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More about Plastic, Cosmetic, and Reconstructive Surgery:
Definition Purpose Precautions Preparation Aftercare Risks Normal results Resources |
Preparation for nonemergency plastic or reconstructive surgery includes patient education, as well as medical
| The Top 10 Elective Cosmetic Surgeries In The U.S. (1999) | |||
| Procedure | Female Patients | Male Patients | Total |
| Liposuction | 201,083 | 29,782 | 230,865 |
| Breast augmentation | 167,318 | 0 | 167,318 |
| Eyelid surgery | 120,160 | 21,859 | 142,033 |
| Face lift | 66,096 | 6,697 | 72,793 |
| Tummy tuck | 52,888 | 2,089 | 54,977 |
| Collagen injections | 48,989 | 4,208 | 53,197 |
| Chemical peel | 47,359 | 4,215 | 51,589 |
| Laser skin resurfacing | 46,162 | 4,343 | 50,505 |
| Rhinoplasty | 34,761 | 11,831 | 46,596 |
| Forehead lift | 36,995 | 3,962 | 40,969 |
considerations. Some operations, such as nose reshaping or the removal of warts, small birthmarks, and tattoos can be done as outpatient procedures under local anesthesia. Most plastic and reconstructive surgery, however, involves a stay in the hospital and general anesthesia.
Medical preparationPreparation for plastic surgery includes the surgeon's detailed assessment of the parts of the patient's body that will be involved. Skin grafts require evaluating suitable areas of the patient's skin for the right color and texture to match the skin at the graft site. Facelifts and cosmetic surgery in the eye area require very close attention to the texture of the skin and the placement of surgical cuts (incisions).
Patients scheduled for plastic surgery under general anesthesia will be given a physical examination, blood and urine tests, and other tests to make sure that they do not have any previously undetected health problems or blood clotting disorders. The doctor will check the list of prescription medications that the patient may be taking to make sure that none of them will interfere with normal blood clotting or interact with the anesthetic.
Patients are asked to avoid using aspirin or medications containing aspirin for a week to two weeks before surgery, because these drugs lengthen the time of blood clotting. Smokers are asked to stop smoking two weeks before surgery because smoking interferes with the healing process. For some types of plastic surgery, the patient may be asked to donate several units of his or her own blood before the procedure, in case a transfusion is needed during the operation. The patient will be asked to sign a consent form before the operation.
Patient educationThe doctor will meet with the patient before the operation is scheduled, in order to explain the procedure and to be sure that the patient is realistic about the expected results. This consideration is particularly important if the patient is having cosmetic surgery.
— Rebecca J. Frey
