Mid-face/Cheek Implant/Chin Implant 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:
- Lab Work
- Prescription Medications
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Q-tips
- Distilled water
- Peridex
Before the Procedure
- Be sure to have all your medications and supplies purchased prior to surgery. These include an antibiotic (Keflex or Cleocin), peridex, pain medication (Vicodin), 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. DO gargle the morning of surgery with the prescribed Peridex mouthwash if prescribed, DO NOT SWALLOW.
- 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.
- Clean your face the morning before surgery. Do not apply moisturizers, powder, 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.
- Shampoo your hair the evening prior to and the morning of surgery. Do not use hair gel or hairspray.
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 medication and Sinecch the night of your surgery. Take the antibiotic with a light meal to avoid nausea.
- 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.
- Bruising may occur in the surgical area following the procedure. If bruising develops, it should be gone in 7-14 days.
- A low-grade fever for the first post-operative days is not abnormal. Take two Tylenol tablets for temperature elevations below 101.5°. If you have a persistent fever over 101.5° call Alabama Surgical Arts.
- For 5-10 days following surgery, you will need to be on a soft diet, with little or no chewing required. To help prevent shifting or displacement of the implant.
- Men may reassume shaving with an electric razor on the fourth day after surgery.
- Avoid excessive facial movements, straining, or leaning forward of the head and neck for two weeks following surgery.
- 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 the day following surgery
Care of Incisions
MID-FACE IMPLANT: You will have an incision in the temporal area of your hairline and inside your gum line. The incision inside your mouth is usually less than ½” in length and the sutures used to close this will dissolve on their own in 5-10 days. You will need to use the prescribed Peri-dex mouthwash after each meal. Use a mixture of 50% hydrogen peroxide and distilled water and q-tips to clean temporal incisions.
CHIN IMPLANT: The day following surgery you will need to use a mixture of 50% Hydrogen Peroxide and distilled water to clean your incision twice daily. You will need to wear your chin strap as much as possible until instructed otherwise. If there is tape covering the incision leave it on until it begins peeling off.
Post-Operative Appointments
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.