Cosmetic Surgery Preoperative Checklist and Considerations

Preoperative Checklist and Considerations

To achieve the optimum result for any particular individual it is of the utmost importance that your surgeon strives to attain the perfect conditions in which to perform your operation. It has been stressed on many occasions throughout this site, DiscoverCosmeticSurgery.com, that the pre-operative consultation is the most essential element of the entire cosmetic procedure, and it has been covered in more detail within The Importance of a Pre-Operative Consultation. This is an interesting read and handles the medical and physical aspects of the actual fitness of a patient for surgery.

Due to the fact cosmetic surgery is entirely your (the patient’s) choice, it is fully necessary for the doctor to ensure that you’re physically fit to face up to the procedure safely and without unnecessary risk. It would be extremely foolish for a doctor to operate upon any individual who has a heightened risk of a significant health-related complication after having a surgical procedure, which might endanger his or her well-being or indeed, their life.

A pre-consultation questionnaire or preoperative checklist, carefully devised by the operating surgeon, is a helpful tool to screen someone from a solely medical viewpoint. This will generally give the doctor all the information he or she requires to be able to ascertain if you’re physically fit for surgery, or even in the event that there are any factors that may preclude carrying out the procedure. Any kind of greyish areas can then be researched in more detail.

Additionally, the doctor will go through his own, comprehensive screening regimen to ensure that it’s safe to use on you.

A few of the more important factors to address when considering any cosmetic surgery are as follows, which are the basic preoperative checklist considerations:

Your Present General Health

Any sort of significant history of pre-existing issues with medical fitness will immediately alert the doctor to take suitable action making an informed decision regarding continuing with your choice of surgical treatment. You should report any recently encountered signs and symptoms, e.g. abnormal thirst, frequency of urinating, inexplicable weight loss, because these may indicate the start of an illness or disease that has not yet been undiagnosed, for example diabetes

Your Past Medical History

An in depth past medical history should assist the surgeon to uncover any kind of contraindications to proceeding with surgery or notify the doctor to any kind of likely post-operative problems e.g. previous post-operative deep vein thrombosis, or a track record of heart or chest difficulties.

You should declare any previous psychiatric background, with precise details of any hospital admissions and prescribed medications. A track record of depressive disorders or anxiousness can be highly relevant to how you respond to the potential worry of experiencing a cosmetic surgery operation.

Your Family Medical History

Any significant family history associated with illness ought to be declared, particularly a family background of anaesthetic problems. An ailment known as Malignant Hyperthermia is a familial condition, whereby the sufferer’s metabolism is actually massively increased whilst under a general anaesthetic resulting in a grossly exaggerated as well as rapid increase in body temperature, which, if not quickly and skillfully treated, can result in the quick decline of the patient. Fortunately, this condition is very rare.

You should always, in actual fact, declare any illness or disease you are aware runs in your family, regardless of how minor or insignificant you think it is.

Any Allergies

When a person reaches puberty, he or she should know about any allergies she may have, especially an allergy to conventional drugs. The most common, most significant and relevant allergen in surgery is Penicillin. Clearly an allergic reaction to any other prescription medication or drug is important too, particularly to a specific anaesthetic agent or post anaesthetic medication, but this really is less common. It is crucial therefore, that all allergies should be declared prior to your surgery.

Any Current Medications

You should inform your doctor of any oral medications you might be taking, just in case they are likely to react with any medication which could possibly be administered during an anaesthetic or at any time throughout your stay in hospital. Of specific importance is the oral birth control pill as well as hormone-replacement treatment, as in certain situations it will be necessary to take additional steps to safeguard the individual against the potential for post-operative deep vein thrombosis.

It’s also wise to declare any kind of alternative, homeopathic, or other medicines or preparations to the surgeon and anaesthetist prior to surgery. These medications can also interact with conventional medications, especially anaesthetic drugs, and which could ultimately have devastating consequences.

Abnormal Healing/Scarring

If you have a history of abnormal scarring or healing, this should prepare you and your doctor for the chance of an unfavourable result. Every thing possible must be done in an attempt to reduce this problem e.g. your rigorous adherence to post-operative guidelines, as well as measures to prevent any chance of an infection.

Nutritional vitamins

The taking of nutritional vitamins and supplements is encouraged so they can improve the healing process. The holistic preparation arnica is encouraged by a number of surgeons as an extremely effective aid to healing, even though some scientific reviews have cast doubt over its usefulness.

Bleeding/Clotting Problems

Any known tendency to bleeding or abnormal clotting disorder in you or your family must be completely investigated prior to surgery. Some patients complain of ‘bruising easily’ just before surgery. This is usually a harmless disorder, also known as ‘devil’s pinch’, and is not significant.

In the event you or any of your relatives have experienced, in the past, deep vein thrombosis after a surgical procedure, you need to be given prophylactic preventative treatment and treated with the utmost care prior to surgery.

An increasing quantity of patients are, nowadays, seeking cosmetic surgery abroad and travelling long distances by plane. Unfortunately, we are aware of an increasing number of deaths through pulmonary embolus in individuals who have travelled by air, stepped off an aeroplane, and gone straight onto an operating table for surgical treatment. Extreme caution must be exercised in such situations.

Excessive Alcohol Intake

Extreme alcohol consumption will hinder liver performance and consequently the formation of the essential clotting factors within the bloodstream. This could sometimes result in a problem when the clotting time is elevated following a procedure. This can consequently lead to excessive post-operative blood loss with a greater chance of developing a post-operative haematoma.

Aspirin, a common medication used for a number of reasons, has a similar impact on bleeding, and really should be avoided for 2 weeks just before elective surgical treatment if at all possible.

Smoking

All patients are highly encouraged to quit smoking. Smoking isn’t just a recognised health hazard on its own, but is actually responsible for several post-operative complications and problems in patients who have a general anaesthetic for aesthetic cosmetic surgery.

a) Reduced circulation
It’s a known proven fact that people who smoke heavily are more prone to suffer the effects of reduced circulation. This may lead to flap necrosis (loss of your skin resulting in noticeable scars) e.g. following abdominoplasty or a facelift procedure. The speed of healing will also be impacted. Furthermore, a smokers cough rigtht after face lift surgery can certainly precipitate a haemorrhage or an expanding haematoma.
b) Chest infections
Individuals who smoke heavily, are much more likely to develop a chest infection post-operatively, especially after major procedures for example abdominoplasty.

Anaesthetic Reactions

This has already been covered above, however it should be mentioned that individual patients react in a different way to a general anaesthetic. A few suffer extreme vomiting, a few find it hard to wake up afterwards, a few wake up really tearful, however luckily the majority of get absolutely no side effects whatsoever.

In many cases you’ll be aware of a specific effect an anaesthetic has on you, from previous experience. Any unfortunate reaction to an anaesthetic agent must be handled promptly and, thankfully, severe complications tend to be rare. Any kind of known anaesthetic reaction should therefore be declared before surgery.

The majority of local anaesthetics contain adrenaline. The purpose of the adrenaline is to bring about vaso-constriction (narrowing of the local blood vessels) therefore reducing blood loss at the procedure site. This makes it much easier for the doctor to operate.

Generally, allergies to local anaesthetics are extremely unusual. Nevertheless, some individuals can occasionally develop an unpleasant sensation immediately following the local anaesthetic injection, which is as a result of the adrenaline. This reaction is usually a temporary one.

Urinary Difficulties

Urinary tract infections really are a common post-operative complication, particularly in patients that are prone to them.

Abstinence from Food and Drink

Each and every patient having a general anaesthetic must refrain from eating food and drinking liquids for many hours in advance. This is to ensure that the stomach is empty so that you can avoid the potential inhalation of vomit through the administration and duration of the anaesthetic. Every patient will be advised appropriately.

Your Expectations and Hopes

One of the most essential questions the surgeon ought to ask you is, ‘What are you attempting to achieve?’ He then needs to compare your answer to what you really are actually likely to get. If you’re hoping for somewhat more than the process is generally capable of achieving, then disappointment is extremely likely.

The perfect patients for cosmetic surgery tend to be physically fit and healthy, psychologically sound and know and want what the operation can usually give, results wise. An encouraging family and work environment also have a huge impact.

Employment and Social Background

One of the most common questions patients ask following surgery is actually, ‘When can I go back to work?’ The surgeon will have to know what your work commitments as well as circumstances involve in order to answer this query accurately. With respect to the scale of the procedure you are thinking about, you may need to arrange to have some considerable time away from work. Only you will know if this is feasible. Your relationship with your co-workers — regardless of whether you get on well together or not, whether or not they know about and therefore are sympathetic towards your having cosmetic surgery — may also have a significant bearing on exactly how successfully you will view the result.

Preferably you will have a loyal and encouraging, supportive partner or close friend who will help you with the inevitable stress and tension of having surgical treatment and dealing with the immediate after effects. Frequently the results of the cosmetic surgery procedure can initially be fairly disappointing. In the beginning the patient simply sees the effect of an injury: bruising, inflammation, scars as well as stitches. It is only later on that the benefits of the operation become obvious. It’s very beneficial to have personal support through the early stages following an operation.

The second best scenario is to be left alone to recuperate quietly without having to look after anyone else, such as children, except your self. The most detrimental situation would be to live with someone who is antagonistic to the entire idea of the operation. Each and every little bruise could be the focus of an ‘I told you so’ type of comment, and a surgical procedure that would have been a success with a supportive companion can be converted into a failure.

It is a good idea for any husband and wife to go to the pre-operative consultation together if possible, so the events in the post-operative stage and all the complications as well as risks can be explained to both of them at the same time. This really is particularly relevant to breast surgery and facial skin ablation proced

Now read Cosmetic Surgery Post Operative Complications and Concerns

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