Your care is most important to us. Please read all of the provided information carefully and keep it handy as a reference for after your surgery. If you have any questions or problems before or after your surgery, please do not hesitate to call, anytime.
Sincerely,
Corey S. Maas, M.D.
To view and/or print Patient Care Instructions for a particular procedure, please select the appropriate link from the list that follows.
Important Steps for Wound Healing
• Wounds heal best in a moist, clean environment.
• Clean suture lines twice daily with hydrogen peroxide and a Q-tip.
• Gently cleaning with peroxide will remove crusts (scabs).
• DO NOT pick at or manually remove crusts. They will gradually resolve with gentle cleaning.
• After cleaning apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment over the entire length of the wound.
• Bacitracin is a good choice of ointment. It can be purchased over the counter at most pharmacies and grocery stores.
• Continue wound care until all sutures are removed and crusts are gone.
• IN most cases you may shower one or two days after surgery. After shower pat the wound dry and apply a thin layer of ointment over the length of the wound. Do Not use a blow dryer on or around wounds.
• If drainage or pus develops, redness or pain increases, or sudden swelling occurs call the doctor.
The Results of Your Surgery Depend on Good Wound Care at Home !!!
The goal of the Facial Plastic Surgery Clinic is to make your surgical experience and recovery comfortable and pleasant. Paying careful attention to the written and verbal instructions provided to you by Dr. Maas and his staff will help us to achieve these goals.
General Information
Skin resurfacing is a technique that is quite effective in removing fine wrinkles, as well as some of the coarser wrinkles, of the face. The procedure itself uses an agent that removes the outer layers of skin, allowing the new growth of smoother, healthier and more youthful appearing skin.
The techniques used for resurfacing including a laser and certain medicines for chemical face peeling such as trichloroacetic acid for lighter peels or phenol mixture for deeper peels.
In general, these procedures are a relatively uncomplicated office or operating room procedure that can be done in less than 1 hour. The most important thing that we emphasize with all of our patients is that their involvement in post operative care of the wounds is critical to achieving a satisfactory healing course.
The following instructions are provided so that you, as a patient, are aware of your role and contributions necessary to ensure that your procedure goes smoothly.
General Care Instructions
• Most patients will received preoperative (before resurfacing) cream to reduce the chance of pigment changes after the procedure. Please be sure to apply this cream to all areas to be resurfaced for 2 weeks prior to surgery.
• It is most important that you are well hydrated prior to the chemical face peeling procedure. Drinking 5 or 6 glasses (8 ounces) of water a day, up to 12 hours before the surgery, is most important.
• You should wash your face 4 – 5 times a day 2 days prior to the surgery with a mild soap. This will help to remove any debris or oils that can interfere with the uniformity of the peeling process.
• Any history of breakouts of cold sores, skin disorders or previous problems with scarring should be brought immediately to the attention of Dr. Mass and his staff, before any resurfacing procedure is performed. Although this has been discussed with you during your consultation with Dr. Maas, we must stress the importance of informing the staff if any such reactions or conditions exist.
Wound Care Instructions
• After the resurfacing procedure, the area will become quite swollen within a day or so. The area will become quite reddened and be sensitive. There is discomfort associated with this phase of the process, and pain medications are provided to alleviate the discomfort.
• Keep a generous amount of petrolatum (Vaseline) applied to all areas that have been peeled. This keeps the area moist, soothes the skin irritation and helps with healing. or…
• Some patients will receive an occlusion dressing that will be removed 1 – 3 weeks after surgery. Follow the staff instructions on how to care for this dressing.
• If you do not receive an occlusive dressing or after it’s removed you should begin showering or splashing the area with a gentle stream of water on your face 4 -5 times a day. This will allow gentle removal of the soft crusting that occurs as the facial area begins to heal. Do not pick at the soft crusts or scabs or manipulate them in any way. Allow the gentle water shower to wash these away and the application of petrolatum ointment to keep the area soft.
• On the 7th day most of the crusting will disappear and the new skin will appear. This skin is very sensitive and red to pink. This is normal.
• It is most important that you do not allow any sun exposure during this healing phase, and for 1 month after surgery. Sun exposure may result in unpredictable pigmentation (skin coloring) changes to the skin during this critical time period.
• Within 10 -12 days, makeup may be used to cover the peeled areas. This will help to blend any temporary patchy areas, and will make your skin look more natural durig the healing process. Remember, redness may last up to 3 – 6 months. Please be patient and take care of your new skin.
• After the initial month, sun exposure is still to be avoided but if outdoor activities are undertaken, generous amounts of a SPF 15 or greater sunscreen must be applied to the face.
• If any breakout of crusted lesions appear in or around the mouth (or anywhere on the face), other than the initial crusting, during the first 7 days of recovery, notify Dr. Maas and his staff immediately. Such lesions may represent an early cold sore type of breakout which must be treated medically.
• Facial resurfacing allows dramatic improvement in wrinkles of the face. It also may significantly reduce area of sun damaged skin. This procedure, however, does produce some discomfort for the first couple of weeks due to the sensitivity of the skin and the crusting over the face. It is essential, therefore, that each patient know and follow these general care and wound care instructions carefully.
• After about 2 weeks the doctor may restart the cream to decrease pigment changes and help healing. Ask the doctor if you have any questions.
After the procedure, you will have stitches at the incision sites, (behind the ears, and under your chin.) These remain in for 5 – 7 days. You will be asked to wear head-bands for the first week, 24-hrs/day. Then just at bed time for the second week.
Drinking generous amounts of fluids is important. Quiet rest is recommended the day of surgery. Later in the day, you may get up and about. Get up slowly from a sitting position of lying position for the first 48 hours to avoid sudden lightheadedness.
It is common to feel sore, and perhaps feel fatigued for the first few days. You may return to all normal activities within 48 hours of the procedure. We suggest you slowly resume your regular exercise, but avoid such sports which may injure your incision site under your chin. As always, use good common sense.
Take medication as prescribed. Avoid Aspirin.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call our office.
Thank you for your confidence in us.
