Face Liposuction Pre & Post Care
The general information and post-operative instructions were carefully written with you in mind. Take the time to read them thoroughly several times. We have found that faithful adherence to the guidelines will give you the smoothest recovery and optimum results. If a question does arise, first refer back to these pages. If you are still uncertain, please call our office at Alabama Surgical Arts Office Phone Number 334-271-2002 or (334) 546-9088.
Items Needed:
- Prescription Medications
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Q-tips
- Distilled water
- Sunscreen SPF 45 or greater
Before the Procedure
- Be sure to have all your medications and supplies purchased prior to surgery. These include an antibiotic (Keflex or Cleocin), pain medication (Norco), anti-nausea suppositories (Phenergan), hydrogen peroxide, and q-tips. Start your antibiotic and the SinEcch provided to you the evening prior to surgery.
- Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the evening before your surgery. This includes water and chewing gum.
- Please wear clothing to surgery that does NOT go over your head. A button-down or zippered shirt will make it easier to get dressed following surgery.
- Shampoo your hair the evening and the morning of surgery. Do not use hair gel or hairspray.
- Clean your face the morning before surgery. Do not apply moisturizers, powders, or make-up.
- If you are a smoker stop smoking 6 weeks prior to surgery and 6 weeks after surgery to enhance wound healing and decrease the risk of complications.
- Stop the use of all aspirin products (see “Aspirin List”), Vitamin E, Fish oil, and Multi-vitamins two weeks prior to surgery and two weeks after.
- Bring your pain and nausea medication with you to surgery.
Post-Operative Care
- Please contact our office immediately if sudden profuse bleeding occurs. Remain calm as excitement and panic raises your blood pressure and worsen bleeding.
- Restart your antibiotic and Sinecch medication the night of your surgery. Take the antibiotic with a light meal to avoid nausea.
- To minimize swelling sleep in a semi-sitting position for 2 weeks following surgery. Propped up on 2-3 pillows or sleeping in a recliner are both acceptable. Swelling will peak at 72 hours. As a general rule, 80% of your swelling will be gone in 2-3 weeks and the remainder should resolve in 2-6 months. Sleep on your back and not on your side.
- Try to suppress any forceful coughing or sneezing for at least 7-10 days after surgery.
- Bruising may occur in the surgical area following the procedure. If bruising develops, it should be gone in 3-6 weeks. Bruising may also be seen lower on the neck and even on the chest.
- A low-grade fever for the first post-operative days is not abnormal. Take two Tylenol tablets for temperature elevations below 101.5º. If you have a persistent fever over 101.5º calls Alabama Surgical Arts.
- The chin strap may be removed the next day and the small incision under the chin should be cleaned as described below. The chin strap should then be replaced and should be “snug” under the chin. The garment should be washed periodically with hydrogen peroxide to remove blood stains.
- Men may reassume shaving with an electric razor on the fourth day after surgery. Continue using an electric razor till the numbness resolves.
- Avoid excessive facial movements, twisting your head from side to side, straining, or leaning forward of the head and neck for two to four weeks following surgery. Move your head and neck as one unit. Tightness along the incision is expected, but if you feel an increase in tightness as you move, you may be moving your head and neck too much. Try to suppress any forceful coughing or sneezing for at least 2 weeks. Avoid yawning lifting, bending, or aerobic exercise for 3 weeks following surgery. Avoid contact sports for 6 weeks.
- Do not eat food, candy, or gum after surgery that is hard to chew. A soft diet is recommended for the first three days after surgery. Avoid salt in your diet.
- You may begin to use make-up and or cover-up one week following surgery. Apply very carefully avoiding tugging, rubbing, or pushing the skin.
- Avoid the sun, which may darken maturing scars. Protect incisions by using sunscreen with an SPF of 45 or higher.
- Do not drive if you are taking pain medication.
- You may shower and wash your hair after your first postoperative appointment.
- After your first postoperative appointment, you will be given a chin strap. Wear this at all times during the first week except when showering or laundering the garment. After the first week, you will only wear this at home for two weeks.
- Your incision may ooze the first 24-48 hours after surgery. When the bandage is removed, keep the incisions clean and moist. Clean incisions gently softening any crusting with a Q-tip soaked in half-strength peroxide 4 times a daily. Perform this procedure until you are instructed to do otherwise.
- At a later time, you may be asked to massage your skin with vitamin E to achieve a more natural result.
- You may notice areas of numbness, firmness, or tenderness around your incisions or underneath your skin. The normal feeling should return several weeks to months after surgery.
- Bring your pain and nausea medications with you to surgery.
Post-operative Appointments
The first post-operative appointment will be the day after surgery for bandage removal. One week following surgery you will have sutures removed. Two weeks after surgery you will have staples removed if used. Your doctor will recommend any further follow-up visits.