Prior to an operation
it is important for the patient to report to the doctor all medication he
or she is taking. Medicines that affect blood coagulation often have to be
discontinued prior to an operation. This includes many drugs used to reduce
pain or inflammation. The most important of these is acetylsalicylic acid
(aspirin), a common ingredient in painkillers. These medicines should be avoided
for 14 days prior to the operation and for a week afterward. If a painkiller
is needed, it is recommended to instead take one that contains paracetamol,
codeine or dextropropoxyphene. Other anti-inflammatory drugs can also increase
bleeding. It is therefore extremely important for the patient to tell the
doctor about all medicines being taken. Blood-thinning preparations can be
vital in controlling some illnesses, and in these cases the dose is reduced
and carefully controlled before and after surgery.
Patients who have an abnormal blood clotting problem should tell the doctor
about it at the consultation. Special tests may be called for, and sometimes
special medication should be given during the operation to reduce the risk
of hemorrhage.
It is usually all right to take other kinds of medication up until the day
of the operation; detailed information about this should be provided by the
anesthetist or the plastic surgeon well before the operation. With high blood
pressure, for example, it is often important to continue medication. It may
also be prudent to check blood pressure a few times during the weeks before
the operation.
The evening or morning before the operation, the patient should carefully
bathe and wash his or her hair. Some doctors recommend a bactericidal soap.
Skin and hair should be thoroughly rinsed afterward to avoid possible skin
irritation, since these preparations can be quite strong. They should not
be used near the eyes.
On the day of the operation, cosmetics and lotions should be avoided. Nail
polish should also be removed, since it can disturb the registration of breathing
function which is often made from the fingers during the operation.
It may also be advisable to leave valuables such as jewelry at home when heading
for the operation clinic. Not that anyone will steal them, but if something
disappears it is unpleasant all around.
Operations such as a stomach tuck, liposuction or breast operation will considerably
limit physical activity postoperatively, and wearing light, comfortable clothing
and shoes to the clinic is therefore recommended. After the operation it may
be difficult to squeeze into a tight skirt or high-heeled shoes.
With some operations, especially those on the lower part of the body, there
is an increased risk of a blood clot in the leg. This applies to gynecological
surgery, stomach operations and liposuction of thighs and legs. To reduce
this risk, blood thinning drugs are often given during the operation, and
in some cases the doctor may also recommend that birth control pills be discontinued,
since we know that these increase the risk of blood clots.
After the operation, the patient may feel a bit like an invalid and prefer
to stay at home and rest. Bruises and swelling may also cause some reluctance
to be seen in public. It is therefore a good idea to stock up on food, and
possibly
