How to Avoid Pitfalls and Complications Before, During, and After Your Plastic Surgery
Choosing to have plastic surgery can be a very stressful situation. Patients often have anxiety over the fear of complications or untoward results. Dr. Robert Heck with Columbus Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery outlines simple ways to instruct potential patients on how to maximize their results and minimize the possible problems and pitfalls that can occur during plastic surgery.
Prior to surgery
The first step is to address the factors that patients can control prior to surgery. For instance, Dr. Heck encourages all of his patients to live a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating healthy, staying well hydrated, and exercising. Secondly, each patient should do a thorough review of their medications with their physician. Dr. Heck meets with every patient to review prescription drugs, herbal remedies, and over-the-counter medications taken on a daily basis because certain medications are contraindicated and need to be stopped prior to surgery. Some of these medications include Aspirin containing products, Plavix, Coumadin, diet pills, and herbal remedies such as St. John’s Wart and Ginko Biloba. Thirdly, it is important to stop smoking at least 3 weeks before and 3 weeks after surgery. Not only do patients recover from anesthesia quicker, but there is a lower risk of infection and incisions tend to heal better when patients are not smoking. For those patients who do smoke, your physician should have a lengthy discussion about the effects of smoking prior to surgery. Lastly, for those patients who are having surgery under general anesthesia, your physician should require a complete history and physical and appropriate lab work. Dr. Heck insists that all of his patients receive this pre-operative clearance because it will ensure that there are no hidden medical problems and will significantly reduce the chances of having complications during surgery.
During Surgery
At this point, you are already asleep so the only real factor is making certain that you have chosen the right plastic surgeon. Please see Dr. Robert Heck’s article How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon. It is important that your surgeon is Board Certified, well trained, and very experienced with a good safety record. Your physician should make sure that you are protected during surgery for example taking steps to prevent complications such as DVT’s (blood clots). Dr. Heck believes finding the right plastic surgeon will put you at ease from beginning to end.
Post Surgery
First and foremost, follow the post-operative instructions given to you by your physician. Dr. Heck provides all of his patients with restrictions on daily activities, exercising, and guidelines on when patients can expect to return to work. Second, remember to stay hydrated. This will improve your overall healing process and keep your kidneys functioning. Third, it is important that you continue to stay mobile after surgery and to increase your activity as instructed by your physician to prevent the formation of blood clots. Dr. Heck will typically place you on post-operative antibiotics to help decrease the risk of developing an infection. You should continue all antibiotics until they are finished as instructed by your physician. Thus by following your activity restrictions, staying hydrated, ambulating, and taking your antibiotics, you should have a healthy and safe post-operative recovery.
Finally, one of the most important factors regarding healthy healing and having a successful plastic surgery experience is communication with your physician and his/her staff. Dr. Heck spends a great deal of time with each patient during their consultation so they have the opportunity to address any questions or concerns and feel comfortable with their decision. It is important that your physician and his/her staff are available for both pre and post-operative questions and get back to you in a timely manner. Dr. Heck feels that it is this open communication and sense of security that decreases patient complications and allows for a safe recovery process.
Hopefully by following Dr. Robert Heck’s guidelines above you can ensure yourself a safe and healthy recovery and minimize your risk of complications associated with plastic surgery.
Tags: healthy plastic surgery recovery, Plastic Surgery, plastic surgery complications, plastic surgery guidelines