Edward D. Buckingham, M.D.

Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Preoperative Instruction Sheet

Aspirin & Aspirin-Related Products

Aspirin and aspirin-related products (see following list) should not be taken either 2 weeks before or after surgery because they increase the tendency of bleeding.

For this reason, it is very important that contents of any “over-the-counter preparations” be checked carefully prior to their use.

Many headache preparations, cold remedies and “hangover cures” contain ASPIRIN.  The chemical name of aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid.

You can substitute TYLENOL (acetominophen) for these products if you require pain medication before surgery.

Check with your pharmacist if you are uncertain whether a medicine contains aspirin.

Herbal Medications & Nutritional Supplements

Some herbal medications and nutritional supplements may also increase bleeding or photosensitivity (i.e., sun sensitivity).  Please discontinue all herbal medications and nutritional supplements 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery.  In particular, discontinue use of the following medications and supplements 2 weeks prior to surgery and for 2 weeks after surgery.  Some of the following plant foods, such as celery, dill, fennel, may be used in moderation in your diet.

Vitamins

If you are taking a routine multi-vitamin, you may continue doing so.  However, if you are taking any vitamin E pills, please stop 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery, as this may increase your chance of bleeding.

Prescribed Medications

If you are taking prescription medications, e.g., for high blood pressure, please continue to do so even the morning of surgery, except:

1.  If you are diabetic, please refrain from taking your diabetic pills or insulin injection the morning of surgery as you will not be eating or drinking anything that morning.  Please also check your blood sugar level that morning prior to coming to the hospital.  If your blood sugar is excessively low (below 80) you may take a few sips of orange juice.

2.  If you are taking prescription pain medications, e.g., for arthritis, please ask us if you can safely continue these medications.  Some of these medications contain aspirin or aspirin-like products that may cause you to bleed.  (See the previous page for list of aspirin-related products.)

If you are asthmatic, please take your inhaler(s) the morning of surgery as well as per your routine schedule.

Diet

Do not eat or drink anything (including gum, mints, etc.) after midnight the night before surgery.  On the morning of surgery, you may have a few sips of water when you take your prescription medications.  Otherwise, do not eat or drink anything that morning.

Tobacco

Nicotine in any form, including cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and even transdermal patches and gum can adversely affect your wound healing.  If possible, you are advised to stop all forms of tobacco 2 weeks before and after surgery, especially if Dr. Buckingham is performing a FLAP reconstruction (e.g., facelift, cancer reconstruction, etc.).  There is a chance that you may compromise the success of your surgery if you should continue to take tobacco.

Alcohol

Try to abstain from any heavy drinking 2 weeks prior and after surgery.  If possible, curtail even moderate social drinking the week prior and after surgery.

On the Day of Surgery…

1.  Please wear a button-down shirt instead of a pull-over shirt so that you may change clothes afterwards without disturbing your wound or soil your clothing. 

2.  Also do not engage in any vigorous cardiovascular exercise the morning of surgery.  Increasing your blood flow with exercise the morning of surgery may increase your chance of bleeding.

3.  Please make sure that you have arranged to have someone transport you home after the surgery if you’re scheduled to go home afterwards.  We also believe it is mandatory in many cases to have a companion or family member stay with you for the first 24 hours after surgery.

4.  If you wear fingernail polish, please ensure that at least one fingernail is free of polish so that the pulse oximeter (the device that reads your oxygen levels) may properly function.

5.  Please wash your face the morning of your surgery, preferably with an antibacterial soap.

Also…

Please read all your postoperative instructions very carefully now before your surgery.  You should clean all your wounds with mild soap and water or Hydrogen Peroxide (sparingly), and apply Polysporin Ointment using Q-tips. 

We greatly appreciate the confidence you have shown in us by allowing us to assist you in improving your appearance and health, and you may be assured of our best efforts to achieve the most satisfactory surgical result possible for your particular individual anatomy and condition.

Edward D. Buckingham, M.D.