Preparation for surgery
I hope you find this guide helpful in preparation for surgery and for your recovery. It will cover general details of surgery and the normal way that individual’s recover after facial surgery. This guide is general and there may be other information you would like or need. Please contact us for further help.
Most facial surgeries pass without unexpected problems. The key to this is you feeling prepared for the operation and allowing time afterwards to recover. It is normal to feel a little anxious before the surgery and it is my hope by giving you the information you need will reduce the anxiety. Following the surgery it is normal to feel a little overwhelmed. With good preparation we can work together to make the post-operative recovery period as straightforward as possible
Expected recovery periods:
| Types of surgery | Time off work | Time to all normal activities |
|---|---|---|
| Face/Neck Lift | 1 week | 6 weeks |
| Upper eyelid surgery | 1 week | 4 weeks |
| Lower eyelid surgery | 1-2 weeks | 6 weeks |
| Rhinoplasty (nose surgery) | 1 week | 3-5 weeks |
| Otoplasty (ear surgery) | 1 week | 6 weeks |
| Skin cancer surgery | Depends |
FAQs
Travel before and after surgery
After surgery it is important to avoid long haul flights for six weeks afterwards to lower the risk of deep vein thrombosis occurring. It is also important to remember that if you do intend to recover from your surgery in NZ but outside of Auckland that you allow time for your post-operative appointments including suture removal.
We recommend that you arrive in Auckland at least several days before the surgery. Guidance from haematology experts tell us that this is safe without undue increased risks for the surgery.
Medication
In general, we recommend continuing on your normal medications before the surgery. The exception to this rule might be with blood thinning medicines like aspirin, warfarin, or Dabigatran. Please check with us if you are on these types of medicines.
Following your surgery our team will check that you have the appropriate medicines to manage post-operative discomfort and pain. With regard to herbal medications, please check with our staff beforehand as there are some over the counter supplements which can worsen bleeding.
Social support
Before the surgery I would encourage you to bring a support person with you to any consultation. This person should ideally be the person who will support you in your post-operative recovery. Depending on the type of surgery you are having it is important to have someone with you the first night afterwards and thereafter someone whom you can call when needed.
Diet
Please continue with a healthy balanced diet both before the surgery and afterwards. It is important to think ahead in the post-operative period do you have soft foods to eat especially after a facelift.
Advice on smoking or vaping
It is important not to smoke or vape in the six weeks prior to any elective surgery and not for the following two to three months after the surgery. This is because nicotine is a vasoconstrictor medicine (narrows blood vessels) and has been shown to increase the chances of poor wound healing.
The day of surgery
Our team will let you know the time and place for your surgery. Most importantly you must observe the six hour nil by mouth (nbm) time prior to your operation. The only exception to this is if you have to take medications by mouth.
The cost of surgery
Surgical treatment of non-cosmetic issues such as surgery for functional issues, skin cancer or other skin conditions and Plastic Surgery Reconstructive cases are usually covered by insurance companies but you need to check with your insurance company first. Facial cosmetic surgery procedures are not usually covered by insurance.
Surgery is expensive, even simple procedures can cost thousands of dollars. A quote for surgery consists of the Surgeon Professional Fee, Theatre Fees, Use of Consumables (that means stitches and anaesthetic medicines), Hospital Fees (Recovery and Overnight Stay) as well as the Anaesthetist Professional Fee.
The cost procedures may vary considerably depending on whether the surgery can be safely completed under local anaesthesia where the patient is awake but numbed with injections in the surgical area or whether a general anaesthetic is required which means going to sleep.
An accurate estimate or costing for a procedure will be provided to you before booking the surgery so that you are fully informed beforehand. For procedures not covered by insurance, payment is due 1 week prior to surgery. For some procedures a deposit of 10% of the professional fee is required to confirm your place.