Email - asksurgeonkzn@gmail.com

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

MBChB [UCT] FC Plast Surg [SA] Fellow [Oxford-UK]

Now that we have met, and gone through what the surgery entails, here are just a few guidelines on the upcoming weeks prior to your surgical day

1 month prior to surgery

-Refrain from smoking completely, it impairs healing, can cause stretched, widened, elevated and thickened darker scars, as well as causing skin death.

2 weeks prior to surgery

--avoid anything with aspirin, or any flu medication combinations-these contain blood thinning drugs

1 week prior to surgery

-Stop all over the counter medications including vitamins and avoid anything over 1 unit of alcohol[a glass of wine/ a beer] per night

-Stop all health and gym supplements completely

-Stop any tea preparations[green tea/health tea] other that the normal varieties.

-avoid anything with aspirin, or any flu medication combinations-these contain blood thinning drugs- this is for 2 weeks prior to surgery.

[any other blood thinning medication must be reported to Dr Singh if you happened to omit this on my information/consult form]

-Continue taking all other medications

The day of surgery

-Anxiety is expected, mixed with excitement, but most importantly, a feeling that you are in the best hands and will be well looked after throughout your whole surgical experience.

-Chat to me about any last minute questions you have, I pride myself in being an approachable person, not just an approachable surgeon

-Don’t eat or drink from the specified time on your admission slip, and come through to the day ward where I will go through things again

-I will prescribe some meds to take the edge off and get you a bit drowsy before you are wheeled into theatre [this is called a pre-med]

I will put up a drip and you will be put off to sleep, I routinely tell my patients that the prick of the drip is the most painful bit of the procedure

-you will have “twilight anaesthesia” ie you will not have any pipes put down into your lungs, you will be fully in control of your breathing and vitals, and worldwide, this is preferred as there are less fluctuations eg of your blood pressure, no coughing on removing pipes from your lungs wih eg full anaesthesia] therefore less chance of swelling

We will wake you up in theatre and transfer you back to the ward.

You will have a bandage wrapped around your head as well us under you chin.

There will be 2 tiny drains the width of a pencil hidden behind your ears under the bandages.

You will be discharged with some painkillers, and antiinflammatories, and some antibacterial ointment

The local anaesthesia wears off in approx 5 hours so please take as much meds as you require to alleviate the symptoms

Antibiotics will be prescribed for  days[take some over the counter probiotics should you have a sensitive stomach]

Do not smoke, take any alcohol, or start any over the counter meds or any other of the blood thinners as set out in my preop form

Do start your chronic meds[besides blood thinners] the day of surgery.

When you get home, continue icing every three hours for 60 mins at a time[on each side]-swelling peaks 3 days after surgery and settles thereafter.

-pop some ice packs or ice in a “zip lock” and place them in the cheek area

Please sleep on your back and on at least 2 pillows/or elevate the head of the bed-it helps to improve the swelling

I will see you in the rooms the day after surgery to remove the bandage,drains and fit you with an elegant pressure garment

Shower 2 days after surgery[keep the area dry]

I will remove the stitches 5-7 days thereafter, in my rooms, and don’t be stressed- it is not sore, and takes 2 minutes.

Expect approx 2 weeks for the swelling to subside significantly, and wear your garment around the clock during this period.

I will see you again in a month, then 3, 6 months post op as well as a year post op.

You will be most happy with your refreshed and rejuvenated look!