Patient Resources

Permission and Guidelines to Contact You

It is important that we know how to contact you. We will obtain your contact information but it is important that we know how you wish us to communicate with you and that we have your permission on record. Please copy, fill out and either email the form to us or bring it with you to your appointment.

• Consent to Communicate Form

Letter of Medical Clearance For Elective Plastic Surgery

Once you have scheduled your surgery we may ask you to have your primary care physician send us a letter of medical clearance for surgery. If you have a history of medical illness, are over 55 years old and or are taking prescription medications for a medical illness we request that you see your primary care physician and obtain medical clearance to have elective plastic surgery. Most doctors are used to providing this letter but below are the essential features of the letter we require. You may print the form below to take to your doctor. All patients over 55 years old are also required to have a recent EKG or Electrocardiogram to have sent to us before your pre op visit.

• Letter of Medical Clearance For Elective Plastic Surgery

Prepare for Surgery

Have A Support System In Place

It is very important to have someone who can help you with your daily activities after surgery. This can be a spouse, significant other, parent, or friend but especially the first day or 2 after surgery you need someone to be with you. Although many plastic surgery procedures are outpatient or ambulatory procedures after which you may go home, you must be accompanied by someone or you will not be able to leave the hospital and will need to be admitted. It is a Hospital rule that if you have had anesthesia or if you are taking narcotic pain medications you may not leave the hospital unless accompanied by someone who can be with you.

Eat Healthy

Eat a healthy diet low in saturated fats, high in complex carbohydrates and fiber, with healthy colorful vegetables and fruits and avoid rich spicy foods and foods that are high in salt and sodium. High salt or sodium intake makes your body withhold water in the tissues and can lead to increased swelling after surgery. You want to approach your procedure with good healthy nutritional support.

Helpful Pre Op Medications

• Vitamin C is an important vitamin for wound healing. If you do not regularly take vitamin C I suggest taking 500 to 1000 mg of vitamin C daily starting 2 weeks before surgery.
• Metamucil is an excellent high fiber stool softener which will help prevent constipation after surgery. Pain medications are notorious for slowing the bowel, can cause constipation and result in straining when you go to the bathroom. It is important to avoid constipation because straining at the stool can cause you discomfort and can increase the chance of bleeding after surgery. I suggest a tablespoon of Metamucil in water the morning before surgery and each day after surgery as long as you’re taking pain medication.
• Arnica Montana is an herbal supplement available in most health food stores and drug stores which may reduce your bruising and swelling after surgery. By the 30C sized tablets. Take 2 30C tablets 3 times a day starting the day before your surgery. You may dissolve the tablets underneath your tongue. You may also take Arnica Montana to help reduce bruising prior to injections of Botox® and dermal fillers.

Do Not Smoke or Use Tobacco or Nicotine

Nicotine in any form whether tobacco or nicotine patches should be fastidiously avoided ideally 5 weeks before elective plastic surgery. Nicotine causes spasm and constriction of blood vessels and robs your skin of blood supply. This could have disastrous consequences for a facelift, tummy tuck or any procedure that involves lifting the skin. If you are a smoker you may be tested for nicotine metabolites in your blood prior to surgery.

Avoid Excessive Alcohol Intake

Excessive alcohol intake can cause fluid retention, disturbance of liver function and disturbance of brain function. You want to approach your surgery in your best health and should avoid excessive alcohol intake at least 2 weeks prior to your surgery.

Medications to Avoid Before Surgery

There are many over-the-counter medications that people take often on a daily basis that can cause bleeding after surgery. A partial list of medications that you should stop taking 2 weeks prior to your surgery is: