How To Prepare for Plastic Surgery

If you have an upcoming plastic surgery procedure booked, you’re probably quite excited and a little anxious. It’s likely, too, that you have questions. So, in this article, we’ll provide you with a list of general pre-op guidelines for you to read.

If you have a surgical procedure booked with Dr Dona, you’ll receive a detailed set of post-operative instructions during your preoperative appointment. You can also call the clinic anytime to ask us any questions. These guidelines are here simply to give you general information to help you be more prepared ahead of time.

Do your research.

The first task you need to perform is to do your research. You can search online and ask family and friends if they have any recommendations. It’s imperative you choose a qualified plastic surgeon with the proper credentials and experience. And don’t just settle for the first surgeon you meet; seeking a second opinion from an appropriately qualified surgeon is advisable before proceeding. So, how do you know you’ve found the right surgeon for your procedure? There are several things to check. 

Verify their credentials: Your surgeon should have undergone rigorous training to become a qualified plastic surgeon. To check their registration, visit the AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) website and search for their name. You should be able to see their name, location, registration and any reprimands and conditions of practice. Similarly, you can check if your plastic surgeon is registered with the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons — the peak body for specialist plastic surgeons. They list all accredited specialist plastic surgeons and provide important information to make your decision easier.

Check their experience: Experience counts with surgery, so when you meet your surgeon, ask them how often they have performed the specific procedure you are interested in. Also, ask them for before and after photos of other patients who have had your intended surgery. Experienced surgeons should have a portfolio of such images to show you so you can assess the quality of their work.

Reputation: A good surgeon will have a good reputation. It’s helpful if you know anyone who has had the same procedure performed by the surgeon so you can ask them about their experience and see their results. It’s also crucial for a surgeon to be willing to discuss aspects of the procedure, including the healing process, recovery time and potential risks and complications.

Have your Initial Consultation.

Your Initial Consultation is the time to meet the surgeon, discuss your wants and needs and ask any questions. It’s a good idea to write down all your questions and bring them to the consultation. During your consultation, the surgeon will also ask various questions, discuss your medical history, examine your body, and propose appropriate surgical options. They will discuss any risks and complications associated with your potential procedure and explain the recovery period so you feel fully informed.

If your surgeon tries to push you into procedures you don’t want, won’t answer specific questions or makes you feel uncomfortable in any way, go with your gut and keep looking for a surgeon you do feel comfortable with.

Optimise your health before your procedure.

Once you’ve decided on your surgeon, it’s preparation time. Before your procedure date, you’ll need to optimise your health to give yourself the best chance of attaining the best results. There are various things you should do, such as:

• Give up smoking (and all tobacco products): If you’re a smoker, you should try to give up smoking at least two weeks before the procedure. Further, quitting should be permanent. If you want the best from your surgery as well as lasting health benefits, quitting is vital.

Not only are smoking and all nicotine products bad for your health for several serious reasons, but they also impair healing—and you must heal properly after your surgery. Smoking/nicotine negatively affects your circulation, which is critical for postsurgical healing.

Smoking/nicotine also increases the risk of complications during and after the procedure. The chemicals in cigarettes and nicotine products can increase your risk of bleeding, impede new blood vessel formation required for healing—and also complicate your heart and lung function during anaesthesia.

• Moderate alcohol consumption: Don’t underestimate the negative effects of alcohol. Alcohol can have a significant impact on your surgery and recovery. It can interfere with your liver function, thus affecting the way your body processes the anaesthetic and any pain medication. Alcohol can also increase swelling, which is the opposite of what you need to heal, so drinking can slow your healing time.

Try to cut back on your alcohol consumption as much as possible (or abstain completely) for several weeks before your surgery.

• Discontinue certain medications/supplements as advised: During your initial consultation, Dr Dona will review all your medications, supplements and herbs. Follow his instructions, and discontinue any that Dr Dona tells you to avoid. Typical medications to avoid include aspirin, anti-inflammatories and blood thinners..
• Cease all injectable weight loss medications: Many of the newer weight loss injectable treatments do increase the risk of developing significant anaesthetic complications. Therefore, you will need to cease all such treatments four weeks prior to your planned surgery. 
• Maintain a stable weight: If you are having a surgical procedure on your body, you must have reached your desired body weight and be confident you can maintain it. Fluctuations in weight can hinder the look of your surgical results—particularly if you have surgery that removes excess tissues.
• Optimise your nutrition: When preparing for surgery, nutrition is essential. Ensure you have a diet rich in lean protein, vitamins and minerals, with plenty of whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables, as this will help enhance your body’s ability to heal. Follow any nutritional guidelines recommended to you. Also, avoid processed foods or those rich in sugar or fat, as they can lead to inflammation, which is detrimental to your recovery.

• Don’t try any ‘starvation’ weight loss prior to surgery: losing sensible healthy amounts of weight prior to surgery is perfectly fine, as long as its done properly, realistic and sustainable. Starving yourself to lose a few kilo’s prior to surgery has many negative aspects, including resulting in a nutritionally depleted state and thus compromising your healing.

Prepare yourself emotionally.

It’s crucial that you only undergo cosmetic procedures when you are in good mental health and have realistic expectations. Additionally, you must do the mental preparation, which is just as important as the physical, and involves the following activities:

Do your research: Read as much as possible about the procedure (online and all information we give you in print), including its risks, complications and all recovery instructions. Be clear about what the surgery can and cannot do, and have realistic expectations about the results.

Emotional readiness: Think about the emotions you’ll likely experience after surgery, such as anxiety and frustration. Remember that all feelings are fleeting, and some negative emotions are to be expected. A good attitude is critical.

Have support: Depending on your procedure, you may need a little or a lot of support at home during the first couple of weeks. Ensure you have family members or friends who can help you out while you are incapacitated—and can offer you emotional support at vulnerable times.

Maintain a positive outlook: Throughout your recovery journey, keep your mind on the long-term results and remember why you had this procedure. Visualising your goals can help you maintain a positive attitude, positively affecting the healing process.

Prepare your home.

Moving around after your surgery will be difficult, so you must have your house and bedroom prepared. For example, you should tend to all cleaning and housekeeping tasks, fill any scripts for medication, shop for food—and perhaps buy some prepared meals so you don’t have to think about cooking. If your surgery requires you to sit up and not recline during recovery, ensure you have enough pillows to prop you up in bed or a comfortable reclining chair. You will need a good supply of water by your bed, all medications, reading material, electronic devices like your phone or laptop and their associated chargers.

Prepare for the hospital

If your surgery requires an overnight stay in hospital, you’ll need to prepare for your stay. Pack comfortable clothing, a toilet bag, slippers, personal items and essential documents (including photo ID, private health insurance/Medicare cards and hospital paperwork).

If you’re having a day surgery procedure, you must wear loose-fitting clothes, a front-open shirt and slip-on shoes. Leave all valuables, including jewellery, behind.

Don’t get sick!

The day of your surgery is an extremely important day and a great deal of time, effort and emotions has gone into it. The last thing you want is for the surgery to be suddenly cancelled. Unfortunately, if you happen to be unwell with a respiratory issue, such as a simple cold or flu, then for your safety the surgery will not be able to proceed. Therefore, to minimise the chance of this happening, then you need to do your very best to avoid exposure to any respiratory illness. It is best to revert back to all the safety measure we all had to adopt during Covid times. So for the last two weeks prior to your scheduled surgery, stay away from people, and if you have to be out and about be sur eto wera a mask.

Take adequate time off work.

Depending on your procedure, you may need to take time off work. Follow your surgeon’s advice and only return to work when you have recovered adequately and your surgeon says it’s okay to resume your normal activities.

Read all your instructions.

Dr Dona’s clinic will provide you with a significant amount of paperwork prior to your surgery, including pre and post surgery instructions. Be sure to read them and have them always available as a constant reminder for what you should and should not be doing.