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Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical
procedure. You and your plastic surgeon will have decided in advance
what type of anesthesia is to be used, either intravenous sedation or
general anesthesia. For your safety during the operation, various
monitors are used to check your heart, blood pressure, pulse and the
amount of oxygen circulation in your blood.
When surgery is completed, you will be taken into a recovery area
where you will continue to be closely monitored. A bandage may have
been wrapped around your face to be closely monitored. A bandage may
have minimize swelling. Sometimes small tubes will have been inserted
beneath the skin to drain away fluids that might otherwise accumulate,
but you will not feel these at all. It fact, there is surprisingly
little discomfort from the surgery.
You probably will be permitted to go home after a few hours,
although some patients may stay overnight in the hospital or surgical
facility.
After
surgery, you will be asked to restrict your activities and simply relax
for a few days. Elevating your head when you sleep will help to
minimize swelling and bruising. Remember, you must not take aspirin or
certain anti-inflammatory medications, and you should not smoke or be
exposed to heavy secondary smoke for a while.
Any
bandages and drain tubes will usually be removed in one or two days. At
that time, you will notice puffiness and discoloration which may be
more pronounced in some portions of your face than others. Do not be
alarmed by any unevenness or temporary asymmetry caused by this
variance in swelling and bruising, which is perfectly normal.
Generally, the greatest amount of swelling occurs 24 to 48 hours after
surgery, but it may take several weeks before all puffiness is
resolved. Most bruising will disappear within two weeks. After a few
days, you will be permitted to wear makeup which will help conceal and
discoloration. You will also experience some numbness in the facial
area, which may be present for several weeks or longer. Your stitches
will be removed from four to seven days after surgery
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