Placement of a silicone chin implant is a true surgical procedure that Dr. Fechner takes very seriously. Although it is performed through a well-hidden small incision, appropriate preparations as well as aftercare are very important.Dr. Fechner asks his patients to follow closely the instructions to allow for a smooth course of the enhancement surgery with a chin implant.
Medications
Please advise the office of all changes in medication you may be taking, prescribed or over-the-counter. Also, we need to know about any allergies to medications. If you forgot to discuss any medical condition during the consultation, please call us. If you are taking prescription medications, e.g., for high blood pressure or asthma, please continue to do so even the morning of surgery.
Aspirin and Similar Medications
- There are certain medications that affect blood clotting. To avoid bleeding during the operation, and to ensure the least possible “black and blue” discoloration following the operation, do not take any Aspirin for 14 days before your scheduled procedure.
- Many over-the-counter drugs contain Aspirin. Please check any medication you might take or consult your pharmacist to be certain that it is not part of the formula.
- The newer anti-inflammatory drugs all contain substances which can be at times more potent than Aspirin in their blood clotting interference. These medications must also be discontinued 14 days prior to surgery and include Advil, ibuprofen, Orudis, Anaprox, Indocin , Oruvail, Ansaid, indomethacin, Piroxicam, Arthrotect , Ketoprofen, Ponstel, Cataflem , Ketorolac, Relafen, Celebrex, Lodine, Sulindac, Celecoxib,mefenamic acid, Tolectin, Clinoril, Mobic, Tolmetin, Daypro, Motrin, Toradol, Diclofenac, Naprelan, Dolobid, Naprosyn, Voltaren, Etodolac, Naproxen, Feldene, Nupr.
Herbal Medications
Some herbal medications and nutritional supplements may also increase bleeding or sensitivity to sunlight. Please discontinue all herbal medications and nutritional supplements 14 days before and 14 days after surgery.
Vitamins
- Please discontinue Vitamin E, just as you are to avoid Aspirin. Vitamin E is present in many multi-vitamins. There is some indication that it too may upset the first stages of the clotting process. You may begin Vitamin E again two weeks after surgery.
- Because of its Vitamin E contents, please also discontinue multi-vitamins two weeks before surgery.
- Vitamin C may aid in preventing bruising and in speeding healing. If you are not one of the rare people who are sensitive to this vitamin, please take 2000 mg per day (you may divide this into two doses AM & PM) beginning two weeks before surgery. If you are a smoker, you must take at least 4000 mg of Vitamin C a day. Smoking deactivates Vitamin C, accounting for poor healing.
Antibiotics
Prophylactic antibiotics are routinely used before and after your facial plastic procedure. Additional anti-viral medications are used in conjunction with skin resurfacing such as laser, chemical peels and dermabrasion treatments.
Diet
For procedures performed in the office, have a light meal 2 hours before.
For procedures in day surgery setting, do not eat or drink anything (including gum, mints, etc.) after midnight the night before surgery. On the morning of surgery, you may have a few sips of water when you take your prescription medications. Otherwise, do not eat or drink anything that morning.
Alcohol
Alcohol is a potent blood vessel dilator and, in the postoperative condition, can promote swelling of the surgical area and even bleeding. It is best to avoid alcohol for at least one week following surgery.
Sun Exposure
Getting a suntan before surgery is not a problem. However, it would not be advisable to operate if you have severe sunburn.
Exercise
Exercise which increases the heart rate can begin at 14 days after surgery. Exercise during the first week can cause bleeding. During the second week postoperatively it will increase oedema or swelling. At 14 days, you can begin with fast walking and light weights and advance to your full exercise regimen until four weeks after surgery.
Smoking
Nicotine in any form, including cigarettes, electric cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and even transdermal patches and nicotine gum can adversely affect your wound healing. You must stop one week prior to surgery and for two weeks following surgery. The harmful effects of smoking are damaging because the “tourniquet-like” effect of nicotine on blood vessels can cause poor healing.
Wardrobe
Make sure that you wear clothing that fastens in the front or back. Avoid anything that slips over the head, e.g., sweaters, t-shirts, and turtle-necks.
X-Rays
Some patients wonder if X-rays are needed before their chin surgery. In general, Dr. Fechner does not require X-rays of the chin and jaw bones before performing chin enhancements. A proper examination using inspection and observation of the chin’s surface anatomy – especially as it relates to nearby structures such as lips, nose and neck – provides Dr. Fechner with the most important clues and guidelines for the appropriate selection of procedure approach, chin implant size and style. In contrary, if chin bone surgery is selected, an X-ray is usually required.
General
Before surgery, be sure to read all postoperative instructions carefully.
Whether you are contemplating or have decided to undergo chin enhancement, be prepared to hear or read all manner of stories and judgements from friends, relatives or the internet – a fact of human nature. After surgery, almost everyone will forget their negative statements. They will admire the results and see, for the first time, what you were talking about.
Observe, in yourself and in those around you, that the two sides of the human body are not the same. Aesthetic procedures can never make them exactly the same.
Our purpose and goal in facial aesthetic surgery is improvement and not perfection.
If you are ready to book your procedure, please contact our office to get started.
