Facelift

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Risks

IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE HOSPITAL...

Before You Go

• The Week Before Surgery:
• You'll probably need to stop taking aspirin and ibuprofen; the doctor will tell you when. If you're taking aspirin for your heart, don't stop without asking the doctor first. Also ask whether you can take any over-the-counter medicines.
• Your doctor will tell you whether you need to have blood drawn.
• The Night Before Surgery:
• Your physician may suggest you take a sleeping pill.
• Just before surgery, you should not eat or drink anything (even water). Your doctor will tell you when to begin fasting.

When You Arrive

• Check with your doctor before taking insulin, diabetes pills, blood pressure medicine, heart pills, or any other medication on the day of surgery.
• Do not wear contact lenses to the hospital. You may wear glasses.

What to Expect While You're There

• Taking Vital Signs: These include your temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeats), and respirations (counting your breaths). A stethoscope is used to listen to your heart and lungs. Your blood pressure is taken by wrapping a cuff around your arm.
• Blood Tests: You may need blood taken for tests. It can be drawn from a vein in your hand or from the bend in your elbow. Several samples may be needed.
• Chest X-ray: The doctor will check this picture of your lungs and heart to make certain you can handle the surgery.
• Heart Monitor: (Also called an electrocardiogram [e-LEK-tro-KAR-di-o-gram] or EKG). Typically, three to five sticky pads are placed on different parts of your body. Each pad has a wire that is hooked to a TV-type screen or to a small portable box (telemetry unit) that shows a tracing of each heartbeat.
• IV: A tube placed in your vein for giving medicine or liquids. It will be capped or have tubing connected to it.
• Pulse Oximeter: With a little clip connected to your ear, finger, or toe, this machine measures the oxygen in your blood.
• Anesthesia: You'll need a pain-killer during the operation. For this type of surgery, the following options are available:
• General Anesthesia: This alternative puts you completely to sleep throughout the operation. The anesthetic is given either as a liquid in your IV or as a gas through a face mask or endotracheal (END-o-TRA-kee-ull) tube placed in your mouth and throat.
• Local Anesthesia: This is simply a pain-killing injection at the site of the operation. You'll remain awake, and may feel some painless pressure or pushing.

During Surgery

After Surgery:

• Oxygen: After the operation, your body may need extra oxygen. It is given either through a plastic mask over your mouth and nose or through nasal prongs. If the oxygen dries out your nose or the nasal prongs bother you, tell your nurse, but don't take off the oxygen on your own.
• Deep Breathing and Coughing: These exercises help prevent a lung infection after surgery. Deep breathing opens the tubes going to your lungs. Coughing helps to bring up sputum from your lungs and keep them clear.
• Take a deep breath and hold it as long as you can. Then push the air out of your lungs with a deep strong cough. Put any sputum that you have coughed up into a tissue. Take 10 deep breaths in a row every hour while awake. Remember to follow each deep breath with a cough.
• Incentive spirometer (spy-ROM-uh-tur): This piece of equipment helps you take deeper breaths. Put the plastic nozzle into your mouth, take a very deep breath, and hold it as long as possible. Then blow as hard as you can into the mouthpiece. Take 10 deep breaths in a row every hour while awake. Remember to follow each deep breath with a cough.
• Drains: Thin rubber tubes may be put into the area around your incision to drain off excess fluid. They will be taken out when no longer needed.
• Eating: Start with clear liquids (apple juice, broth, jello, tea, or coffee) using a straw. You may eat other liquids (milk, pudding, or ice cream) when you feel up to it. Start eating a soft diet (eggs, oatmeal, sliced bananas, or mashed potatoes) when chewing is less painful.
• Activity: Rest quietly for 24 hours with your head raised on pillows. Keep your head still and don't bend or stretch your neck more than necessary. Make sure there's someone with you the first time you get out of bed. If you feel weak or dizzy, lie back down and call a nurse.
• Medicines:
• Antibiotics: These medicines help prevent bacterial infection. They may be given by IV, as a shot, or by mouth.
• Pain Medicine: To ease pain after the operation, your doctor will probably prescribe medication to be given by IV, as a shot, or by mouth. Tell the doctor or your nurses if the pain won't go away or keeps coming back.
• Anti-Nausea Medicine: This medicine calms your stomach and controls vomiting. Your doctor may suggest you take it at the same time as your pain medicine, which sometimes upsets the stomach.

After You Leave

• Always take your medicine exactly as directed. If it doesn't seem to help, let the doctor know, but keep taking it until told otherwise. If you've been prescribed antibiotics, be sure to use them up, even if you're feeling better.
• For pain or swelling, use cold compresses on your face for the first 24 hours. Soak a clean washcloth in a bowl of ice water, wring it out, and place it gently over your face. Leave in place for 15 to 20 minutes out of every hour as long as needed on the first day. When the compress gets warm, replace it with a fresh one.
• When you are allowed to bathe or shower, carefully wash the stitches with soap and water, then apply a clean, new bandage. Change your bandage any time it gets wet or dirty.
• Driving may be dangerous for the first few days. Swelling and bandages may obstruct your vision, and pain medication may make you drowsy. Don't drive until the doctor gives you the go-ahead.
• You may start using makeup in 1 week. Pat it on to avoid stretching the skin.
• To prevent facial sunburn and swelling, use sunscreen and wear a wide-brimmed hat for at least 3 months after surgery.
• When blow-drying your hair, keep the dryer on a low, cool setting. Your scalp may be numb for some time after surgery, and if your blow dryer is too hot, you could burn your scalp without knowing it.

Call Your Doctor If...

• Your face starts to swell and large bruises develop.
• Your face becomes paralyzed or your lip begins to sag on one side.
• Your incisions become swollen and red, or you notice any pus. They may be infected.
• Your stitches come apart.
• Your bandage becomes soaked with blood.
• You develop a fever.
• You have itchy, swollen skin or develop a rash. You may be allergic to your medicine.

Seek Care Immediately If...

• You suddenly have trouble breathing or start having chest pain. You could have a blood clot in your lungs or an allergy to one of your medicines.