Before Surgery

1. Arrange for transportation to and from the Surgery Center or hospital and for a responsible adult to stay with you for several hours following surgery.
2. Two weeks before surgery, discontinue and avoid taking aspirin containing products (aspirin, Bufferin, regular Anacin, Fiorinal, Easprin, aspirin with codeine, Darvon compound, Soma compound, and all Alka-Seltzer products) and aspirin-like anti-inflammatory drugs such as Advil, Aleve, Clinoril, Feldene, Indocin, Meclomen, Naprosyn, Motrin, and Relafen. In addition, avoid Vitamin E, Gingko Biloba, and St. John’s wort. You may take Tylenol, Datril, Panadol, or Anacin III as needed.
3. Have required blood work/lab tests performed and prescriptions filled as requested.

Day of Surgery

1. Please do not eat or drink anything after midnight; you may take your usual morning medications with a sip of water.
2. Please shower the morning of surgery; remove contact lenses and all makeup, including eyeliner and lipstick, while at home.
3. Wear comfortable clothing (loose blouse, button-down shirt).

After the Surgery

1. No alcoholic beverages or aspirin products such as Bayer, Bufferin, Anacin, Excedrin, etc. for at least one week after surgery. This also includes Advil, Nuprin, Motrin, Ibuprofen, and Naproxen.
2. Please limit your activity. You should avoid quick, sudden movements, bending, straining, lifting, and, if possible, sneezing, coughing, and nose-blowing. If you need to sneeze, do so with your mouth open. You may read or watch TV. You may take a bath and shampoo your hair, but avoid getting the surgical areas saturated. Normal activities can usually be resumed in 10 to 14 days.
3. Whenever lying down or sleeping, keep your head elevated on two or three pillows such that the head is elevated above the level of the chest. This helps to reduce swelling which, in turn, reduces pain and speeds wound healing.
4. If antibiotics, decongestants, and/or systemic steroids have been prescribed, please take these as directed.
5. Please do not be alarmed by your appearance. Some swelling and purplish discoloration of the eyelids and face may occur and is to be expected. Expect your eyelids to be more swollen on the 2nd postoperative day than on the 1st postoperative day; your eyelids will be more swollen in the morning than later in the day. Please be patient.
6. Do not pick your nose or manipulate the small plastic tubing in the inner corner of your eye or inside your nose. This plastic tubing will be removed in the office in 6 to 12 weeks.
7. You may experience some bleeding from your nose after surgery. Most bleeding will spontaneously stop or can be controlled by pinching your nostrils firmly for 15 minutes. If the bleeding persists, call the office (916) 614-4015 or go to the Emergency Department after regular office hours.
8. Apply the prescribed ointment to the suture line(s) two times daily and after cleaning the surgical area(s) for seven days. A Q-tip works well for this. Use the prescribed eye drops as directed. Continue your regular preoperative eye drops and all other medications unless specifically instructed otherwise.