Medications: Before undergoing any type of elective cosmetic surgery, especially a Rhinoplasty, it is important to avoid certain medications. Many medications prolong bleeding time and can create a nose bleed. If a nose bleed should occur, packing will have to be placed inside the nose to stop the nose bleed. Medications, including some prescription drugs, vitamins and herbal supplements also contain elements that thin the blood and interfere with anesthesia. Any medications including aspirin or ibuprofen and prescription blood thinners such as Coumadin and Plavix should all be avoided two weeks before the surgery. Vitamin E, diet pills and all herbal remedies need to be stopped two weeks before any surgery as well.
Smoking: It is best to stop smoking two weeks prior to the surgery and two weeks after the surgery since tobacco smoke is an irritant to the nasal passageways and can slow down the healing process.
Avoid exposure of the nose to sunburns from both natural sunlight and tanning beds within the first month after the rhinoplasty surgery.
Patients should wash their hair and face the night before the surgery and should not put any makeup on the morning of the nasal surgery.
It is very important to avoid eating or drinking anything after midnight the night before the rhinoplasty. The reason for this is to prevent any nausea and vomiting during and after the surgery.
It is also important that patients wear comfortable clothing such as sweatpants and a shirt or sweater that has a front closure. These garments should not have to be pulled up over the top of the nose after surgery. Do not wear any makeup, wigs, or jewelry on the day of the rhinoplasty procedure. Please leave all jewelry at home including rings, earrings, watches and any piercings. Contact lenses should not be worn the day of the surgery. Eyeglasses are acceptable and are brought into the operating room with the patient. In the first week of the postoperative phase, the eyeglasses can be worn on top of the cast over the nose. After the cast is removed, glasses can then be taped up to the forehead for the first month to keep the pressure off the bridge of the nose. Contacts can also be worn at this time.
