You are 30 days away from your rhinoplasty procedure and you’re very excited. Before you go into surgery, there are a few things you want to do to help things move along smoothly, during the procedure and when you return home afterwards. Your surgeon can provide you with guidance more specific to your situation, but generally speaking, it’s a good idea to go over your medication beforehand and make sure your home is set up and ready for you when you return.
Review Your Medications (and Some Habits)
In the weeks leading up to your rhinoplasty, you’ll want to avoid taking certain medications that can increase your risk for complications. Starting about two weeks before your surgery, avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, as well any medicines that contain those ingredients. Each are blood thinners, which can increase your risk for bleeding during surgery. If you have a headache or other pains in the weeks before your procedure, it’s OK to take acetaminophen.
You’ll also want to avoid certain supplements, such as vitamin E. If you take any supplements, it’s a good idea to tell your surgeon about them, as some can increase bleeding risk or interfere with the anesthesia.
Deciding to have rhinoplasty is also a great time to decide to give up smoking. You’ll want to quit at least two weeks before your surgery and stay off nicotine for at least another few weeks afterwards. Tobacco products interfere with blood flow and can increase your risk for scarring. Your surgeon can help you through the quitting process, if you need assistance.
Picking up any prescription medications before your procedure means you’ll have one less thing to worry about during your recovery. Ask your surgeon to write your prescriptions a day or two in advance, then head to the pharmacy to fill them before you head into surgery.
Make Personal Arrangements
Talk to your supervisor or HR department at your job well in advance to make sure you can take the time off to recover. Typically, you’ll be able to go back to work about a week after your surgery. You might want to err on the side of caution and take more days off than you think you will need.
Find a friend or relative to bring you to and from the surgery site and to stay with you for at least a day or so after the procedure. You will be a bit out of it after the surgery, and won’t be able to drive yourself home. Because you want to have someone nearby in case you have any issues during your first few hours home, getting a taxi or limo driver isn’t recommended. A spouse or partner can be an ideal candidate to drive you home and keep an eye on you after the rhinoplasty. If you don’t have a partner or yours can’t get away from work, ask a close friend or parent to step in.
Set Up Shop (at Home)
Make things easier after your surgery by getting your home ready in advance. If you usually prepare dinner every night, making and freezing a week or two worth of meals beforehand can make putting dinner on the table a snap. If you’re not a cook, stock up on easy to heat up meals beforehand or find the number of a place that offers great delivery or take-out. Some foods are better than others right after surgery. Try to avoid foods with a lot of sodium, as the salt can increase swelling. Help your body heal by picking options with a lot of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Pick foods that don’t require you to chew a lot when eating them.
You may also want to set up a little resting and recovery area for yourself before your nasal surgery. Check out a few books from the library, queue up movies or TV shows you want to watch on Netflix or on-demand, and purchase a few magazines to peruse. Put everything in one area, along with some bottles of water, saline spray and your medications. If everything is within easy reach, you’ll be able to relax and recover better.
Ice packs can help keep bruising and swelling down. You might want to prepare a few before your surgery, so that they are ready for you when you return.
Schedule a Consultation Today
To learn more about rhinoplasty techniques, plan your initial consultation now with the facial plastic surgeon who can help you to achieve your best results. Dr. Andrew Frankel is board certified in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, as well as Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (Ear Nose and Throat). He is exceptionally well trained in the field of nasal surgery and has been recognized for his original research regarding vasculature to the nose and rhinoplasty’s effect on it. Schedule your appointment today with a world-renowned facial plastic surgeon to guarantee your best rhinoplasty results. Contact Dr. Frankel’s office, located at 201 Lasky Drive in Beverly Hills, California, by calling (310) 552-2173.
