Preparing for Surgery
Plastic Surgery in Bergen County / Paramus, NJ

STARTING NOW

• STOP SMOKING: Smoking reduces circulation to the skin and impedes healing.
• TAKE MULTIVITAMINS: Start taking multivitamins twice daily to improve your general health once you have scheduled your surgery.
• TAKE VITAMIN C: Start taking 500 mg of Vitamin C twice daily to promote healing.
• DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN OR IBUPROFEN: Stop taking medications containing aspirin or ibuprofen. Review the list of drugs containing aspirin and ibuprofen carefully. Such drugs can cause bleeding problems during and after surgery. Instead, use medications containing acetaminophen (such as Tylenol).
• LIMIT VITAMIN E: Limit your intake of Vitamin E to less than 400 mg per day.
• FILL YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS: You will be given prescriptions for medications. Please have them filled BEFORE the day of surgery and bring them with you.

THE DAY BEFORE

• CONFIRM SURGERY TIME: We will call you to confirm the time of your surgery. If you are not going to be at home or at your office, please call us to confirm at (201) 261-7550.
• PRESCRIPTIONS: Make sure that you have filled the prescriptions you were given and set the medications out to bring with you tomorrow.
• CLEANSING: The night before surgery, shower and wash the surgical areas with Dove soap.
• EATING AND DRINKING: Do not eat or drink anything after 12:00 midnight. This includes water.

THE MORNING OF SURGERY

• SPECIAL INFORMATION: Do not eat or drink anything! If you take a daily medication, you may take it with a sip of water in the early morning.
• ORAL HYGIENE: You may brush your teeth but do not swallow the water.
• CLEANSING: Shower and wash the surgical areas again with Dove soap or Hibiclens.
• MAKE-UP: Please do not wear moisturizers, creams, lotions, or makeup.
• CLOTHING: Wear only comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that does not go over your head. Remove hairpins, wigs, and jewelry. Please do not bring valuables with you.
• CHECK IN/PREPARATION: Surgery Time:
  You should plan to arrive 45 minutes earlier than your scheduled surgery time. Patients less than 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
• THICK, WIDE, OR DEPRESSED SCARS: Abnormal scars may occur even though we have used the most modem plastic surgery techniques. Injection of steroids into the scars, placement of silicone sheeting onto the scars, Mederma, or further surgery to correct the scars is occasionally necessary. Some areas on the body scar more than others, and some people scar more than others do. Your own history of scarring should give you some indication of what you can expect.
• WOUND SEPARATION OR DELAYED HEALING: Any incision, during the healing phase, may separate or heal unusually slow for a number of reasons. These include inflammation, infection, wound tension, decreased circulation, smoking or excess extemal pressure. If delayed healing occurs, the final outcome is usually not significantly affected, but secondary revision of the scar may be indicated.
• SENSITIVITY OR ALLERGY TO DRESSiNGS OR TAPE: Occasionally, allergic or sensitivity reactions may occur from soaps, ointments, tape or sutures used during or after surgery. Such problems are unusual and are usually mild and easily treated. In extremely rare circumstances, allergic reactions can be severe and require aggressive treatment or even hospitalization.
• INCREASED RISKS FOR SMOKERS: Smokers have a greater chance of skin loss and poor healing because of decreased skin circulation. (See Preparing for Surgery)
• INJURY TO DEEPER STRUCTURES: Blood vessels, nerves and muscles may be injured during surgery. The incidence of such injuries is rare.
• RARER: If they are severe, any of the problems mentioned under Common Risks may significantly
  COMPLICATIONS delay healing or necessitate further surgical procedures.
• Medical complications such as puhnonary embolism, severe allergic reactions to medications, cardiac arrhythmias, heart attack, and hyperthermia are rare but serious and life- threatening problems. Having a board-certified anesthesiologist present at your surgery reduces these risks as much as possible. (Failure to disclose all pertinent medical data before surgery may cause serious problems for you and for the medical team during surgery.)
• UNSATISFACTORY: All Plastic Surgery treatments and operations are performed to improve a condition, a
  RESULT & NEED FOR problem or appearance. While the procedures are performed with a very high probability of
  REVISIONAL success, disappointments occur and results are not always acceptable to patients or the
  SURGERY surgeon. Secondary procedures or treatments may be indicated. Rarely, problems may
  occur that are permanent.
• POOR RESULTS: Asymmetry, unhappiness with the result, poor healing, etc. may occur. Minimal differences are usually acceptable. Larger differences frequently require revisional surgery.

Dr. Robert Zubowski is proud to be among the leading plastic surgeons New Jersey patients consult regarding sophisticated procedures for the face, breast, and body. Over the years, he has established a reputation as a top NJ facelift, rhinoplasty, and breast augmentation specialist. In addition, he has helped numerous body contouring New Jersey patients achieve their dreams of beautiful body contours through procedures such as tummy tuck and liposuction in NJ.

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