SKIN RESURFACING / CO2 LASER / DERMABRASION / TCA PEEL PREOPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS

PREPARING FOR THE PROCEDURE:

10-12 days off of work is recommended to recover from surgery.

On the business day prior to the operation we ask you to call to confirm your arrival time for surgery.
Do not bring valuables (cash, credit cards, watches, jewelry, etc.) on the day of resurfacing procedure. Remove all makeup and nail polish before arriving for your procedure.

It is essential that someone be available to drive you home, and that person is able to spend the evening of surgery with you. It is California law that every patient be monitored for a period of twenty-four hours following surgery. This person does not have to have any nursing experience, just an interest in your welfare. While you spend the day at rest, your helper will fix soft food for your lunch and dinner, assist in applying the cold compresses to your eyes, walk you to the bathroom and just be near if you should require anything.

You may not eat or drink after midnight the evening before the resurfacing procedure unless instructed otherwise. This includes all food, liquids, water, candy, mints or gum.

Clothing- Wear a loose dress, or slacks and a blouse. You must not wear anything that pulls over the head or face.

It is imperative to refrain from tobacco products for one week prior and three weeks following resurfacing procedure. If smoking is continued during these periods there is a significant risk of skin necrosis and sloughing.

It is recommended that you purchase thick cover-up make-up prior to your procedure. In some instances this may be useful to camouflage bruising or redness after surgery.

MEDICATIONS

At your preoperative appointment you will provided with all of the instructions for you to follow before and after resurfacing procedure. During this appointment you will also be given all of the prescriptions necessary for the recovery period. You should fill these prescriptions prior to the date of surgery. We will also ask you to obtain Aquaphor healing ointment and saline water for use following resurfacing procedure.

Please avoid any aspirin, aspirin-containing products, or ibuprofen (Advil, Aleve, etc.) for one week prior to and two weeks following your resurfacing procedure. See our “Medication List” for products to avoid prior to and immediately following resurfacing procedure. If you are on any medications that affect bleeding (such as coumadin or warfarin) please notify the office immediately.

Please avoid herbal supplements for 10 days prior to surgery, including and especially fish oil, ginseng and garlic.

We ask that you remain on your daily medications unless instructed otherwise. At the preoperative resurfacing appointment, you will be told which daily medications to take with just a sip of water on the morning of surgery.

Post operative resurfacing medication checklist

1. Antibiotic (Keflex, Clindamycin): prescription
2. Antiviral (Acyclovir): prescription
3. Locoid Cream: prescription
4. Pain reliever (vicodin, percocet) : prescription
5. Medrol Dose Pack: prescription
6. Saline water: purchased over the counter
7. Aquaphor healing ointment: purchased over the counter
8. Arnica (a natural herb that significantly decreases bruising): purchased over the counter

AFTER THE RESURFACING PROCEDURE

Immediately after the procedure

When you wake up from resurfacing procedure you will notice dressings around the resurfaced areas. The nurses will ask you to meet the discharge criteria: to drink liquids, walk with a steady gait, void, manage your discomfort, and monitor and empty the drains.

For patients who have a combination of plastic surgery procedures such as an eyelid lift, your vision may be cloudy from the ointment we place in your eyes at the time of surgery. The nurses will review all instructions you will need for care following your resurfacing.

You will be asked to come to our office the following day after resurfacing procedure for a postsurgical evaluation.

POSTOPERATIVE RESURFACING INSTRUCTIONS

The First 24 Hours:

Wound care

Keep dressing dry and intact the evening after resurfacing procedure. Notify your doctor if the dressings become loose or fall off.

Activity

Sleep with head of the bed elevated or use two to three pillows. Absolutely no bending, lifting or straining. If you have little children, bend at the knees or sit on the floor and let them climb on to your lap.

Shower / Bathing

Bathing is ok as long as you don’t get your face wet for a minimum of four days after surgery.

Diet

Advance diet from liquids to soft food to your regular diet as tolerated.

Pain:

Discomfort following resurfacing procedure is usually limited to the two or three hours just after the procedure. The prescription for pain tablets that you have received is more precautionary that necessary, but please have it filled and available at your home bedside. Take pain medicine with milk to avoid any stomach upset. Most patients switch to extra strength Tylenol on the first day of recovery.

Medications

Most patients complain of pressure from swelling more than pain. Use pain medication (most commonly Vicodin/hydrocodone) as directed/as needed. Vicodin contains Tylenol. Do not take additional Tylenol or acetaminophen while taking Vicodin.

Do not drive or drink alcohol while taking pain medication.

Side effects of pain medications can include nausea and constipation. Taking pain medication with food can minimize nausea. Over-the-counter laxatives are indicated if constipation persists.

Start your antibiotic (Keflex/Cephalexin) when you arrive home following the resurfacing procedure. During your surgery you received antibiotics through your IV. Take antibiotics as directed until gone.
Continue using your antiviral medication (Acyclovir) until the prescription is completed.

Start the prescription for swelling medication (most commonly Medrol Dosepak/methyl prednisolone) when you arrive home following surgery.

One Week After Surgery

Make-up

Redness can be camouflaged at one to two weeks postoperatively with make-up. You will be instructed on when it is appropriate to begin wearing make-up.

What to Expect During Healing

Keep the area moist with Aquaphor healing ointment after the dressing is removed. Aquaphor should be applied liberally, similar to icing a cake, at least four times daily, more as required.

Begin soaking the resurfaced areas with a warm, moist gauze when instructed. The gauze should be applied three times a day for three to four minutes at a time.

The resurfaced skin is very smooth and will appear light rose colored for a period of weeks. Gradually the redness will fade. You may cover the area with make-up when instructed.

There should not be significant discomfort with these procedures. Intense discomfort may signal an infection. You should notify the office immediately.

Sun Exposure:

The resurfaced skin is very smooth and extremely sensitive to sun exposure.

Always protect your face from the sun. At this point, a hat and sunglasses are a good idea. Following resurfacing procedure, our staff will tell you when it is ok to apply sunscreen, cosmetics or facial creams.

Avoid unprotected prolonged sun exposure for three months following surgery to prevent pigmentation.

Please Remember!

Swelling, bruising and disrupted sleep are very normal postoperative resurfacing symptoms and will decrease as the healing process occurs. Assistance with daily activities the first two to three days after surgery is strongly recommended.

PREOP / POSTOP CHECKLIST

BEFORE SURGERY CHECKLIST

Preparing for the Procedure:

1. Call to confirm your arrival time for surgery.
2. Do not bring valuables on the day of surgery.
3. Arrange a friend / family member to observe you for 24 hours after surgery.
4. You may not eat or drink after midnight the evening before the procedure.
5. No smoking for 1 week before and 3 weeks after surgery.
6. Purchase thick cover-up make-up prior to your procedure.
7. Medications: avoid (aspirin, Motrin, ibuprofen, Alieve) unless advised to continue by your doctor. Inform office if you are on coumadin / warfarin, plavix, or other blood thinner.
8. Medications: confirm which of your daily medications to continue the morning of surgery.
9. Medications: fill your prescriptions before the day of surgery. Typical medications are found below.
10. Over the counter items: arnica, saline water, Qtips, ice packs.

General Post operative Medication Checklist

1. Antibiotic (Keflex, Clindamycin): prescription
2. Antiviral (Acyclovir): prescription
3. Locoid Cream: prescription
4. Pain reliever (vicodin, percocet): prescription
5. Medrol Dose Pack: prescription
6. Saline water: purchased over the counter
7. Aquaphor healing ointment: purchased over the counter
8. Arnica (a natural herb that significantly decreases bruising): purchased over the counter

AFTER SURGERY CHECKLIST

Immediately after the procedure

1. You must meet nursing criteria for discharge home; walking, voiding, talking.
2. Receive instructions dressing management.
3. Confirm your appointment with the office, always on the morning after surgery.

The First 24 Hours

1. Wound care: Begin soaking the resurfaced areas with a warm, moist gauze when instructed. The gauze should be applied three times a day for three to four minutes at a time. Apply aquaphor ointment at least four times daily.
2. Activity: sleep with head of the bed elevated or use two to three pillows. No strenuous activity / aerobics / yoga / heavy lifting for 3 weeks after surgery.
3. Bathing is ok as long as you don’t get your incisions/hair wet for a minimum of four days after surgery.
4. Advance diet from liquids to soft food to your regular diet as tolerated.
5. Medications: use pain medication as necessary. You can have a maximum of 8 tablets of vicodin + Tylenol in a 24 hour period (6 vicodin + 2 Tylenol = 8, ect).
6. Medications: Start antibiotic (Keflex/Cephalexin) when you arrive home and feeling ok to take medicine.
7. Medications: Continue the antiviral (Acyclovir) when you arrive home and feeling ok to take medicine.
8. Medications: Start Medrol Dosepak/methyl prednisolone when you arrive home and feeling ok to take medicine.
9. Medications: begin using the locoid steroid ointment when instructed.

One Week After Surgery

1. Make-up: you may cover the area with make-up when instructed.
2. *Avoid sun exposure for three weeks after surgery, then use sun block.
3. Swelling, bruising and disrupted sleep are very normal postoperative symptoms and will decrease as the healing process occurs.
4. Differential swelling may asymmetries of the right and left sides of your face. As the swelling goes away, so will these asymmetries. Please be patient.

Skin Resurfacing Procedure Before and After Surgery Instructions

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