- Garlic
- Gelpirin
- Genpril
- Genprin
- Gensan
- Goody’s Powders
- Halfprin Products
- Heparin
- Hydrocortisone
- Ibuprin
- Ibuprofen
- Imipramine
- Indochron E-R
- Indocin Products
- Indomethacin
- Isollyl Ludiomil
- Isollyl Products
- Janimine
- Kaodene
- Ketoprofen
- Ketorolac
- Lanorinal
- Limbitrol Products
- Lodine
- Lortab ASA
- Lovenox Injection
- Ludiomil
- Macrodantin
- Magan
- Magnaprin Products
- Magnesium Salicylate
- Magsal
- Maprotiline
- Marnal
- Marthritic
- Meclofenamate
- Meclomen
- Mefenamic Acid
- Menadol
- Meprobamate
- Mesalamine
- Methocarbamol
- Micrainin
- Midol Products
- Mobidin
- Mobigesic
- Momentum
- Mono-Gesic
- Motrin Products
- Nabumetone
- Nalfon Products
- Naprelan
- Naprosyn Products
- Naprox X
- Naproxen
- Night Time Cold
- Norgesic Products
- Norpramin
- Nortriptyline
- Nortriptyline Protriptyline
- Norwich Products
- Nuprin
- Ocufen (ophthalmic)
- Olsalazine
- Orphengesic Products
- Orudis Products
- Oruvail
- Oxaprozin Profenal
- Oxycodone
- Pabalate Products
- P-A-C
- Pain Reliever Tabs
- Pamelor
- Panasal
- Pentasa
- Pepto-Bismol
- Percodan Products
- Pertofrance
- Phenaphen/Codeine #3
- Pink Bismuth
- Piroxicam
- Ponstel Rhinocaps
- Propoxyphene Compound
- Protriptyline
- Relafen
- Robaxisal
- Rowasa
- Roxeprin
- Saleto Products
- Salflex
- Salicylate Products
- Salsalate
- Salsitab
- Scot-Tussin 5-Action
- Sine-Aid Products
- Sine-off
- Sinequan
- Sinutab
- Sodium Salicylate
- Sodol Compound
- Soma Compound
- St. Joseph Aspirin
- Sulfasalazine
- Sulindac
- Supac
- Suprax
- Suprofen
- Surmotil
- Synalgos-DC
- Talwin
- Tofranil
- Tolectin Products
- Toradol
- Triaminicin
- Triavil
- Tricosal
- Trilisate
- Trimipramine
- Trimipramine M
- Tussanil DH
- Tussirex Products
- Ursinus-Inlay
- Vanquish
- Vivactil
- Voltaren
- Wesprin
- Willow Bark Products
- Zorprin
If you are taking any medications listed above, they should be discontinued 2 weeks prior to surgery and only Tylenol should be taken for pain. All other medications that you are currently taking must be specifically cleared by your doctor prior to surgery. It is absolutely necessary that all of your current medications be specifically cleared by your doctor and the nursing staff.
Please Contact Dr. Howard's office if you have any questions prior to your surgery date.
205.871.3361
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To read more of Dr. Howard's wonderful articles about Facial Rejuvenation, follow his Faceliftology Blog
The Hidden Risks of Homeopathic and Herbal Supplements on Plastic Surgery by Dr. Paul Howard
The use of complimentary or alternative medicines such as those found in herbal or homeopathic preparations has increased from 20% or our patient population to more than 60% of our patients. The fascination of herbals, teas, and homeopathic products exists because people believe these medicines to be “natural” and therefore perceived to be “safe.” Only recently have these products been scrutinized carefully by the medical community to determine how safe they actually are. Safety issues are being addressed due to the fact that there are an increasing number of reports describing bleeding complications due to herbal remedies. . Read More . . .
Dr. Paul Howard is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He completed his plastic surgery residency under Dr. Ralph Millard at the University of Miami.
