PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS
Lipo-Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) Post-Operative Instructions
Immediately After Surgery
1. After your surgery, you must be taken home by a responsible adult over the age of 18 years-old. This individual must agree to stay with you the evening of surgery and into the next day(s) so as to ensure you are being supervised.
2. Your first post-operative appointment will be with our staff the day after your surgery. This appointment will be virtual unless you have a massage appointment scheduled with us.
3. The follow-up visit will be scheduled with a surgeon approximately 5 days after your surgery. Please refer to the patient portal for the appointment information.
4. You must wear your abdominal binder 24/7 (remove to shower only) until your drains are removed. You can then transition to your compression garment.
a. Compression garment is worn 24/7 for 1 month after surgery and then at night only for 2 more weeks.
5. TWO drainage tubes are placed underneath the skin at the time of surgery. You must strip, empty, and record the drain output EVERY 4 HOURS or sooner if the bulb fills with fluid.
a. YOU MUST bring a sheet with a recording of drain outputs to the post-op visits to help your surgeon decide when he can remove your drains.
b. For the most part, drains are removed at 7 -10 days after surgery.
c. It is normal to have some bloody drainage in the bulb.
6. Drink water after surgery. You should consume at least 8 cups of water (8 oz each), but try to drink a gallon of water a day.
7. Do not take any aspirin-type products for 4 weeks after surgery. ONLY use the pain medication prescribed by the surgeon or Tylenol.
8. You are not allowed to take any herbal supplements or over the counter vitamins/medications for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery. These can cause bleeding.
9. You are only allowed to take a single multivitamin a day.
10. Avoid bending at the waist. Do not empty the dishwasher, do laundry, mop/broom/vacuum your home, or perform any other activity.
11. Once you feel up to it, the maximum weight allowed to lift is 10 pounds for 6 weeks.
12. Work:
a. Expect to take at least 7 days off of work if you are employed.
b. Please limit ALL activities for the first week following your procedure.
13. YET! YOU MUST BEGIN WALKING the evening of surgery. Bedrest alone is not allowed. You have to get out of bed at least every 3 hours for 10 minutes.
14. Follow a liquid diet for the first day after surgery and transition to a soft diet for the next 2 days followed by a regular diet.
a. Do not take narcotic pain medication (oxycodone) without having some food in your stomach or it can cause nausea and vomiting.
b. Take an over the counter stool softener twice a day (Colace for example 100mg BID) while taking narcotic pain medication.
15. Showering:
a. Start showering 24 hours after surgery and do so once a day.
b. You are allowed to only shower for the first 30 days after surgery. No baths. Use soap and water to all incisions using a gentle circular motion and pat dry. Do not rub the wounds.
c. Support the drains while in the shower so they don’t pull out of the skin.
d. Leave the steri strips on while showering. They will fall off on their own over time. You can dry the steri strips with a blow dryer on the cool setting.
e. You cannot submerge yourself in a bathtub, pool, ocean, jacuzzi, hot tub until six weeks after surgery.
f. Place bacitracin (not Neosporin) to the belly button once a day. Only a small amount. Do not goop it on. You can also clean the belly button with a cotton tip applicator and hydrogen peroxide for the first couple of days after surgery.
g. Do not place any ointments to the steri strips. Never use alcohol on your wounds as it kills healthy tissue.
h. Do not use warm or hot pads on the wounds or abdomen.
16. Sleeping:
a. Sleep with your back on 2-3 pillows and bend slightly forward to decrease stretch on your abdominal wound.
b. You can also sleep in a recliner.
c. You can resume your normal sleeping position at 2-3 weeks as long as it feels comfortable.
Long-Term Post-Operative Care
1. You are NOT allowed to travel by boat, plane, cruise ship, train, car, and/or any form of transportation out of Miami, FL for a minimum of 5 days after surgery.
2. No sexual intercourse for 6 weeks.
3. Do not drive for 5-7 days following surgery or until cleared to do so by your surgeon. Do not drive while taking oxycodone.
4. All sutures are dissolvable and do not need to be removed.
5. No smoking is allowed 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after surgery. Hopefully, you do not smoke at all.
6. No alcohol for 2 weeks after surgery. Do not consume alcohol while taking pain medication.
7. Do not undergo any dental procedures 6 weeks before and after surgery to avoid infections.
8. Please avoid all direct sun exposure to the wounds for 8 weeks after surgery.
a. Start using sunscreen 10 days after surgery (or once steri strips have been removed) every day and use it for 1 year to minimize scarring.
b. After 8 weeks, you can be exposed to direct sunlight if you apply SPF 50 or greater sunscreen and reapply every hour.
9. You must be seen in the clinic for regular follow-up visits during the first 3 months followed by another visit at 1 year at minimum. If you cannot return to Miami for post-op visits, we will schedule a virtual follow up via Klara.
10. It is NORMAL to have bruising and swelling to the surgical area as well as the genitalia. This will gradually improve over several weeks.
11. If you experience any fever (101.5 or higher), shortness of breath, chest pain, or unusual pain in the operated area you must notify the office immediately.
*These instructions are not intended to cover every possible problem that could arise. Good judgment on your part is essential for a good result.
Post-op Concerns
Most post-op questions can be answered during your post-op visits. However, we are always available to answer your questions through our HIPAA compliant text messaging system Klara. If you are experiencing any of the following, please call the office:
- You experience any fever (101.5 or higher taken with a thermometer), shortness of breath, chest pain, or unusual pain in the operated area.
- You have bright red bleeding that saturated or oozed the pads (pink or translucent oozing during the first few days is normal).
- You have severe pain that is not responding to medication or if the incisions are showing signs of infection (such as redness that spreads away from the incision to the adjacent skin and is extremely tender), foul odor drainage through the incisions.
The office can be reached directly at 305-424-2826
IMPORTANT: Do not use Klara for urgent messages between 5 pm and 9 am Monday-Friday and on weekends. Our staff does not review Klara’s messages outside of office hours. For urgent medical questions, please call the office and, if we are closed, you will be transferred to the after-hours answering service.
Please call our office before planning on going to see anyone else after your surgery to include the emergency room or any other doctor.
For an emergency please go to:
Kendall Regional Hospital
11750 SW 40th St.
Miami, Fl 33175
South Miami Hospital
6200 SW 73rd St.
South Miami, Fl 33143
IF YOU ARE HAVING A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911 OR GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM AND CALL US TO LET US KNOW ONCE YOU ARE ABLE TO DO SO.
Immediately After Surgery
1. You must be taken home by a responsible adult over the age of 18 years-old. This individual must agree to stay with you the evening of surgery and into the next day(s) so as to ensure you are being supervised.
2. Your first post-operative appointment will be with our staff the day after your surgery.
3. The follow-up visit will be scheduled with a surgeon within a week of your surgery.
4. Maximum weight allowed to lift is 10 pounds for 6 weeks.
5. Do not take any aspirin-type products for 2 weeks after surgery. ONLY use the pain medication prescribed by the surgeon.
6. You are not allowed to take any herbal supplements or over the counter vitamins/medications for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery. These can cause bleeding.
7. You are only allowed to take a single multivitamin a day.
8. Do not empty the dishwasher, do laundry, mop/broom/vacuum your home, or perform any other activity for 2 weeks.
9. YOU MUST BEGIN WALKING the evening of surgery. Bedrest alone is not allowed. You have to get out of bed every 3 hours and walk 10 minutes for the first 24 hours after surgery. After the first 24 hours, you need to walk 5 times per day to help prevent a blood clot.
10. Follow a liquid diet for the first day after surgery and transition to a soft diet for the next 2 days followed by a regular diet.
11. Showering:
a. Start showering 48 hours after surgery and do so once a day.
b. You should only shower for the first 45 days after surgery.
c. You cannot submerge yourself in a bathtub, pool, ocean, jacuzzi, hot tub until one month after surgery.
c. PLEASE KEEP YOUR AXILLA (ARM PIT) DRY AT ALL TIMES WHEN NOT SHOWERING.
12. AVOID lifting your arms above shoulder level for 2 weeks.
13. You are allowed to use your forearms and hands above the level of the shoulders.
Compression Garment Instructions
1. Start wearing a sleeve compression garment once approved by your surgeon.
2. Wear the garment for 6 months to improve the appearance of the scar.
Long-Term Post-Operative Care
- Do not drive for 5 days following surgery or until cleared to do so by your surgeon.
- No smoking is allowed 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after surgery. Hopefully, you do not smoke at all.
- Do not undergo any dental procedures for 6 weeks before and after surgery to avoid infections.
- Please avoid all direct sun exposure to the wounds for 8 weeks after surgery. Start using sunscreen 7 days after surgery every day and use it for the rest of your life to minimize scarring. After 8 weeks, you can be exposed to direct sunlight if you apply SPF 50 or greater sunscreen and reapply every hour.
- It is NORMAL to have bruising and swelling to the surgical area. This will gradually improve over several weeks.
- If you experience any fever (101.5 or higher), shortness of breath, chest pain, or unusual pain in the operated area you must notify the office immediately.
- You are NOT allowed to travel by boat, plane, cruise ship, train, car, and/or any form of transportation out of Miami, FL for a total of 5 days at a minimum.
*These instructions are not intended to cover every possible problem that could arise. Good judgment on your part is essential for a good result.
Post-op Concerns
Most post-op questions can be answered during your post-op visits. However, we are always available to answer your questions through our HIPAA compliant text messaging system Klara. If you are experiencing any of the following, please call the office:
- You experience any fever (101.5 or higher taken with a thermometer), shortness of breath, chest pain, or unusual pain in the operated area.
- You have bright red bleeding that saturated or oozed the pads (pink or translucent oozing during the first few days is normal).
- You have severe pain that is not responding to medication or if the incisions are showing signs of infection (such as redness that spreads away from the incision to the adjacent skin and is extremely tender), foul odor drainage through the incisions.
The office can be reached directly at 305-902-3432
IMPORTANT: Do not use Klara for urgent messages between 5 pm and 9 am Monday-Friday and on weekends. Our staff does not review Klara messages outside of office hours. For urgent medical questions, please call the office and, if we are closed, you will be transferred to the after-hours answering service.
Please call our office before planning on going to see anyone else after your surgery to include the emergency room or any other doctor.
For an emergency please go to:
Kendall Regional Hospital
11750 SW 40th St.
Miami, Fl 33175
South Miami Hospital
6200 SW 73rd St.
South Miami, Fl 33143
IF YOU ARE HAVING A LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911 OR GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM AND CALL US TO LET US KNOW ONCE YOU ARE ABLE TO DO SO.
Immediately After Surgery
1. You must be taken home by a responsible adult over the age of 18 years-old. This individual must agree to stay with you the evening of surgery and into the next day(s) so as to ensure you are being supervised.
2. Your first post-operative appointment will be with our staff the day after your surgery.
3. Your second post-op visit will be within a week after your surgery.
4. Take your medications as prescribed by your surgeon. You should take your antibiotics until they are finished and you should not skip a dose.
4. Maximum weight allowed to lift is 10 pounds for 6 weeks.
5. Drink water after surgery. You should consume at least 8 cups of water (8 oz each) a day, but try to drink a gallon of fluids (can be soups, juices, gatorade and water).
6. Do not take any aspirin-type products for 4 weeks after surgery. ONLY use the pain medication prescribed by the surgeon or Tylenol.
7. You are not allowed to take any herbal supplements or over the counter vitamins/medications for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery. These can cause bleeding.
8. You are only allowed to take a single multivitamin a day.
9. You should rest quietly and comfortably for the first 24 hours after surgery.
10. YET! YOU MUST BEGIN WALKING the evening of surgery. Bedrest alone is not allowed. You have to get out of bed at least 5 times a day and walk.
11. Avoid bending at the waist. Do not empty the dishwasher, do laundry, mop/broom/vacuum your home, or perform any other activity.
12. Work:
a. Expect to take at least 5-7 days off of work if you are employed.
b. Please limit ALL activities for the first week following your procedure.
13. Follow a liquid diet for the first day after surgery and transition to a soft diet for the next 2 days followed by a regular diet.
a. Do not take narcotic pain medication (oxycodone) without having some food in your stomach. If not, it can cause nausea and vomiting.
b. Take an over the counter stool softener twice a day (Colace for example 100mg BID) while taking narcotic pain medication.
14. Bra:
a. Use your surgical bra or a cotton sports bra that has Velcro in the front to avoid having to stretch our arms along your back causing an injury to the wounds.
b. DO NOT use any underwire bra for 6 weeks after surgery.
15. Showering:
a. Start showering 48 hours after surgery and do so once a day.
b. You are only allowed to shower for 6 weeks after surgery (no soaking underwater). Use soap and water to all incisions using a gentle circular motion and pat dry. Do not rub the wounds aggressively.
c. Leave the steri strips on while showering. They will fall off on their own over time or the surgeon will remove them in the clinic.
d. You cannot submerge yourself in a bathtub, pool, ocean, jacuzzi, hot tub until 6 weeks after surgery.
e. Do not place any ointments on the steri strips. Never use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide as it kills healthy tissue.
f. Do not use warm or hot pads on the wounds.
16. Sleeping:
a. Sleep with your back on 2-3 pillows the first 5 nights to decrease swelling in the breasts.
b. You can also sleep in a recliner.
c. Wear a comfortable cotton sports bra for support.
d. Normal sleeping position can be resumed after 5 days but avoid sleeping face down putting pressure on your breasts and incisions for 6 weeks.
Long-Term Post-Operative Care
1. You are NOT allowed to travel by boat, plane, cruise ship, train, car, and/or any form of transportation out of Miami, FL for a minimum of 5 days from your surgery date.
2. No sexual intercourse for 2 weeks. Then continue to be careful for 2 more weeks.
3. Do not drive for 5-7 days following surgery or until cleared to do so by your surgeon. Do not drive while taking narcotic pain medication (ex: oxycodone).
4. All sutures are dissolvable and do not need to be removed.
5. No smoking is allowed 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after surgery. Hopefully, you do not smoke at all.
6. No alcohol for 2 weeks after surgery and only once you are not taking any more pain medication.
7. Do not undergo any dental procedures for 6 weeks before and after surgery to avoid infections.
8. Please avoid all direct sun exposure to the wounds for 8 weeks after surgery.
9. Start using sunscreen 10 days after surgery (or once steri strips have been removed) every day and use it for 1 year to minimize scarring.
a. After 8 weeks, you can be exposed to direct sunlight if you apply SPF 50 or greater sunscreen and reapply every hour.
b. It is NORMAL to have bruising and swelling to the breast(s). This will gradually improve over several weeks.
*These instructions are not intended to cover every possible problem or situation that could arise. Good judgment on your part is essential for a good result.
Post-op Concerns
Most post-op questions can be answered during your post-op visits. However, we are always available to answer your questions through our HIPAA compliant text messaging system Klara. If you are experiencing any of the following, please call the office:
- You experience any fever (101.5 or higher taken with a thermometer), shortness of breath, chest pain, or unusual pain in the operated area.
- You have bright red bleeding that saturated or oozed the pads (pink or translucent oozing during the first few days is normal).
- You have severe pain that is not responding to medication or if the incisions are showing signs of infection (such as redness that spreads away from the incision to the adjacent skin and is extremely tender), foul odor drainage through the incisions.
The office can be reached directly at 305-902-3432
IMPORTANT: Do not use Klara for urgent messages between 5 pm and 9 am Monday-Friday and on weekends. Our staff does not review Klara messages outside of office hours. For urgent medical questions, please call the office and, if we are closed, you will be transferred to the after-hours answering service.
Please call our office before planning on going to see anyone else after your surgery to include the emergency room or any other doctor.
For an emergency please go to:
Kendall Regional Hospital
11750 SW 40th St.
Miami, Fl 33175
South Miami Hospital
6200 SW 73rd St.
South Miami, Fl 33143
IF YOU ARE HAVING A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911 OR GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM AND CALL US TO LET US KNOW ONCE YOU ARE ABLE TO DO SO.
Immediate Post-Operative Care
1. You must come for your first postoperative visit with our staff the day after surgery.
2. Your second post-op visit will be within a week after your surgery.
3. Do not take any aspirin-type products for 2 weeks after surgery. Only use the pain medication prescribed by the surgeon.
4. Rest with the head elevated at least 30 degrees or on 3 pillows. Avoid bending at the waist. Do not empty the dishwasher, do laundry, mop/broom/vacuum your home or perform any other activity.
5. Apply a cold compress to your face and eyes frequently for the first 24 hours (20 minutes on and 45 minutes off).
6. You should rest quietly and comfortably for the first 24 hours after surgery. However, you must walk every 2-3 hours for a few minutes.
7. Please limit ALL activities for the first week following your procedure. Only walking is allowed starting the evening of surgery.
8. Take the medications as prescribed by Dr. Earle
9. Follow a liquid diet for the first day after surgery and transition to a soft diet for the next 2 days.
10. Bring a scarf and sunglasses with you to your first office visit after surgery to assist in covering the surgical area.
11. You may wash your hair after your first office visit when your dressings are removed. Please follow the shampoo instructions below.
Long-Term Post-Operative Care
1. You are NOT allowed to travel by boat, plane, cruise ship, train, car, and/or any form of transportation out of Miami, FL for a minimum of 5 days after surgery.
2. You may wear facial makeup 2 weeks after your surgery. Please avoid putting makeup directly on suture lines.
3. Do not drive for 10 days following surgery or until cleared to do so by your Dr. Earle.
4. Do not wear earrings (pierced or even clip-on) for 3 weeks after surgery.
5. No smoking is allowed 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after surgery. Ideally, you would never smoke ever again.
6. You may dye your hair 1 month after surgery once you have been examined by the surgeon and he agrees.
7. Do not undergo any dental procedures for 6 weeks before and after surgery to avoid infections.
8. Before you plan to perform any vigorous activity or sport/travel please notify the office/surgeon.
9. Please avoid all direct sun exposure for 8 weeks after surgery. Start using sunscreen 7 days after surgery every day and use it for the rest of your life to minimize scarring. After 8 weeks, you can be exposed to direct sunlight if you apply SPF 50 or greater sunscreen and reapply every hour.
Shampoo Instructions After Facial Surgery
1. Do not shampoo your hair until you have been seen by the surgeon.
2. Once you have come to your first postoperative visit and the surgeon has agreed that you can begin shampooing your hair you can do so on a daily basis.
3. If you have sutures and staples in your scalp and behind your ears, these areas should be gently cleansed using shampoo and your fingertips in a gentle circular motion.
4. DO NOT pull your ears away from the side of your head as this can cause damage to the sutures used to close your wounds.
5. Do not raise your chin up while shampooing, rinsing, or drying. Keep your head level at all times.
6. You may use your blow-dryer on the COOL setting to dry your hair completely.
7. DO NOT use any hot rollers or hairpins.
8. Gently comb or brush your hair using extreme care around the ears and sutures/staples.
Post-op Concerns
Most post-op questions can be answered during your post-op visits. However, we are always available to answer your questions through our HIPAA compliant text messaging system Klara. If you are experiencing any of the following, please call the office:
- You experience any fever (101.5 or higher taken with a thermometer), shortness of breath, chest pain, or unusual pain in the operated area.
- You have bright red bleeding that saturated or oozed the pads (pink or translucent oozing during the first few days is normal).
- You have severe pain that is not responding to medication or if the incisions are showing signs of infection (such as redness that spreads away from the incision to the adjacent skin and is extremely tender), foul odor drainage through the incisions.
The office can be reached directly at 305-902-3432
IMPORTANT: Do not use Klara for urgent messages between 5 pm and 9 am Monday-Friday and on weekends. Our staff does not review Klara messages outside of office hours. For urgent medical questions, please call the office and, if we are closed, you will be transferred to the after-hours answering service.
Please call our office before planning on going to see anyone else after your surgery to include the emergency room or any other doctor.
For an emergency please go to:
Kendall Regional Hospital
11750 SW 40th St.
Miami, Fl 33175
South Miami Hospital
6200 SW 73rd St.
South Miami, Fl 33143
IF YOU ARE HAVING A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911 OR GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM AND CALL US TO LET US KNOW ONCE YOU ARE ABLE TO DO SO.
Immediately After Surgery
1. You must be taken home by a responsible adult over the age of 18 years-old. This individual must agree to stay with you the evening of surgery and into the next day(s) so as to ensure you are being supervised. You should not plan to drive yourself home.
2. Do not drive or operate any machinery and do not make any important personal decisions for 24 hours after surgery.
3. Burning sensation, redness, and also bruising are normal reactions following a Liposuction treatment.
4. You should rest quietly and comfortably for the first 24 hours after surgery.
5. YET! YOU MUST BEGIN WALKING the evening of surgery. You have to get out of bed and walk every hour or two for at least 10 minutes. Bedrest alone is not allowed.
6. Expect a large volume of blood-tinged fluids to drain from the drain but also through the small incisions during the first 24 to 48 hours following tumescent liposuction. You can place ABD pads or Gauze pads over the incision sites to absorb the drainage.
7. Your drain (Jackson-Pratt drain) needs to be emptied. Please squeeze the bulb after emptying it and then replace the valve. Please visit youtube and search for JP drain care for a tutorial. The drain will be removed within 5 days after surgery. It can be removed by any of the medical staff at our office.
8. Avoid bending at the waist. Do not do major moves. Avoid performing activities that require effort, such as empty the dishwasher, do laundry, mop/broom/vacuum your home.
9. Walk every hour for at least 10 min is recommended especially during the first-week post-op.
10. Please limit ALL activities for the first week following your procedure.
11. You must drink plenty of water. Hydration is extremely important after surgery.
12. Do not take any aspirin-type products or herbal supplements for 2 weeks after surgery. ONLY take the pain medication prescribed by the surgeon.
13. Take Antibiotics as directed until the prescription is finished. Take antibiotics with food.
14. Iron regimen could be restarted the day after surgery.
15. You don’t have diet restrictions however following a liquid diet for the first day after surgery and transition to a soft diet for the next 2 days followed by a regular diet is recommended.
16. Showering:
a. Start showering 24 hours after surgery. Shower once or twice daily. First, wash your hands, then wash incisions gently with soap and water; afterward gently pat incisions dry with a clean towel.
b. You cannot submerge yourself in a bathtub, pool, ocean, jacuzzi, hot tub until 6 weeks after surgery or until it is instructed by the surgeon.
Appointments
1. Your first post-operative appointment will be with our staff the day after your surgery.
2. The follow-up visit will be scheduled with a surgeon within a week after your operation.
3. You are not allowed to travel by boat, plane, cruise ship, train, car, and/or any form of transportation out of Miami, FL for a total of 5 days at a minimum.
Compression Garment Instructions
1. The elastic compression garment should be worn AT ALL TIMES. You can remove it only to shower and to clean it once a day and then replace it for a period not longer than 2 hours.
a. We recommend 2 garments so you can have a fresh/clean garment to wear while the soiled garment is being washed.
b. The compression garment must be worn 24/7 for the first 6 weeks after surgery.
c. After the first 6 weeks, it can be worn 12 hours per day for an additional 6 months.
d. You can use surgical foams inserted in the compression garment for the first 6 weeks after surgery.
e. We recommend an extra compression type garment to be worn once your expanded type is not giving you enough compression with foams in.
f. All garments can be discontinued at 6 months.
*These instructions are not intended to cover every possible problem that could arise. Good judgment on your part is essential for a good result.
Long-Term Post-Operative Care
1. No smoking is allowed 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after surgery. Hopefully, you do not smoke at all.
2. Do not undergo any dental procedures for 6 weeks before and after surgery to avoid infections.
3. It is NORMAL to have bruising and swelling to the surgical area. This will gradually improve over several weeks.
4. Itching is common as part of the healing process after liposuction. Keep your skin moisturized. Avoid direct contact with lotions directly to the incision, instead, Apply it around them. You can also take Loratadine 10 mg once a day.
*These instructions are not intended to cover every possible problem that could arise. Good judgment on your part is essential for a good result.
Post-op Concerns
Most post-op questions can be answered during your post-op visits. However, we are always available to answer your questions through our HIPAA compliant text messaging system Klara. If you are experiencing any of the following, please call the office:
- You experience any fever (101.5 or higher taken with a thermometer), shortness of breath, chest pain, or unusual pain in the operated area.
- You have bright red bleeding that saturated or oozed the pads (pink or translucent oozing during the first few days is normal).
- You have severe pain that is not responding to medication or if the incisions are showing signs of infection (such as redness that spreads away from the incision to the adjacent skin and is extremely tender), foul odour drainage through the incisions.
The office can be reached directly at 305-902-3432
IMPORTANT: Do not use Klara for urgent messages between 5 pm and 9 am Monday-Friday and on weekends. Our staff does not review Klara messages outside of office hours. For urgent medical questions, please call the office and, if we are closed, you will be transferred to the after-hours answering service.
Please call our office before planning on going to see anyone else after your surgery to include the emergency room or any other doctor.
For an emergency please go to:
Kendall Regional Hospital
11750 SW 40th St.
Miami, Fl 33175
South Miami Hospital
6200 SW 73rd St.
South Miami, Fl 33143
IF YOU ARE HAVING A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911 OR GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM AND CALL US TO LET US KNOW ONCE YOU ARE ABLE TO DO SO.
Immediate Post-Operative Care
1. Your first post-operative appointment will be with our staff the day after your surgery. This appointment will be virtual unless you have a massage appointment scheduled with us.
2. Your second post-op visit will be with a surgeon within a week after your surgery.
3. Do not take any aspirin-type products for 2 weeks after surgery. Only use the pain medication prescribed by the surgeon.
4. Rest with the head elevated at least 30 degrees or on 3 pillows. Avoid bending at the waist. Do not empty the dishwasher, do laundry, mop/broom/vacuum your home, or perform any other activity.
5. Apply a cold compress to your ears three times a day for the first 24 hours (20 minutes on and 45 minutes off).
6. You should rest quietly and comfortably for the first 24 hours after surgery.
7. Please limit ALL activities for the first week following your procedure. Only walking is allowed starting the evening of surgery.
8. Follow a liquid diet for the first day after surgery and transition to a soft diet for the next 2 days.
9. Please do not use sunglasses or eyeglasses for 2 weeks after surgery.
10. You will have a large head wrap dressing placed after surgery. The wrap will be removed 24 hours after surgery.
11. Please use a headband to protect your ears after surgery (especially at night) for 4 weeks.
12. You may wash your hair after your first office visit when your dressings are removed. Please follow the shampoo instructions below.
Long-Term Post-Operative Care
1. You are NOT allowed to travel by boat, plane, cruise ship, train, car, and/or any form of transportation out of Miami, FL for a total of 5 days at a minimum.
2. No smoking is allowed 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after surgery. Ideally, you would never smoke ever again.
3. Do not undergo any dental procedures for 6 weeks before and after surgery to avoid infections.
4. Before you plan to perform any vigorous activity or sport/travel please notify the office/surgeon.
5. Please avoid all direct sun exposure for 8 weeks after surgery. Start using sunscreen 7 days after surgery every day and use it for the rest of your life to minimize scarring. After 8 weeks, you can be exposed to direct sunlight if you apply SPF 50 or greater sunscreen and reapply every hour.
Shampoo Instructions After Otoplasty
1. Do not shampoo your hair until you have been seen by the surgeon.
2. Once you have come to your first postoperative visit and the surgeon has agreed that you can begin shampooing your hair you can do so on a daily basis.
3. DO NOT pull your ears away from the side of your head as this can cause damage to the sutures used to close your wounds.
4. You may use your blow-dryer on the COOL setting to dry your ears.
5. DO NOT use any hot rollers or hair pins.
6. Gently comb or brush your hair using extreme care around the ears and sutures.
Post-op Concerns
Most post-op questions can be answered during your post-op visits. However, we are always available to answer your questions through our HIPAA compliant text messaging system Klara. If you are experiencing any of the following, please call the office:
1. You experience any fever (101.5 or higher taken with a thermometer), shortness of breath, chest pain, or unusual pain in the operated area.
2. You have bright red bleeding that saturated or oozed the pads (pink or translucent oozing during the first few days is normal).
3. You have severe pain that is not responding to medication or if the incisions are showing signs of infection (such as redness that spreads away from the incision to the adjacent skin and is extremely tender), foul odor drainage through the incisions.
The office can be reached directly at 305-902-3432
IMPORTANT: Do not use Klara for urgent messages between 5 pm and 9 am Monday-Friday and on weekends. Our staff does not review Klara messages outside of office hours. For urgent medical questions, please call the office and, if we are closed, you will be transferred to the after-hours answering service.
Please call our office before planning on going to see anyone else after your surgery to include the emergency room or any other doctor.
For an emergency please go to:
Kendall Regional Hospital
11750 SW 40th St.
Miami, Fl 33175
South Miami Hospital
6200 SW 73rd St.
South Miami, Fl 33143
IF YOU ARE HAVING A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911 OR GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM AND CALL US TO LET US KNOW ONCE YOU ARE ABLE TO DO SO.
Rhinoplasty
Post-Operative Instructions
It is completely normal that even though you have better symmetry, a straighter bridge, and increased tip contour to be disappointed a week after surgery.
Most of the nasal swelling and bruising resolves slowly within 6 weeks after surgery and continues to decrease over the course of a year.
Please be patient.
Immediately After Surgery
1. Take your antibiotic as directed on the label.
2. Take the entire Medrol steroid dose pack. Follow the instructions carefully.
3. Come to the office the second day after surgery for an evaluation by our staff and removal of nasal packing.
4. Return to the office 7 days after surgery for evaluation by the surgeon.
5. Apply an ice compress to your nose, face, and eyes frequently for the first 24 hours (20 minutes on and 20 minutes off).
6. DO NOT fall asleep with ice on your nose.
a. Maximum weight allowed to lift is 10 pounds for 2 weeks.
7. Do not take any aspirin-type products for 2 weeks after surgery. ONLY use the pain medication prescribed by the surgeon.
8. Rest with the head elevated at least 30 degrees or on 3 pillows for 7 days. Avoid bending at the waist. Do not empty the dishwasher, do laundry, mop/broom/vacuum your home or perform any other activity.
9. You should rest quietly and comfortably for the first 24 hours after surgery.
10. Please limit ALL activities for the first week following your procedure. Only walking is allowed starting the evening of surgery.
11. Follow a liquid diet for the first day after surgery and transition to a soft diet for the next 2 days.
12. You may change the gauze “drip pad” under your nose as needed. It is normal to have light bleeding and staining of the gauze for up to 3 days after surgery.
13. If for any reason you are concerned about the bleeding, you should sit upright, relax and hold gentle pressure for 10 minutes without peeking.
14. NEVER remove any of your nasal packing or splints until seen by the surgeon.
15. The splint on your nose must remain in place at ALL times. If it becomes loose, place an additional strip of tape across from cheek to cheek.
16. You may shower from the neck down. Females should wash hair with assistance. You may wash your face with a washcloth. BUT always keep your nasal splint DRY!
17. Use saline mist 3-4 times a day after removing the drip pad to keep your nasal passages moist. Gently exhale through the nose into a Kleenex to clear the saline. NEVER blow your nose forcefully! We recommend you use Ocean Spray saline mist (buy at any pharmacy).
18. Keep your stitches and the rims of your nostrils clean DAILY with a Q-tip and hydrogen peroxide. Apply a thin layer of Neosporin or Bacitracin to the stitches once daily after cleaning.
Taping and Caring for your Rhinoplasty
1. For the first week after surgery, you will leave the splint and tape on your nose. You may wash around the nose (making sure to keep the splint dry).
2. AFTER your first postoperative visit and with agreement by the surgeon, you should change the tape that is applied around the tip of your nose and across the bridge on a DAILY basis. Keep using the nasal splint at all times.
3. You will continue to change the tape daily for 7 days and keep the tape/splint on all the time.
4. The following 2 weeks (after the first 7 days) you will then only wear the tape/splint at night before you go to sleep to protect your nose.
Read below →
5. IN SUMMARY:
a. After your first post-op visit, you will wear the tape/splint on your nose for a total of 3 weeks. For the first week, it will be around the tip and across the bridge 24/7.
b. For the second 2 weeks, wear tape/splint across the bridge at night only.
6. You must keep your nose clean. Use a Q-tip with hydrogen peroxide to gently clean the nostrils and you may carefully squirt saline mist into your nostrils and gently blow your nose.
Long-Term Post-Operative Care
1. You are NOT allowed to travel by boat, plane, cruise ship, train, car, and/or any form of transportation out of Miami, FL for a minimum of 5 days after surgery.
2. Do not drive for 5 days following surgery or until cleared to do so by your surgeon.
3. No smoking is allowed 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after surgery. Hopefully, you do not smoke at all.
4. Do not undergo any dental procedures for 6 weeks before and after surgery to avoid infections.
5. Before you plan to perform any vigorous activity or sport/travel please notify the office/surgeon.
6. Please avoid all direct sun exposure for 8 weeks after surgery. Start using sunscreen 7 days after surgery every day and use it for the rest of your life to minimize scarring. After 8 weeks, you can be exposed to direct sunlight if you apply SPF 50 or greater sunscreen and reapply every hour.
7. You must be seen in the clinic for monthly follow-up visits for the first 3 months followed by another visit at 1 year at minimum.
8. DO NOT wear glasses for 6 weeks.
Please call the office for any questions or concerns.
Post-op Concerns
Most post-op questions can be answered during your post-op visits. However, we are always available to answer your questions through our HIPAA compliant text messaging system Klara. If you are experiencing any of the following, please call the office:
1. You experience any fever (101.5 or higher taken with a thermometer), shortness of breath, chest pain, or unusual pain in the operated area.
2. You have bright red bleeding that saturated or oozed the pads (pink or translucent oozing during the first few days is normal).
3. You have severe pain that is not responding to medication or if the incisions are showing signs of infection (such as redness that spreads away from the incision to the adjacent skin and is extremely tender), foul odor drainage through the incisions.
The office can be reached directly at 305-902-3432
IMPORTANT: Do not use Klara for urgent messages between 5 pm and 9 am Monday-Friday and on weekends. Our staff does not review Klara messages outside of office hours. For urgent medical questions, please call the office and, if we are closed, you will be transferred to the after-hours answering service.
Please call our office before planning on going to see anyone else after your surgery to include the emergency room or any other doctor.
For an emergency please go to:
Kendall Regional Hospital
11750 SW 40th St.
Miami, Fl 33175
South Miami Hospital
6200 SW 73rd St.
South Miami, Fl 33143
IF YOU ARE HAVING A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911 OR GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM AND CALL US TO LET US KNOW ONCE YOU ARE ABLE TO DO SO.
Immediately After Surgery
1. You must be taken home by a responsible adult over the age of 18 years-old. This individual must agree to stay with you the evening of surgery and into the next day(s) so as to ensure you are being supervised. You should not plan to drive yourself home.
2. Do not drive or operate any machinery and do not make any important personal decisions for 24 hours after surgery.
3. Burning sensation, redness, and also bruising are normal reactions following a BBL procedure.
4. You should rest quietly and comfortably for the first 24 hours after surgery.
5. YET! YOU MUST BEGIN WALKING the evening of surgery. You have to get out of bed and walk every hour or two for at least 10 minutes. Bedrest alone is not allowed.
6. Expect a large volume of blood-tinged fluids to drain from the drain but also through the small incisions during the first 24 to 48 hours following tumescent liposuction. You can place ABD pads or Gauze pads over the incision sites to absorb the drainage.
7. Your drain (Jackson-Pratt drain) needs to be emptied. Please squeeze the bulb after emptying it and then replace the valve. Please visit youtube and search for JP drain care for a tutorial. The drain will be removed within 5 days after surgery. It can be removed by any of the medical staff at our office.
8. Avoid bending at the waist. Do not do major moves. Avoid performing activities that require effort, such as empty the dishwasher, do laundry, mop/broom/vacuum your home.
9. Walk every hour or two for at least 10 min. Especially during the first-week post-op.
10. Please limit ALL activities for the first week following your procedure.
11. You must drink plenty of water. Hydration is extremely important after surgery. Try to drink a gallon or two a day of liquids. (soups, gatorade, juices, and other fluids count as well as water).
12. Do not take any aspirin-type products or herbal supplements for 2 weeks after surgery. ONLY take the pain medication prescribed by the surgeon.
13. Take Antibiotics as directed until the prescription is finished. Take antibiotics with food.
14. You can restart the iron regimen that you did in preparation for surgery, the day after surgery.
15. You don’t have diet restrictions however following a liquid diet for the first day after surgery and transition to a soft diet for the next 2 days followed by a regular diet, is recommended.
16. Showering:
a. Start showering 24 hours after surgery. Shower once or twice daily. First, wash your hands, then wash incisions gently with soap and water; afterwards gently pat incisions dry with a clean towel.
b. You cannot submerge yourself in a bathtub, pool, ocean, jacuzzi, hot tub until 6 weeks after surgery or until it is instructed by the surgeon.
Appointments
1. Your first post-operative appointment will be with our staff the day after your surgery.
2. The follow-up visit will be scheduled with a surgeon within a week after your operation.
3. You are not allowed to travel by boat, plane, cruise ship, train, car, and/or any form of transportation out of Miami, FL for a total of 5 days at a minimum.
Compression Garment Instructions
1. The elastic compression garment provided during your surgery should be worn AT ALL TIMES. You can remove it only to shower and to clean it once a day and then replace it for a period not longer than 2 hours.
a. We recommend 2 garments so you can have a fresh/clean garment to wear while the soiled garment is being washed.
b. The compression garment must be worn 24/7 for the first 6 weeks after surgery.
c. After the first 6 weeks, it can be worn 12 hours per day for an additional 6 months.
d. You can use surgical foams inserted in the compression garment for the first 6 weeks after surgery.
e. We recommend an extra compression type garment to be worn once your original garment is not giving you enough compression with foams in. The timing of this switch to the “stage 2” garment will vary from patient to patient. The rule of thumb to follow is whether you feel compressed or not. If you are not feeling enough compression, it’s time to move to a tighter garment. Keep in mind that you may need more than 2 types of garments. Some patients need 3-4 garments after the original because their inflammation goes down quickly and they need to change to several stages of compression to achieve the compression needed to feel supported and relieve swelling.
f. All garments can be discontinued at 6 months, but you may choose to wear them for a longer period. Listen to your body.
Sitting Instructions
1. Avoid pressure on your buttocks for 6 weeks.
2. You are NOT allowed to sit or lay down on your back for 6 weeks.
3. You must sleep on your belly (not on your sides) for 6 weeks.
4. You can sit with a BBL pillow just WHEN NECESSARY for short periods of time for the first 2 weeks after surgery and for longer periods from then up to 4 weeks post-op.
5. At week 6 you can start to sit on your buttock without the pillow. for short periods of time.
6. At week 12 you can sit as long as you are comfortable.
Long-Term Post-Operative Care
1. No smoking is allowed 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after surgery. Hopefully, you do not smoke at all.
2. Do not undergo any dental procedures for 6 weeks before and after surgery to avoid infections.
3. It is NORMAL to have bruising and swelling to the surgical area. This will gradually improve over several weeks.
4. Itching is common and is part of the healing process after liposuction. Keep your skin moisturized, but avoid putting lotions directly to the incision, instead apply it around them. You can also take Loratadine 10 mg once a day to help with the itch.
*These instructions are not intended to cover every possible problem that could arise. Good judgment on your part is essential for a good result.
Post-op Concerns
Most post-op questions can be answered during your post-op visits. However, we are always available to answer your questions through our HIPAA compliant text messaging system Klara. If you are experiencing any of the following, please call the office:
1. You experience any fever (101.5 or higher taken with a thermometer), shortness of breath, chest pain, or unusual pain in the operated area.
2. You have bright red bleeding that saturated or oozed the pads (pink or translucent oozing during the first few days is normal).
3. You have severe pain that is not responding to medication or if the incisions are showing signs of infection (such as redness that spreads away from the incision to the adjacent skin and is extremely tender), foul odor drainage through the incisions.
The office can be reached directly at 305-902-3432
IMPORTANT: Do not use Klara for urgent messages between 5 pm and 9 am Monday-Friday and on weekends. Our staff does not review Klara messages outside of office hours. For urgent medical questions, please call the office and, if we are closed, you will be transferred to the after-hours answering service.
Please call our office before planning on going to see anyone else after your surgery to include the emergency room or any other doctor.
For an emergency please go to:
Kendall Regional Hospital
11750 SW 40th St.
Miami, Fl 33175
South Miami Hospital
6200 SW 73rd St.
South Miami, Fl 33143
IF YOU ARE HAVING A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911 OR GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM AND CALL US TO LET US KNOW ONCE YOU ARE ABLE TO DO SO.
Immediately After Surgery
1. Your first post-operative appointment will be with our staff the day after your surgery.
2. The following visit will be scheduled with a surgeon.
3. You must be taken home by a responsible adult over the age of 18 years-old. This individual must agree to stay with you the evening of surgery and into the next day(s) so as to ensure you are being supervised.
4. Maximum weight allowed to lift is 10 pounds for 6 weeks.
5. Do not take any aspirin-type products for 2 weeks after surgery.
ONLY use the pain medication prescribed by the surgeon.
6. You are not allowed to take any herbal supplements or over the counter vitamins/medications for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery. These can cause bleeding.
7. You are only allowed to take a single multivitamin a day.
8. Do not empty the dishwasher, do laundry, mop/broom/vacuum your home, or perform any other activity for 2 weeks.
9. YOU MUST BEGIN WALKING the evening of surgery. Bedrest alone is not allowed. You have to get out of bed every 3 hours and walk 10 minutes for the first 24 hours after surgery. After the first 24 hours, you need to walk 5 times per day to help prevent a blood clot.
10. Follow a liquid diet for the first day after surgery and transition to a soft diet for the next 2 days followed by a regular diet.
11. Showering:
a. Start showering 48 hours after surgery and do so once a day.
b. You are only allowed to shower for the first 45 days after surgery – no baths.
c. You cannot submerge yourself in a bathtub, pool, ocean, jacuzzi, hot tub until 6 weeks after surgery.
Compression Garment Instructions
1. Start wearing a compression garment after your first post-op appointment unless you are indicated otherwise by our staff.
2. Wear the garment for 6 months to improve the appearance of the scar.
Long-Term Post-Operative Care
1. Do not drive for 5 days following surgery or until cleared to do so by your surgeon.
2. No smoking is allowed 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after surgery. Hopefully, you do not smoke at all.
3. Do not undergo any dental procedures for 6 weeks before and after surgery to avoid infections.
4. Please avoid all direct sun exposure to the wounds for 8 weeks after surgery. Start using sunscreen 7 days after surgery every day and use it for the rest of your life to minimize scarring. After 8 weeks, you can be exposed to direct sunlight if you apply SPF 50 or greater sunscreen and reapply every hour.
5. It is NORMAL to have bruising and swelling to the surgical area. This will gradually improve over several weeks.
6. If you experience any fever (101.5), shortness of breath, chest pain, or unusual pain in the operated area you must notify the office immediately.
7. You are NOT allowed to travel by boat, plane, cruise ship, train, car, and/or any form of transportation out of Miami, FL for a minimum of 5 days after surgery.
8. These instructions are not intended to cover every possible problem that could arise. Good judgment on your part is essential for a good result.
Post-op Concerns
Most post-op questions can be answered during your post-op visits. However, we are always available to answer your questions through our HIPAA compliant text messaging system Klara. If you are experiencing any of the following, please call the office:
- You experience any fever (101.5 or higher taken with a thermometer), shortness of breath, chest pain, or unusual pain in the operated area.
- You have bright red bleeding that saturated or oozed the pads (pink or translucent oozing during the first few days is normal).
- You have severe pain that is not responding to medication or if the incisions are showing signs of infection (such as redness that spreads away from the incision to the adjacent skin and is extremely tender), foul odor drainage through the incisions.
The office can be reached directly at 305-902-3432
IMPORTANT: Do not use Klara for urgent messages between 5 pm and 9 am Monday-Friday and on weekends. Our staff does not review Klara messages outside of office hours. For urgent medical questions, please call the office and, if we are closed, you will be transferred to the after-hours answering service.
Please call our office before planning on going to see anyone else after your surgery to include the emergency room or any other doctor.
For an emergency please go to:
Kendall Regional Hospital
11750 SW 40th St.
Miami, Fl 33175
South Miami Hospital
6200 SW 73rd St.
South Miami, Fl 33143
IF YOU ARE HAVING A LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911 OR GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM AND CALL US TO LET US KNOW ONCE YOU ARE ABLE TO DO SO.