Preparing For Your Surgery

You've Scheduled Your Appointment - Now What!?

Now is the time for you to have second thoughts, run around looking for bras, experience anxiety and have your life in an emotional upheaval. For many, this is a very stressful time, but it doesn't have to be. It is perfectly natural for you to be freaking out now that surgery is a few weeks away. Just following the advice composed with the help of real patients and things will go much more smoothly.

The Pre-Operative Appointment

If you schedule a surgery date you will more than likely schedule a pre-operative visit appointment, as well. This will entail another trip to the surgeon's office, bloodwork (labs) to check your red and white blood cell counts (a CBC test), among other things. This will identify any pre-existing disorders such as anemia, some cancers (leukemia or lymphoma), it evaluates blood loss, determines the possibility of infections diseases.

You can also predetermine those who may be high risk to post-operative infections. Usually before surgery, a white cell blood count only is performed, as well as a pregnancy test if you are of childbearing age and have that physical capability. Although a related test known as the hematocrit test may be performed. For a better understanding of just what a CBC is for and means, I suggest this link: Lab Tests Online: Complete Blood Count (CBC) Test.

And please quit smoking now. It will highly reduce your risk of necrotic tissue. Do not take any chances with this. Smoking and major surgery like this can make your scars huge and ugly and not heal well at all. This is your life.

You will go over your post-operative instructions and what medications you shouldn't be taking as well as the ones you should take before surgery.Also you may be instructed to get a mammogram. You will be instructed to get one if you are 35 or over (some surgeons instruct their younger patients to get a mammogram as well) if you are getting breast implants as well so be prepared. Please read our special section on Mammograms & Self Breast Examinations, with photos, for more information.

You will also be given (or should be given) a list of medications that you must cease or avoid taking. These medications will mostly be aspirin-containing products and supplements that may inhibit clot formation or cause problems with anesthesia. Please visit the Medication & Supplement List page for more information or Click Here to view a Printable List of Medications To Avoid.

You will also be given a list of things to buy or have around you in your healing room. Things like frozen peas, raspberries or blueberries for icing you down to ease the swelling and bruising. You will be asked to buy a soap, perhaps Hibiclens, or it will be given to you for cleansing a few days before surgery (to kill Staph and other surface bacteria). Some surgeons simply suggest Dial antibacterial soap. You will usually get gauze and other types of dressings to tend to your incision areas.We have provided a list for your convenience below or you may click the link for a printable version to have on hand.

Making Your Home "Post-op Proof"

You've probably heard of child-proofing but post-op proofing? This is the act of preparing your home for your recovery. Please utilize the following tips to better prepare you to an unfrazzled and more comfortable recovery...

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Making Your Home "Post-op Proof"

Clean your house - or have it cleaned
Unless you are lucky and have a significant other that can cook, shop for recovery food and treats like pudding, Jell-O, frozen dinners; or cook your own and freeze it.
Take out the trash, recyclables, etc. so you don't have to worry about it
Have all of your laundry taken care of
Make a "Honey Do" list (bills, thermostat settings, errands, whatever). Sometimes our significant others can be quite helpless without us
Purchase all of your medications, Vitamin C and dressings beforehand in case your pharmacy is in short supply.
Place all medications either in a weekly pill "case" or in labeled containers, by day and time if need be.
Have lots of movies, books, magazines or videogames on hand.
A laptop is an awesome thing to have during recovery - have computer batteries/AC adaptors on hand
If no lap top, maybe a Gameboy or a Playstation/Nintendo set up near you - you will get bored.
Have someone watch your dog, cat, children, pet rock, whatever.
If you can't have them cared for, tend to their needs beforehand, i.e. put cans of food on the counter with the can opener so you don't have to reach for it. Change the litter box as well. You don't want to expose yourself to these germs as well as no bending over!
Have lots of fluffy pillows on hand
A comfortable recliner is a good thing, if not the bed is perfectly fine, just keep your upper body elevated.
Have a bucket or pail at your bedside and on the ride home - essential. Make sure it has a lid, you don't want to stare at it or smell it afterwards.
A nightstand with all of your medications, ample light, bottled water, a few packages of crackers, remote control (with new batteries!) & the phone (fully charged!)
Have a nightlight set up so you don't fall during late night bathroom trips.
Extra blankets, anesthesia can give you the "chills" after surgery
A heating pad, hot water bottle or microwaveable pack is great for a sore back (which you will get for sure!)
A "go-fer" - a significant other or an older child will suffice
Have some crackers, Cheeze-its or Goldfish to help alleviate nausea - especially on the way home - bring a bottle of water to for the ride home. Sipping cool water helps alleviate nausea as well as gets rid of the taste in your mouth if you do vomit.
Place anything you may need at hip level so that you have no need to reach or bend down. This means canned and dry goods in the kitchen and toiletries in the bathroom. Bending over is just as bad as reaching over your head!
Have your trusty robe and slippers (or several pair of thick socks) nearby
Have a few comfortable oversized shirts that open from the front on hand, as well as some sweat pants or pajama bottoms.
Have a hand mirror nearby so you don't have to get up to preen, or to check your teeth and nose, ha ha!
If you have long hair a few "scrunchies" are great to put your hair back with to keep it out of your face, unknotted and out of the way.
Have a good moisturizer on hand - a must!
A box of Kleenex is great to have on hand, especially if you get all emotional from your meds or the anesthesia.
Make time for yourself before your surgery; pour a bath, light some candles, listen to some music - relax. Try to gather your thoughts and soothe your mind.
The night before (and with some surgeons for 3 days before) you will be asked to wash with Dial antibacterial or Hibiclens soap to help rid your body of its naturally occurring Staph on the skin's surface - you don't want a Staph infection!
Wash your hair the night before surgery - it may be a long time before you get to do that again.
Remove any fingernail and toenail polish.
Talk to your spouse about any concerns that you may have, they may have some insights or questions you haven't thought of - and they may be experiencing pre-op anxiety as well.
Ask your surgeon for valium or ask if you may take an over the counter sleeping medication. These may help with tense muscles and tense minds. Trust me - it is difficult to sleep.
"Black out" your windows so that when you do get to sleep - regardless of the hours - you can stay asleep.
If you think television, video games and reading are eventually going to bore you or stress your eyes - have a discman (or walkman) on hand with your favorite relaxing cds.
Have fresh film or a disposable "post-op photo" camera on hand. Especially if you are considering documenting your procedure online
Have your journal and a few fresh, fully inked pens ready if you are wanting to document your post-operative thoughts in writing. Or if you are like me it is easier to type it into that lap top or speak it into a miniature recorder. Remember fresh batteries!
Body pillow is quite helpful, especially when you are allowed to sleep without major elevation. Especially if you are getting implants as well. Learning to sleep with implants is an art - trust me. Especially the big ones
Just in case the lights go out, have a flash light on your nightstand.
Place nightlights to light your way to the bathroom should the need arise during the night.
If you don't have a laptop and you have online friends who are dying to hear from you - have your significant other or friend "post" or email them with your recovery news. We worry, okay? Give him a list of the addresses and URLs
Have an answering machine connected to the phone next to your recovery area. Getting woken up when you just got to sleep is so annoying. Don't forget to turn down the sound and turn off the ringer.
And try not to look at them they first few days. It is very difficult to do so but you may not like what you see during the healing phase. But remember when you do break down and peek, they change every day so don't get discouraged. Besides, how can you take those post-op photos without looking yourself.
Take post-operative photos if you are opting to document your recovery.
Last but not least, RELAX. If you are super stressed out it can really affect your recovery. Try to remember that you will heal, you will be less sore and that you are going to look great! Just be patient.

Pre-op Shopping

All of the above suggestions and products you should buy may be overwhelming at first so print out our helpful shopping list to help you with your pre-op woes.

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Pre-op Shopping List

Of course not all of the below is needed - it is only provided for ideas and for general convenience. many of you may have a majority of the below items. I have also added blank spaces for items that you may want or need that we have not thought of.

Pharmacy/Online:

____ Medications:
1. ___ pain meds _________________________
2. ___ antibiotics _________________________
3. ___ anti-inflammatory __________________
4. ___ blood pressure (if applicable)_________
5. ___ other ____________________________
6. ___ other ____________________________
7. ___ other ____________________________
___ Pill Case
___ Med Time Chart of when to take your meds.
___ Birth Control meds - don't forget if you are taking birth control that some antibiotics can interfere so in the event that you do have relations, use another form of protection as well.
___ dressings, gauze, Bacitracin
___ Hibiclens or antibacterial soap
___ Arnica Montana; Bromelain (www.cosmeticsurgeryshop.com)
___ over the counter (OTC) sleep meds or ask surgeon for prescription
___ Thermometer
___ Mild stool softeners (like Colace) ask your surgeon
___ silicone sheeting, Kelocote, steri-strips, Maderma
___ Moist Towelettes, Make-up remover towelettes
___ topical arnica(not to be placed on suture line)
___ Oral Vitamin C
___ ACE bandage
___ OTC (over the counter) musclerelaxers (ask your surgeon first!)
___ hot water bottles/heating pads for your back
___ Shea Nut Butter
___ hand moisturizer
___ boxes of Kleenex

Grocery Store:

___ bags of berries, peas (or whatever, if applicable)
___ Ritz crackers, Vanilla Wafers, Cheeze-its or Goldfish crackers (No Garlic flavored!)
___ bottled water, electrolyte or energy drinks (ask surgeon if these are okay)
___ Daikon (root vegetable for cleansing the bowels) - may be best after you are finished with your medications.
___ Frozen dinners
___ pudding and Jell-O
___ fruit
___ cookies
___ __________________________________
___ __________________________________
___ __________________________________
___ __________________________________

Department Store or Other:

___ LOTS of fluffy pillows
___ whistle, walkie-talkie or an intercom system
___ camera
___ film or disposable camera
___ journal
___ ink pens
___ supportive bras, sports bras, etc
___ Gameboy or a Playstation/Nintendo
___ bucket or pail with lid (for nausea)
___ fresh batteries for remote, Gameboy, Discman, booklight, phone, etc.
___ pj's, robe, or oversized, comfortable shirts that buttons in the front
___ pair of slippers (or several pair of thick socks)
___ hand mirror
___ hair scrunchies
___ Music CD's to listen to
___ Body pillow(s)
___ flash light or nightlight for late night bathroom trips
___ answering machine (or borrow friend's)
___ lap top with long phone cord (or borrow friend's)
___ ______________________________________
___ ______________________________________
___ ______________________________________
___ ______________________________________
___ ______________________________________
___ ______________________________________

What to Look For & What to Do In Case of a Complication

Be prepared! and stay calm - here is a list which tells you what to look for and what to do in case anything unexpected happens.

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Please contact your surgeon or the on-call physician immediately if you notice any of the following:

bleeding from your suture lines
pus or cloudy discharge from your incision areas, nipples or elsewhere
a foul odor from your incision areas, nipples or elsewhere
uncontrollable pain
blisters or implant extrusion
bottoming out of the implant
displacement of the implant
temperature over 100º F
inability to pass waste (both liquid and solid)
numbness of the legs (unless you had lipo as well)
uncontrollable dizziness not related to the pain relievers
deflation

Please contact your surgeon or the on-call physician AND go to the emergency room as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:

passing blood through urine, feces or spitting up blood
abrupt and severeswelling and discoloration (aside from normal swelling)
blackening of the skin (which is clearly NOT a bruise)
uncontrollable vomiting
loss of consciousness not related to sedatives
temperature over 105º F
convulsions

What to do in case of a complication:

#1 STAY CALM
Have your emergency numbers handy and contact, or have your caretaker contact, your surgeon or the on-call physician to let them know of your problem as soon as you can.
If you are going to the emergency room don't forget to tell your surgeon WHICH hospital
Bring all of your medications with you to the hospital
It may be cautionary to pack an overnight bag ahead of time "just in case"
If you are able, keep a written journal (and if possible photos) of your symptoms and complaints

Emergency Numbers:

Surgeon: ______________________________________________
Emergency On-call Physician: _____________________________
Hospital: _______________________________________________
Pharmacy: _____________________________________________
Parents: _______________________________________________
Friend: ________________________________________________
Other: ________________________________________________