Instructions:
- Have someone else drive you home after surgery and help you at home for 1-2 days.
- Get plenty of rest
- Follow balanced diet
- Decreased activity may promote constipation, so you may want to add more raw fruit to you diet, and be sure to increase fluid intake
- Take pain medications as prescribed. Do not take aspirin or any products containing aspirin
- Do not drink alcohol while taking pain medications
- Do not smoke, as smoking delays healing and increases the risks of complications
ACTIVITES
- Start walking as soon as possible, this helps to reduce swelling and lowers the chance of blood clots
- Do not drive until you are no longer taking any pain medications (narcotics)
- You may tire easily. Plan on taking it easy for the first week
- No strenuous activities, including sex and heavy housework, for at least 2 weeks. (Walking and mild stretching are fine)
- Return to work in 14-21 days
INCISION CARE
- You may shower 48 hours after surgery
- Avoid exposing scars to sun for at least 12 months
- Always use a strong sun block, if sun exposure is unavoidable (SPF 30 or greater)
- Keep steri-strips on, replace if they come off
- Keep incisions clean and inspect daily for signs of infection
- Keep head elevated; sleep with head on 2 pillows
- Do not use hair dye or permanent solution until approved by surgeon
- Hair is generally shampooed on the 2nd or 3rd post operative day.
- You may use cold compresses for comfort and to help decrease the swelling
WHAT TO EXPECT
- Maximum discomfort should occur in the first few days, improving each day thereafter
- Bruising, swelling, numbness, tightness, and tenderness of skin for 10-14 days or loner
- You may experience tightness in the neck and difficulty turning to side for 1-2 months
- Skin may feel dry and rough for several months
- Face may look and feel strange and be distorted from the swelling
- Men have a need a shave behind their ears, where beard growing skin is repositioned
APPEARANCE
- Pale, bruised and puffy face for several weeks
- Wearing scarves, turtlenecks, and high collared blouses masks the swelling and discoloration
- By the third week, you will look and feel much better
- Final result is not fully realized for approximately 6 months FOLLOW-UP CARE
- Sutures are usually removed from in front of the ear in 5-7 days
- Remaining sutures and metal clips, if used, are usually removed in 1-2 weeks
WHEN TO CALL
- If you have increases swelling or bruising
- If swelling and redness persist after a few days
- If you have increased redness along the incision
- If you have sever or increase pain not relieved by medication
- If you have any side effects to medications: such as, rash, nausea, headache, vomiting
- If you have an oral temperature over 100.4 degrees
- If you have any yellowish or greenish drainage from the incisions or notice foul odor
- If you have bleeding from the incisions that is difficult to control with light pressure
- If you have loss of feeling or motion
For medical questions, please call:
- 812-477-6600 Evansville Office
- 812-634-6600 Jasper Office
