Atención preoperatoria
Instrucciones

Before your surgery

Get your medical clearance on time. You MUST undergo a full pre-operative medical clearance within 45 days of your surgery date. Your results must be sent to our office 3 weeks prior to your surgery date. Please submit entire lab order results, appropriate imaging results, medical clearance letter, and specialist clearance letter, if applicable, no later than 3 weeks prior to your surgery date. The lab order specific to you is provided after your pre-operative phone call, which will occur 45 to 60 days (about 2 months) before surgery. A member of our pre-op department will contact you then to go over your medical history, determine your lab order, and review all instructions to prepare for surgery. Be ready with questions, take notes and make sure you are not distracted during the call so you can best prepare for your surgery.

Important timelines to keep in mind:

• 60-45 days (about 1 and a half months) before surgery: Schedule your pre-operative phone call with our team. We will call you to schedule it. We just ask that you are in a quiet place, ready to take notes and ask questions.
• 45-30 days (about 4 weeks) before surgery: Have your appointment for your medical clearance. Your lab order will be sent to you after your pre-op phone call.
• 30 days (about 4 weeks) before surgery: Start preparing for surgery. This is when your preparation really kicks into high gear. Below are the dos and don’ts.

Pre-Surgery Dos & Don’ts

First the Don’ts:

• DO NOT take Excedrin, Alka-Seltzer, Goody’s Powder, aspirin, naproxen (Aleve), Midol, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These medications can cause bleeding, which leads to complications during and after surgery. If you need any pain medication, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is best.
• DO NOT take vitamin E or any other “natural” vitamins, medications or even any herbal supplements. Some examples include: Ginkgo biloba, St. John’s Wort, ginseng, Herbalife products or any herbal teas! These medications cause bleeding and must be avoided.
• DO NOT take any stimulant-type medications or any “workout” or “pre-workout” supplements. Examples include pre-workout stimulant drinks, creatine powders, ephedrine, Hydroxycut or any other “energy drinks.”
• Stop any form of estrogen 30 days (about 4 weeks) before surgery. This includes estradiol, estrogen pills, estrogen patches, estrogen injections, removing NuvaRing, etc. This means that if you are sexually active, you could become pregnant, so please use other forms of birth control during this time. If you are pregnant at the time of surgery, your surgery will be canceled, and fees will apply.
• Do not take any amphetamines 30 days (about 4 weeks) before surgery. These include: Adderall, phentermine, dextroamphetamine, Ritalin, etc.

If you are taking any weight loss medications:

• Stop taking GLP-1/GIP medications (GLP-1 antagonists), at least 30 days (about 4 weeks) before surgery. These medications cause delayed gastric emptying and can cause complications when under general anesthesia.
• Stop taking phentermine 30 days (about 4 weeks) before surgery. This supplement will show on the drug screening on the day of surgery, forcing the cancellation of your surgery.

If you smoke, stop immediately.

• Smoking or the use of nicotine will jeopardize the results of your operation. Nicotine can cause wounds to separate, resulting in widened and thickened scars, skin necrosis, fat cell death, blood clots and other complications.
• To ensure there is no nicotine in your system, you must stop using nicotine products for 6 weeks (about 1 and a half months) before surgery and 6 weeks (about 1 and a half months) afterward. This includes, but is not limited to: hookah, nicotine vapes or pens, tobacco rolling paper for marijuana, nicotine gum, nicotine patches, and even secondhand smoke from bars/clubs or family members in the home or car.
• Please note that if the nicotine test shows positive at the drug screening on the day of surgery, your surgery will be canceled, and you will have to pay a $1500 rescheduling fee to get back on the surgery schedule.

Now the Do’s:

Start your iron regimen ASAP, but at a minimum of 30 days (about 4 weeks) before surgery. Take the following supplements to increase the hemoglobin in your blood. These can be found at your local pharmacy:

• Vitamin C: 1000 mg daily
• Folic Acid: 400 mcg daily
• Hema-Plex: As directed on the label
• Floradix: As directed on the label

Caregiver Requirements:

As part of your post-operative care, we want to make sure you’re fully prepared and know what to expect in terms of recovery support.

• For the first 48 hours after your surgery, you must have someone with you at all times, providing round-the-clock care. It’s very important that you are not alone during this initial recovery period.
• After the first 48 hours, you’ll still need support — at least 8 to 12 hours of care per day is required until your follow-up appointment, which is usually scheduled for day 5 after surgery.

Make sure you have someone to take care of you after surgery. YOU MUST arrange to have a responsible adult over the age of 18 drive you home after surgery and stay with you for the first 48 hours (about 2 days) after your surgery. Please let us know who that person is at your pre-op appointment. If you do not have someone, we can help you find a paid caretaker. You cannot take a taxi or an Uber/Lyft after your surgery. If you do not have someone to pick you up, we will not be able to perform your surgery and cancellation fees will apply.

• We have recently put together a post-op care package that includes a hotel stay and post-op care at the hotel. If you are interested in this package, please contact your coordinator.

YOU MUST send us your lab work and medical clearance(s) 3 weeks before your surgery. If you do not provide us with the medical clearance in a timely fashion, your surgery may be canceled.

If you develop any signs of an infection within the two weeks prior to your surgery, please call the office. Symptoms can include: burning on urination or urinary hesitancy/urgency/frequency (signs of UTI); any coughing, sneezing, runny nose, chest congestion or sinus/ear pressure (signs of an upper respiratory infection); any diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain (gastroenteritis symptoms).

Eat healthy, balanced meals. Good nutrition is important to make sure you are prepared for surgery and to help you recover after surgery. Weight gain will increase your risk of surgical complications and can cause an unfavorable aesthetic result. If you gain more than 5 pounds between the time the surgeon evaluates you and the day of your actual surgery, the procedure may be canceled unless you were asked by the surgeon to gain weight for your procedure. Please pay close attention to your surgeon’s BMI limit and be careful not to go over the maximum BMI per your surgeon’s guidelines. Use a BMI calculator online to calculate your BMI and make sure you are under 30 BMI for surgery with Dr. Earle, under 33.5 for surgery with Dr. Vidal and under 34 for surgery with Dr. Wegerif.

The week before your surgery:

• Hydrate: drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day during the week leading up to your surgery. This will improve your hydration and improve your recovery after surgery.
• Use Hibiclens (chlorhexidine) soap or Dial antibacterial soap to wash yourself daily for 5 days prior to surgery and on the morning of surgery. You can purchase these soaps at any pharmacy. This will reduce your chances of an infection after surgery.
• Start using Mupirocin 2% ointment twice a day on your nostrils. You can start this 5 days before your surgery. This will reduce your risk of an infection, as bacteria accumulate in the inner nostrils. Ask your primary care physician (PCP) to prescribe it for you. If you can’t get a prescription from your PCP, please send your pharmacy name and address for our medical staff to send the ointment to your local pharmacy.
• The night before your surgery, you will get a message with the time of your surgery and the final instructions. Please pay close attention to this message and follow all instructions. Remember, do not eat or drink for at least 8 hours before your surgery.

Después de la cirugía

1. POR FAVOR COMIENCE A CAMINAR INMEDIATAMENTE al llegar a su casa la tarde/noche de la cirugía. Debe empezar a levantarse de la cama y caminar inmediatamente para reducir las probabilidades de que se forme un coágulo de sangre en las piernas que pueda llegar al corazón o los pulmones y ser potencialmente mortal.

2. Reanude su medicación para la presión arterial después de la cirugía y tómela como de costumbre.

3. NO viaje fuera de Miami, FL durante 5-7 días después de la cirugía. Si lo hace, correrá un riesgo innecesariamente mayor de desarrollar un coágulo de sangre que puede viajar al corazón o los pulmones y ser potencialmente mortal.

a. Cuando regrese a su casa después de esperar los 5 días completos después de la cirugía, DEBE ponerse de pie y caminar una vez cada hora mientras esté en CUALQUIER medio de transporte. Esto significa que si está conduciendo, debe detener el automóvil y caminar cada hora durante el viaje a casa.

b. Si decide viajar antes de los 5 días de la cirugía, se cancelará su operación.

c. Si viaja antes de los 5 días sin el conocimiento del cirujano, asume todos los riesgos, que pueden incluir, entre otros, coágulos de sangre, accidente cerebrovascular, ataque cardíaco y posible muerte.

4. NO levantar objetos que pesen más de 5 libras durante las primeras 6 semanas después de la cirugía.

5. NO agacharse en la cintura o realizar tareas domésticas, como vaciar el lavavajillas, agacharse para doblar la ropa, usar un trapeador, aspiradora o escoba, esforzarse para alcanzar un objeto que esté por encima de la cabeza de un armario, etc. Utilice el sentido común y no realice ningún movimiento o actividad vigorosa durante 6 semanas. Transcurridas las 6 semanas, podrás empezar a realizar cualquier actividad previa consulta con el consultorio del cirujano.

6. NO dúchese o humedezca cualquiera de sus heridas durante 24 horas después de la operación. Una vez que hayan pasado 24 horas, puede bañarse suavemente las heridas y limpiarlas con SOLO agua y jabón calientes.

a. NO se frote las heridas agresivamente ni se quite ninguna tira esterina (si se usaron para una cirugía en particular).

7. NO aplique cualquier crema, producto/ungüento antibacteriano, crema para cicatrices o cualquier remedio natural (por ejemplo, árnica) en las heridas hasta que el cirujano le haya permitido hacerlo y haya examinado todas las heridas.

8. NO sumerja sus heridas en cualquier cuerpo de agua, incluyendo: piscina, bañera, océano o playa, jacuzzi, jacuzzi o incluso exponerse a una sauna ¡durante 6 semanas después de la cirugía!

9. Use ropa cómoda y holgada que no requiera levantar los brazos por encima de la cabeza para ponerse la ropa. Esto disminuirá las probabilidades de estirarse e interrumpir la cicatrización de las heridas.

a. TODOS los pacientes con liposucción requieren usar prendas de compresión durante al menos un mes, pero preferiblemente 6 semanas después de la cirugía, 23 horas al día (le informaremos más detalles durante sus visitas de seguimiento). Después de 6 semanas, puede usar las prendas de compresión durante 12 horas al día durante otras 6 semanas más. Después de eso, usa la prenda según sea necesario.

b. Se fomentan los masajes linfáticos y de drenaje. Se recomienda un mínimo de 10 masajes durante las primeras 3 semanas después de la operación para todos los pacientes sometidos a una cirugía de liposucción. Luego continúe según sea necesario para disminuir la inflamación y prevenir la fibrosis.

10. Para procedimientos faciales: SIN maquillaje, delineador de ojos, sombra de ojos, rímel, lápiz labial, etc. durante 4 semanas después de la cirugía.

a. Los pacientes de estiramiento facial deben evitar colocarse joyas en el cuello o las orejas hasta que hayan visto al cirujano.

b. Debe evitar cualquier exposición al sol hasta que el cirujano lo autorice.

Patient Supply Lists

We put together this list based on feedback from patients. They have told us that these items were helpful to have during the first few weeks after surgery. Not all supplies are necessary, and some are surgery-specific. Review the list carefully and select what items you think will be most beneficial for you. The must-haves are in bold.

• Mupirocin 2% ointment – prescribed by PCP or your surgeon
• Extra Compression socks (to alternate wearing one pair and washing the other)
• Hibiclens or Dial Antibacterial Soap – start using 5 days prior to surgery
• Body wipes/baby wipes
• Loose-fitting clothing (dresses, robes, etc.)
• Shoes that are easy to put on and take off
• ABD pads
• Gauze pads
• Chucks pads for drainage (liposuction/BBL primarily)
• Thermometer
• Tylenol Extra Strength/Tylenol PM
• Advil/ibuprofen — can be taken 48 hours after surgery
• Gatorade/Pedialyte
• Pineapple juice
• Water
• Gas-X
• Colace/Miralax/docusate sodium (stool softener)
• Zyrtec or Clartin for allergies
• Arnica products
• Menstrual pads only – tampons increase the risk for infection
• Iron regimen supplements for another 2 weeks post-op
• Pampers (by preference) – some patients use this during their menstrual cycle
• Female urination device
• Shower curtain to protect mattresses or chairs (liposuction/BBL primarily)
• Old towels that may get messy from drainage
• Step stool to climb in and out of the car

Many of these items can be easily purchased through our:

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Procedure Specific Lists

Click to download a PDF with a custom-tailored list to your specific procedure.

• BBL
• Blepharoplasty
• Brachioplasty
• Breast Procedure
• Face and Neck Lift
• Gynecomastia
• Labiaplasty
• Lipo 360
• Mommy Makeover
• Miami Makeover
• Rhinoplasty
• Tummy Tuck