Cosmetic Surgery Preparation
Your Healthy Recovery and Maintaining A Healthy Lifestyle
Smoking and Secondhand Smoke
Any exposure to smoke, either directly or indirectly, can result in poor wound healing, delayed wound healing, skin loss requiring skin grafting, and increased risk of infection. The diminished blood flow to the skin wound from smoking and secondhand smoke can cause the breakdown of skin and scabbing. For this reason Dr. Casas will not perform surgery requiring skin flaps (facelift, forehead lift, tummy tuck, breast reduction, breast lift) within two months of a patient’s smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke. This waiting period is one week for breast augmentation and nose reshaping which do not require skin flaps. Please be honest so that your recovery is optimal and complication-free.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
The lymphatic system transports dead cells and harmful bacteria that accumulate. When tissue has been injured from surgery additional substances build up in the damaged tissue. Some of these substances can cause inflammation, swelling, pain, and infection during healing. Manual lymph drainage (MLD) is an extremely gentle but effective massage technique designed to enhance the collection and transport of lymph. Massaging the surgical area may reduce swelling, pain, bruising, and prevent infection. Patients who receive MLD following surgery experiences reduced pain, swelling and scarring, while enjoying an accelerated recovery. Dr. Casas will provide you with a schedule of MLD following your procedure. These massages are held in her office by licensed therapists.
Living A Healthy Lifestyle
Dr. Casas is not only an expert in surgical enhancement and rejuvenation but also a physician who cares about your health. That’s why a discussion of your medical history and lifestyle is a part of every cosmetic consultation. She needs to know about your health history and habits to determine whether they may influence your surgery and recovery. Areas to evaluate include:
Diet and A Healthy Weight
Weight is a key consideration, as the potential risks with surgery and anesthesia are greater in overweight or obese individuals. In some cases surgery should be postponed, or an overnight stay recommended. Conversely, if you plan to lose a significant amount of weight you may want to do so before surgery.
Exercise
The benefits of exercise are significant and include strengthening and toning the body, boosting metabolism, lowering weight, reducing stress and prolonging youthfulness. For most of us a mix of aerobic activity that increases your heart rate and strength/flexibility training is essential . For most adults 30 minutes a day is a healthy routine.
Stress Reduction
Stress can lead to physical symptoms such as headaches and fatigue, stomach upset, sleep problems, high blood pressure and heart palpitations. Successful stress management can be found in proper diet and exercise, stretching and breathing. This will also help strengthen the body and reduce tension. Stress that makes you feel overwhelmed is neither pleasant or healthy.
Sleep
How much sleep you need depends on genetics, your age, and your daily activities. 7 to 8 hours seems to be a healthy amount of sleep for most adults. Since getting adequate sleep is so important to your health, practicing good sleep habits is important. These habits include: developing a consistent time for sleep; exercising regularly; avoiding alcohol and caffeine just prior to bedtime; and winding down before sleep with reading, music or television.
Nutrition and Supplements
A healthy diet, consisting of at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, reduced-fat and fat-free products, low-fat meats and minimal consumption of butter, oil and fried foods is optimal. A multivitamin and mineral supplement is also recommended to ensure you obtain sufficient quantities of essential nutrients daily. Dr. Casas will also provide you with a list of supplements and herbal remedies to help with your healing, as well as a list of foods and medications to avoid for two weeks prior to surgery, such as aspirin products and herbal remedies that can cause bleeding complications and other complications with anesthetics. These products can be resumed after healing.
Alcohol
Various researchers have studied the health risks and possible benefits of alcohol consumption. Heavy drinking is known to damage the liver and pancreas, and is associated with various cancers, high blood pressure, and certain psychiatric disorders.
If you choose to drink, moderate alcohol consumption (1 drink a day for women and 2 drinks per day for men) appears not to pose a significant health concern. There are, of course, some people who should not be drinking at all, including children and adolescents, women who are pregnant or are considering pregnancy, people on medication that can interact negatively with alcohol, people who must drive or operate machinery, and people who cannot control their drinking behavior.
The Sun and Your Skin
People as young as their 20s can have premature aging of the skin due to sunbathing, tanning parlors and other exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. Skin thickening and loss of elasticity from sun Damage can make cosmetic plastic surgery more difficult. When skin is inelastic it does not respond well to surgical procedures that include tightening or recontouring of the tissues. The first defense against harmful UV rays is an advanced-formula, broad-based spectrum (protection from both UVA and UVB rays) sunscreen with at least SPF 15.
