Preparing for your plastic surgery procedure

You'll quickly realize the surgery itself is only a small part of the plastic surgery journey. Preparing for any plastic surgery procedure involves more than just choosing an ASPS Member Surgeon, having a consultation and booking the date. It's about getting your body, mind, life and finances ready for the changes ahead. A lot goes into planning for surgery from medical clearances to recruiting help for recovery.

We spoke with ASPS Member Surgeons Adam Schaffner, MD, FACS, and Jerry Chidester, MD, about what you should do to prepare for the big day.

Physical health

One of the first things you should do is get to a stable, maintainable weight several months before surgery. Being at your ideal weight is preferable for the best results, but it is optional. However, if your BMI is too high, your surgeon might require you to lose weight before surgery for improved safety during anesthesia.

"It's our job as healthcare professionals to make sure that the patient is safe and is in optimal condition to undergo surgery," said Dr. Schaffner.

Blood work

Many surgeons also want you to get blood work done. Blood work can flag an infectious disease. It also gives a snapshot of your current health status and can indicate whether you're healthy enough to undergo surgery and recovery. Some standard tests include complete blood count, basic metabolic panel, coagulation, liver function, kidney function, blood glucose and pregnancy.

"You want to make sure that they're healthy and they have good protein stores and don't have any unknown issues with regard to electrolytes, blood sugar, liver function tests, kidney function and anemia," said Dr. Schaffner.

Medical clearance letters

Surgeons often require that you visit your general practitioner for a check-up and a medical clearance letter. In addition, if you have any underlying health conditions, like sleep apnea, you must get a surgery clearance document from your specialist doctor.

Doctor's orders

Your plastic surgeon will likely give you special orders to follow in the weeks or days before your surgery date. These can include stopping certain medications, like weight loss pills. It can also include smoking cessation for six weeks before surgery and reducing alcohol intake.

Mental health

Your plastic surgeon will likely ask you questions to help determine your motivation and expectations for surgery.

"If there are underlying mental health issues that have not been addressed prior to surgery, they can be amplified post-surgery," said Dr. Chidester.

If you are seeing a psychiatrist, your surgeon will want you to get a medical clearance letter from them.

"It's extremely important for surgeons to ask the right questions and refer out when necessary to help patients prepare themselves mentally," said Dr. Chidester.

Your psychiatrist will evaluate whether you're suffering from body dysmorphic disorder, whether your expectations for surgery are realistic and whether you're emotionally stable. They'll also assess whether your motivation for surgery is related to external pressure, anxiety or depression.

Dr. Chidester said mental and emotional preparation for plastic surgery is essential because the stress of surgery and a potentially lengthy recovery can affect a patient's mental well-being. A mental health clearance helps ensure patients have coping mechanisms to handle the procedure's psychological effects.

Social support for recovery

You'll need support afterward because recovering from surgery can be emotionally taxing, and having people to talk to about the experience is helpful. A strong support network is also essential in the rare case you experience a surgical complication like infection or bleeding. It's important to note that some patients may experience postsurgical depression, even if the procedure goes well.

After surgery, you'll experience downtime, which will impact your ability to work. If needed, enlist coverage from your coworkers and make arrangements with your boss before taking time off.

"Some patients are asked to take two weeks off work and several weeks from heavy lifting, so often, the burden of daily chores and work will have to fall on their significant other, family or friends," said Dr. Chidester.

Ask friends and family members to fill in for you at home with childcare, laundry, cleaning and cooking. If needed, hire help to do the things you can temporarily not do yourself due to swelling, discomfort, lifting restrictions and the need to rest.

Finances

Plastic surgeons require that you pay for your procedure in full before the surgery date, so you must coordinate payment or financing with their office staff well in advance.

Not only are there expenses directly related to the surgery, but you may also have additional expenses related to lost work time, travel, paid help, recovery supplies and prescriptions.

Depending on the surgery, you may experience downtime and the inability to work for up to three weeks. Remember to budget for lost wages if you are taking unpaid leave.

You might be traveling out of town for your surgery, and if so, consider the cost of transportation, accommodations and food. If you plan to go to a recovery center after surgery, reservations are required, and payment is often needed upfront.

During your recovery, you might need to hire help to care for your house, laundry, pets or children. It's a good idea to set this up and budget for it beforehand. Remember that you might not be able to cook, so pre-cook meals and freeze them. Alternatively, budget for takeout or food delivery, if needed.

You might need to buy additional items to help with recovery. These include compression garments, wound and scar care treatments, walkers and special pillows.

Many surgeons will send medications to your pharmacy several days before surgery to support recovery. These can include pain medications, stool softeners, etc. Be prepared to pay the co-pays for these or even out of pocket if your insurance doesn't cover them.

So, as you can see, preparing for plastic surgery involves a lot more than just the surgery itself. It's also about ensuring your body, mind, finances and support system are ready well ahead of the surgery day, setting yourself up for the best possible outcome.

To find a qualified plastic surgeon for any cosmetic or reconstructive procedure, consult a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. All ASPS members are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, have completed an accredited plastic surgery training program, practice in accredited facilities and follow strict standards of safety and ethics. Find an ASPS member in your area.