If you are a nicotine user you must quit nicotine 6 weeks before face lift surgery. That means you must quit smoking tobacco, chewing tobacco, chewing nicotine gum, using the nicotine patches, or any other imaginable method of nicotine delivery. A pre-operative history and physical must be performed by your primary care physician, within four weeks of having face lift surgery. You have, or will be given a list of prohibited medications. Please refer to this list to guide you in substances incompatible with, or not conducive of face lift surgery. The most important of such medications not take for at least 2 WEEKS prior to face lift surgery include drugs which interfere with clotting (‘thin”) your blood such as aspirin, or any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (advil,motrin,nuprin) or naproxen (aleve, naprosyn), blood thinners (coumadin or lovenox for example), and/or vitamin E. You must check with your primary care physician or cardiologist prior to discontinuing the aforementioned drugs. The prohibited medication list includes any herbal or non-traditional substances or medications, and diet medications. Do not consume any alcohol, or use any illicit drugs for at least two weeks prior to face lift surgery. If you develop a viral illness, cold, upper respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, sores, boils, or any other new medical problem before face lift surgery, notify our office as soon as possible.
If you are not a local resident, you should plan to arrive at least a day prior to the procedure to familiarize yourself with your temporary habitat. You will need to remain here, whether at a local hotel, or with a relative or friend for approximately one week after face lift surgery. You will also need to notify the office of your planned residence.
If a resurfacing procedure is planned along with face lifting for total facial rejuvenation, you will need to pre-treat for approximately six weeks before face lift surgery. Our aestheticians will help with this.
Of course all prohibited medications must be stopped at least 2 weeks prior to face lift surgery.
Make sure there is someone who can help you get about for the first several days after face lift surgery as swelling and discomfort may limit your ability to do so. Preparing meals in advance, having someone cook for you, or planning to order out are all things to consider and have arranged prior to face lift surgery.
Ice packs should be stocked to last for 48 hours. A less expensive alternative may be frozen vegetable packs.
