Preparations and restrictions prior to cosmetic surgery

Once your surgery is booked you will receive written instructions about how to prepare yourself for the surgery. These instructions will differ depending on what type of surgery you are undergoing but will in general look something like this:

Taking medication and food supplements

Beginning two weeks before your surgery you are not allowed to take any medications that can increase bleeding.

These medications are: Albyl, Alindrin, Alpoxen, Ardinex, Aspirin, Bamyl, Brexinol, Brufen, Clinoril, Confortid, Diclofenac, Dispril, Donobid, Felden, Ibumetin, Indomecin, Indomee, Ipren, Magnecyl, Naprosyn, Naproxen, Orudis, Paraflex, Paraflex comp., Prodon, Pronaxen, Treo, Treo comp., Trombyl, Waran, Voltaren.

Use of any of the above medications can resume no earlier than a week after surgery.

If the operating doctor has prescribed the use of any of the above medications then you are to follow his/her prescription. If you use any other prescription medications it is important that you mention this in your health statement.

You should also ask about using any food supplements, vitamins and homeopathy substances. For instance vitamins (C) can have a positive affect prior and post cosmetic surgery while others should be avoided completely (E).

Smoking and alcohol

Smoking worsens the bodies healing ability and should therefore be suspended for two weeks before your surgery and should not be reassumed earlier than two weeks after surgery. This includes passive smoking.

Alcohol intake should be avoided a week before and a week after surgery.

Food intake

You are not allowed to eat any solid foods 8 hours before your surgery. If you are to be admitted to the clinic the following morning you are not allowed to eat solid or partially solid food after midnight.

You are allowed to drink water two hours before your appearance at the clinic.

Hygiene instructions

To minimise the risk of wound infections it is important to shower before surgery. The day before and on the day of surgery you are to double shower twice and wash with Decutan or Hebiscrub which is a special soap you can find at the pharmacy. To double shower implies that the whole body is soaped twice during each shower.

Be extra precise in areas such as armpits, navel, groin and genitals. Change to clean clothes, including bed linen after the double shower. Do not use skin lotion since it deactivates the effect of the soap.

If hair is to be trimmed in the area of surgery this will be done at the clinic in conjunction with the surgery. Do not use a shaving razor in the area of surgery a week before your operation.

Additional preparations

In addition to the preparations above you should also think about the following things prior to your surgery:

If you feel sick or show symptoms of illness the weeks before your surgery contact the clinic immediately.
Agree with someone to pick you up after surgery. You cannot drive yourself.
Make sure that someone can be at home with you during the first day after surgery.
If you have more than an hour’s route home you should stay overnight in the town in which the procedure was performed and return home the following day.
Collect any medication that the surgeon has prescribed you. Make sure to do other practical preparations also, such as cleaning etc.

Preparations on the day of surgery

When you arrive to the clinic on the day of surgery you are admitted and then a nurse will take care of you. You are shown to your patient room where you will change and be given some preparatory medication. Before the surgery you will meet your surgeon who will take some photos and mark the area of surgery.

Instructions for the day of surgery:

Double shower as previously instructed on the day of surgery and also wash your hair with the antibacterial soap.
Do not use contact lenses. If you absolutely need to carry lenses then you should advice your surgeon of this before arriving to the clinic.
Remove any jewellery and piercings etc.
Do not use any hygiene or cosmetic products. This includes make up, skin cream, deodorant, hair products, perfume, nail varnish etc.
Dress yourself in and bring comfortable loose fitting clothes and slippers. Avoid clothing that needs to be pulled over your head.
Bring ID with you.
If a relative brings you to the clinic he/she can normally not stay at the clinic during the day of surgery.
If you spend the night at the clinic you are normally discharged early in the morning after your surgery.

Before you are discharged from the clinic you will meet your surgeon who will answer any question and go over rules of conduct post surgery.

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