Pre-Operative Instructions:

• The patient needs to stop taking aspirin and related products two weeks before surgery. If the patient is on anticoagulation, this should be discussed with Dr. Makhlouf.
• The night before surgery, the patient should wash their face and hair where the incisions will be made with an antiseptic solution. This should be repeated in the morning before going to the surgery center.
• The patient needs to arrive at the surgery center with an empty stomach; no food or drink after midnight. Before midnight, there are no food restrictions, and a glass of wine the night before is acceptable.

Post-Operative Instructions:

• The patient will have a soft protective bandage.
• Keep the head elevated at 30 degrees for the first three nights. Avoid any direct pressure on the face and where sutures are placed.

                        Avoid straining and increasing pressure in the blood vessel of the face by straining in the bathroom or lifting heavy weights for 3 weeks.

• There will be drains. The patient is seen the next morning by Dr. Makhlouf. The drains are removed, and the bandages are discontinued. The patient can wash and blow-dry their hair the day after surgery.
• Antibiotic ointment should be placed on the incision lines.
• Five to seven days after surgery, the sutures are removed. The patient may or may not be prescribed a cortisone cream.
• At one week post-surgery, the patient should be comfortable going out of the house and taking walks. At two weeks, they should be comfortable doing their shopping. At three weeks, they should be comfortable going out to dinner.