Preparation Before Rhinoplasty: Essential Dos and Don’ts for Surgery
Abstaining from aspirin, herbal anticoagulants, and smoking, alongside adhering to strict preoperative fasting protocols, ensures maximum surgical and anesthetic safety.
Key points
- Medications & Supplements (2 Weeks Prior): Discontinue aspirin, NSAIDs, vitamin E, high-dose omega-3, and ginkgo biloba to eliminate intraoperative bleeding risks.
- Smoking & Nicotine (3–4 Weeks Prior): Nicotine induces microvascular spasm and tissue hypoxia, severely elevating the threat of skin-flap ischemia and necrosis.
- Preoperative Fasting: Absolute cessation of all solid food and liquids for a minimum of 8 hours prior to general anesthesia is mandatory.
Preoperative Medical Clearance: Blood Panels and Imaging
During the week preceding surgery, anesthesiologists review complete blood counts, coagulation parameters (PT, aPTT, INR), metabolic liver/kidney panels, viral serologies, and an electrocardiogram (ECG). In patients presenting with functional nasal obstruction, a low-dose paranasal CT scan maps septal deviations, turbinate hypertrophy, and sinonasal polyps. If any acute upper respiratory tract viral infection is identified, surgery must be postponed to preserve airway safety.
Final 24 Hours: Practical Home Prep and Attire Selection
On the morning of surgery, arrive dressed in loose clothing featuring front button-downs or full zips; pull-over sweaters and tight t-shirts risk bumping the newly placed splint and cartilage frameworks. Eliminate facial cosmetics, creams, nail polish, jewelry, and contact lenses. At home, prepare cold gel packs, extra pillows for upper-body elevation, saline rinses, and soft foods in advance.
References
- American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). Practice Guidelines for Preoperative Fasting. Anesthesiology. 2017;126(3):376-393.
- Rohrich RJ, et al. The role of preoperative evaluation and surgical safety in rhinoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015;135(2):330e-339e.
- Sood J, et al. Preoperative optimization in facial aesthetic surgery. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2014;7(4):189-195.