Leaving out a few ?minor? details on your patient intake forms can?t really hurt you, can it? Unfortunately, it can. The small aspects that you aren?t telling your plastic surgeon could actually do more damage than you think. Below are examples of three of the most common omissions on medical intake forms that could affect your plastic surgery and patient safety.
1. Smoking
Maybe you?re in the process of quitting smoking. Maybe you only enjoy a cigarette while in a social situation. Maybe you don?t smoke cigarettes, but occasional smoke marijuana. These things don?t actually make you a smoker, right? Wrong! For medical purposes in each of these situations you would be considering a smoker.
Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning nicotine causes your blood vessels to shrink restricting blood flow. It is essential your body has optimal blood flow to the areas treated following your plastic surgery procedure. In addition, smoking (whether cigarettes or marijuana) decreases oxygen content in the blood stream. Decreased blood flow and deficient oxygen levels in the blood impair the body?s natural healing ability and has been known to cause would break down issues that often result in less than flattering scars.
As a plastic surgeon I recommend patients have completely stopped smoking a minimum of four weeks before their surgery and refrain from smoking for at least four-to-six weeks following surgery to prevent negative effects in their healing process.
2. Recreational Drug Use
When patients are using illegal or restricted drugs for recreational purposes, they may fear disclosing this information to their plastic surgeon. However, disclosing this information is incredibly important to ensure your safety as a patient. During your plastic surgery procedure, you are administered anesthesia medications to keep you asleep during the procedure. Combining these medications with a variety of illegal drugs or controlled substances can cause severe reactions or possibly life-threatening shifts in blood pressure leading to a possible stroke, heart attack or even death. In addition, you are typically prescribed medication that you will need to take after your surgery. These medications may also have an adverse reaction when combined with recreational drug use.
In addition to disclosing this information to your plastic surgeon, it is best to avoid recreational drug use for several weeks prior to booking your surgery, as well as after your surgery is complete while your body is healing.
3. Supplements & Non-Prescription Medications
The box or line on the patient intake form that inquires about any medications you are taking is not limited to your prescription medications. Any over-the-counter medication or supplements that you ingest on a regular or semi-regular basis should also be included. Many over-the-counter medications ? such as aspirin or ibuprofen- and herbal supplements, including fish oil, can cause excess bleeding during and after your plastic surgery procedure. Your surgeon can recommend the best plan of action when you disclose these medications further insuring your safety and outcome.
Physicians and plastic surgeons do not ask these questions to invade your privacy or lecture you on your lifestyle. It?s all about patient safety.
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