Facelift / Necklift / Browlift Instructions

Preoperative Instructions (Before Surgery)

1. Avoid aspirin products including Aleve, naprosyn, Advil, Motrin, and other arthritis medications, fish oil, green tea, as well as vitamin E & herbal supplements such as ginko biloba, St. John’s Wort for two weeks BEFORE and 2 weeks after surgery.
2. Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night BEFORE surgery except to swallow medication. You may take your blood pressure medication the morning of surgery with a small sip of water.
3. Call my office the day before surgery for exact time you should report to the hospital or surgi-center.
4. Obtain medical clearance and all pre-operative testing (as requested by your doctor) within three weeks BEFORE surgery (not more than 3 weeks) and assure that it was faxed and received by the office. Fax #: 212-860-6819
5. Avoid alcoholic beverages 48 hours BEFORE surgery and 2 weeks afterwards.
6. Avoid caffeine-containing beverages 48hours BEFORE surgery.
7. Do not bring valuables with you in the morning of surgery.
8. Do not wear contact lenses the morning of surgery.
9. Do have hair colored, if desired, the week before facelift surgery.
10. Do take vitamin C-2000mgs (over counter). Daily for 2 weeks BEFORE surgery.
11. Do take vitamin K-5mgs (will be prescribed) - for 5 days BEFORE and AFTER surgery.
12. Do arrange for responsible adult to accompany you home after surgery.
13. Do give us phone numbers of where you will be staying the evening before and after surgery.
14. Make hotel reservations if from out-of-town (We recommend: Affinia Gardens Hotel: 212-355-1230)
15. Please purchase: 1 box of latex gloves (large size). 1 small bottle of peroxide. 1 small box Q-tips. 1 small tube of bacitracin ointment.
16. If having a laser procedure or chemical peel. Please purchase aquaphor (small tube).
17. Put bactroban ointment in nose twice a day with a Q-tip starting 3 days BEFORE surgery. (Prescription will be given).
18. Use Hibiclens shampoo: Wash face, hair, and neck 2x morning of surgery.
19. Herbal supplement pills – Arnica, Bromeline, or both are to be taken as directed on boxes.
20. Please remove nail polish and/or acrylic from nails BEFORE surgery.

Postoperative Instructions (After Surgery)

Prescribed medication: (obtain extra-strength Tylenol in addition)
Pain medication: 1-2 tablets every 4 hours as needed for pain
Antianxiety: Valium 10mg as needed every 12 hours.
Medrol Dose Pack: (take as directed on box) starting day after surgery – sometimes given by Doctor’s discretion for swelling.
Stool Softener: Colace 100mg 2x/day (over-counter) to prevent constipation from pain medications.

1. Do not take Percocet or any pain medication on an empty stomach. Take with apple sauce.
2. There will be a dressing wrapped around your head and neck for 24 hours. It may be tight and uncomfortable. I will remove it myself the following day after the surgery. Your eyes and face will be exposed.
3. Use cold compresses as frequently as possible for the first 48 hours following surgery. Put 3 ice cubes in a glove for ice compresses.
4. Sleep with head elevated (on pillows, or in a recliner) for first week, if possible, after surgery. Do not sleep facedown or on your side.
5. Keep surgical site clean. To clean crusts from the stitches, dip Q-tips in hydrogen peroxide (3% - over counter from pharmacy or warm water to soak the crusts, then apply bacitracin ointment (over counter) twice a day.
6. Physical Activity: No strenuous activity (exercise, sports, etc) for two weeks after surgery. Do not bend at the waist or perform any lifting.
7. Bathing/Showering: you may bathe after your head dressing is removed. Keep your head away from water for 48 hours after surgery. To avoid possible eye irritation from shampoo, use a baby shampoo.
8. Contact lenses: You may not use contact lenses until at least 2 weeks following surgery.
9. No contact sports for 5 weeks.
10. Makeup: You may use makeup 1 week after surgery.
11. You may dye your hair 4 weeks after surgery.
12. Laser: if laser was used on the skin of lower eyelids or around the mouth, use aquaphor ointment (over counter) as much as needed to keep moist for 1 week.
13. Laser: Buy a bar of Neutrogena soap to cleanse your face with after surgery.
14. Wear comfortable clothes. Try to choose shirts/blouses that open and button up or zipper in the front. Avoid all shirts that go over the head.
15. Bring a scarf to the hospital to wear home over your head dressing.
16. Have cranberry juice, apple juice, or ginger ale to drink after surgery.
17. Eat lightly the next day, progress your diet as you tolerate. Eat soft foods avoid those that are hard to chew.
18. Herbal supplement pills – Arnica, Bromeline, or both are to be taken as directed on boxes.

PRIVATE DUTY NURSING IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED AND RECOMMENDED AFTER SURGERY. Please DON’T JUDGE RESULTS TOO SOON; healing process goes on for months.