If you’re thinking about having a cosmetic surgery procedure, it is vital that you follow certain steps before undergoing the procedure. These steps help to make sure that you are both mentally and physically ready to make the desired changes in your appearance and that you understand the risks associated with having a procedure.
The Steps You Need to Follow
Here are the steps every patient needs to follow before having cosmetic surgery:
- Be open about any allergies you have – It is very important that you tell your surgeon about any allergies you are known to suffer from on a regular basis. This can include having a bad reaction to items included in dressings placed after surgery such as silicone, latex and rubber. A good number of allergic reactions are minor in nature but this does not make them any less uncomfortable. In many cases, they can be treated with topical corticosteroids or antihistamines that lessen the allergic reaction and any pain or swelling that results from the condition.
- Stop smoking and drinking – Many patients are unaware of the importance of quitting their smoking and drinking habits before a surgery. Nicotine can cause blood vessels to constrict which means they get smaller in size. This also leads to a restriction in the blood supply that goes to organs and tissues and, in general, slows down the healing process. It is also necessary to stop drinking alcohol a few weeks before the surgery. Drinking alcohol before surgery can cause it to interact with the anesthesia used by the doctor which creates an increased bleeding risk.
- Take extra precautions if you have certain health issues – Patients that suffer from asthma need to make sure the condition is under control before surgery. This will minimize the chances of the asthma having a flare-up during the surgery. Patients with acute asthma might need some help from inhalers or steroids before the surgery in order to better manage the condition and ensure a safer surgery and recovery. Diabetes patients can have issues with wound healing if they have high or low blood glucose after surgery. Keeping the blood glucose levels within the desired parameters given by the surgeon helps the healing process as does a good diet full of protein.
- Being emotionally prepared for the surgery – Cosmetic surgery can be an emotional experience for anyone. Many patients suffer from excessive worries, a lack of sleep before the procedure and bruising and swelling after the treatment. Surgeons have a duty to protect your emotional and physical safety before a surgery. Anyone that has experienced mental health issues in the past might want to consider undergoing a psychological screening, before having surgery, as a precautionary measure. This screening can make sure you understand the implications of the surgery and also help you cope with both expected and unexpected outcomes.
- Find the right surgeon for you – Cosmetic surgeons have a duty to be open and transparent about the pros and cons of the surgery of choice. They need to answer any and all questions patients have about the procedure. This open dialogue needs to start during the initial consultation with you and continue all the way through the surgical prep process and the recovery period. Being open and honest with you means that you will have realistic expectations about any number of procedures such as rhinoplasty or breast augmentation as well as the results you can achieve from Botox or fillers.
In addition, a cosmetic surgery practice should never pressure you into having a procedure or try to influence the final decision by offering a sale or discount as a last minute incentive to sign on the dotted line and have cosmetic surgery. You should also do a fair amount of research and read online reviews left by real patients of the doctor. These reviews can help you learn about the experiences other have had with the surgeon in the past and their level of satisfaction with the care they received from the surgeon. Viewing “before and after” photos of actual patients helps you get a better idea of the realistic and natural looking results enjoyed by patients. Reviews and photos often give more information about a doctor than any consultation appointment with the surgeon.
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