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By: Dr. Javier Roman C., Plastic Surgeon
Plastic Surgery should be planned with the same care and attention as heart surgery or brain surgery, most patients have a satisfactory result, but “not everything is hunky-dory.” A small number of patients who undergo plastic surgery have complications, most of these are minor and rapidly resolved, surgeons are the first concerned with reducing complications to the minimum, there’s no single surgeon who has no complications, but we all put our best efforts to avoid them. The following are recommendations for patients to follow step by step so that the result is the best.
* Select your plastic surgeon.
Nothing is as important in the success of plastic surgery as selecting a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who’s certified by the Mexican Board of Plastic Surgery, the surgeon must be a physician with medical specialty and licensed as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, and have experience in the surgical procedure you want to go through. The Mexican Association of Plastic Surgery A. C. (www.cirugiaplastica.org.mx ) has an extensive list of doctors in your city. Unnecessary is to say that the trained physician to perform Cosmetic Surgery is an aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon.
* All surgery has a risk.
All surgery has a risk but in order to reduce it, our patients must be aware that step by step precautionary measures are taken. First, you must take laboratory tests (blood count with determination of platelets, blood chemistry, urinalysis, and complete coagulation tests), in all healthy patients who are less than 40 years and who will undergo surgery. In patients older than 40 years, an electrocardiogram must be added, a pre-anesthetic assessment is suggested, which means, setting an appointment with the anesthesiologist who will take care of this stage of surgery.
* The hospital or clinic where you’ll go through surgery.
When your surgeon proposes a plastic surgery in an operating room, you should be sure of getting your surgery in a clinic or hospital that has all the necessary safety elements to monitor your vital signs during surgery, and has good sanitary and hygiene conditions.
* The responsibility of the surgeon.
The plan of surgery is very important, “more surgery time greater chances of complications,” I would suggest not taking more than two procedures at the same time, surgery should not last longer than 4 hours, fat extractions have to be no more than four liters, and try not combining procedures with other specialties. Moderation is the key to success. I’m not saying that you cannot go through surgery safely, some colleagues do, but from my perspective I think there is no need to do so, no rush if you can go through surgery in two-times with very predictable, reliable and safe results.
* Medication a patient takes.
Some medications should be stopped at least 15 days before any surgery and after it. Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (Advil, Alka -seltzer , Celebrex , Motrin , Sidolil , Tonopan) are examples of these drugs that have an anti-platelet aggregator, so that patients are more likely to have bruising in their post–operative period.
Some supplements and herbal extracts have an effect on clotting and the nervous system and should be stopped at least three weeks before any surgery (Ginseng , Ginkgo Biloba, St. John’s wort , valerian tea , ginger, garlic tablets and echinacea tea or powder), your doctor should widely explain the consequences of these products in your surgery.
* Post Surgery Care.
It is important that you keep a direct communication with your doctor at all times, you should follow his instructions fully, never self-medicate, do not follow recommendations that are not from your surgeon, walk every 2 hours for 20 minutes, drink plenty of fluids and eat properly . This is a step by step plan, take care of yourself, and always look for the best for you, if you want to go through plastic surgery be sure to be in the best hands.
