The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) is an educational organization. The purpose of the society, whose members are all board certified plastic surgeons, is to sponsor scientific meetings with the most up to date advances in cosmetic plastic surgery.
ASAPS has a guide called “The Smart Beauty Guide” that was created to help patients make informed decisions regarding cosmetic plastic surgery.
In the section for gynecomastia surgery, the guide recommends the following steps should be taken to prepare one’s self for gynecomastia surgery:
- Avoid getting your chest sun tanned two weeks before surgery as it is possible to increase permanent scarring.
- Stop smoking or using any nicotine products at least four weeks before surgery. Nicotine can delay healing.
- Stop taking any medications and supplements that contain blood thinners such as aspirin, Motrin, ibuprofen, vitamin E, St, John’s Wort, Gingko, green tea, etc., for two weeks before and two weeks after surgery.
- Be sure to stay hydrated before and after surgery for a safe recovery.
- Keep your surgeon informed if you develop a cold, illness, or skin infection in the surgical area a week before surgery.
- Be sure to get your lab test results to your surgeon promptly.
- Plan to take at least one week off work or more if your job is labor intensive.
- Arrange to have a responsible adult drive you home after surgery and stay with you for the first 24 hours.
- Plan to have comfortable clothing available, preferably shirts that open in the front.
- No heavy lifting is allowed for several weeks after surgery.
- Organize reading material, movies, and laptop projects, to keep you occupied during recovery.
- Be sure to get prescriptions filled in advance.
Making sure you are prepared in advance for your surgery will ensure a stress-free recovery.