Once you’ve made the decision (and the appointment) there are some definite milestones you’ll want to keep in mind when you prepare for cosmetic surgery. There are medicines to take, medicines to avoid, habits to stop, habits you can start, and household matters to get in line. If you start planning from about a month out, by the time you have your surgery you should be in a position to recover very well. The surgeon you carefully researched will certainly have a plan of action you should follow –what is below is a general guideline.
❖ 4 weeks prior to your cosmetic surgery
- Some surgeons will require that you have a physical –this can be completed by your own physician. Your cosmetic surgeon will want to see the results.
❖ 3 weeks prior to your cosmetic surgery
- Stop smoking and drinking
- Consult with your surgeon or patient counsellor about any medications you are currently taking
- Stock your kitchen with lots of fruits, vegetables and protein based foods
- Start identifying and avoiding foods that contains alicylates (list below)
- Start planning your recovery area and stocking up on books to ready, movies to binge watch, Hulu shows to watch, knitting to do, etc.
❖ 2 weeks prior to your cosmetic surgery
- Check your medications again. What was acceptable last week may not be acceptable this week or in the next two weeks. Talk with your surgeon or patient counsellor about this again.
- Start taking a daily multi-vitamin and specific vitamins recommended by your surgeon or patient counsellor. Normal recommendations are for Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Bromelain, all twice daily.
- Stop taking Vitamin E in large doses. The amount in the multi-vitamins are acceptable but you should not be taking Vitamin E pills.
- Talk to your doctor about any herbal supplements you are taking to uncover any possible problem areas.
- Stop taking any medicine that contains aspirin.
- Stop taking anti-inflammatory drugs for arthritis –consult with your physician before doing so.
- Stop taking anti-coagulants.
❖ 1 week prior to your cosmetic surgery
- Reduce sodium intake. 1,200 –1,500 mg daily is a good target.
- Eat lots of fruit, vegetables, nuts and high protein meals.
- Drink lots of water.
- Get your prescriptions filled –you will not want to try to do this after the surgery.
- Ensure you have somebody to drive you to and from your surgery.
- Finish work on your recovery area.
- Get lots of rest and focus on good nutrition.
❖ 2 days prior to your cosmetic surgery
- Begin taking Arnica Montana every 8 hours for 10 days (as directed).
- Continue taking Bromelain every 12 hours between meals (as directed).
- Ensure you have a ride set up to get you to and from your procedure.
- Set up your recovery area with reading material, tv, gauze, peroxide, bacitracin, water and other drinks, medicine, pillows, surgeon and pharmacy phone numbers.
- This is a great time to re-use your old pajamas since there may be some oozing from the surgical incision sites.
- Move essentials from high or low shelves to where you can reach them more easily. For the first week or two, you will not want to be stretching to get anything.
- If you have pets that will need walking, ensure this is set up.
❖ Day prior to your cosmetic surgery
- Get a good night’s rest.
- Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before.
- Check one more time to ensure your ride to and from your surgery is locked on