Safety Tips Before Cosmetic Surgery: Avoid Aspirin
March 20th, 2019
Patient preparation for surgery is essential to make the post-operative course of recovery safer for patients.
Stop all aspirin and NSIDs, unless specifically directed otherwise by your surgeon. Also disclose any over the counter medications, vitamins, and prescription medications you are taking prior to your surgery, including tobacco products. Both aspirin and NASIDs affect platelet function in the blood. The result is a reduced ability to clot the blood when tissue is divided in surgery. This can lead to unwanted bleeding and bruising after surgery. These effects last for two weeks. Stop taking these medications two weeks before surgery. Some other medications and tobacco products cause complications either during surgery or in the healing process. This recommendation includes some herbal remedies, so always check with your surgeon.
Heating Pads After Cosmetic Surgery?
December 5th, 2017
Heating Pads After Cosmetic Surgery? No and here’s why.
Contrary to the soothing warmth a heating pad delivers for common musculo-skeletal ailments and sports injuries, heating pads are NOT ever advised during recovery and convalescence from cosmetic surgery. A normal part of any surgical procedure is swelling, bruising and pain. Swelling of the skin and subcutaneous tissues not only reduces sensation, but also makes the delicate skin more susceptible to injury following surgery.
It’s very important to exercise caution after having cosmetic surgery. Small nerves are damaged during surgery, which leaves you with temporary numbness around the surgical site. Now you can imagine what happens when you put a hot heating pad on these areas, because it is impossible to determine the exact temperature of the heating pad, potentially leading to burns. Normally when the pad gets too hot for comfort, you just remove it. This is a natural defense mechanism, which is temporarily lost following surgery. The skin is numb, the surgical site is swollen and is very susceptible to being burnt quite easily. Some pain medication may also interfere in monitoring. I recommend using an ice bag containing some water to be applied gently in most cases and refreshed as needed. The water helps keep the ice at a safe temperature to safely ease pain and swelling. (see photo)
Never use heating pads during recovery from cosmetic surgery due to the risk of skin burns and scarring. Note that this risk can remain present and last for up to six months following surgery during the recovery process. When in doubt, always consult your doctor.
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