Post-Operative Instructions

Now that your surgery has been completed, follow these instructions to make yourself more comfortable, promote healing, and prevent any possible complications.

Please read all items carefully!

Actual Day of Surgery

Anesthesia

Most patient prefer an intravenous sedation to relax them during the procedure. After surgery, it usually takes 3-4 hours for the sedative medications to totally clear your system. You will receive prescriptions for antibiotics, anti-swelling, and pain at the time of surgery.

Nausea

If nausea last more than 2 hours after you arrive home please notify our office at (904) 246-6545 with a pharmacy phone number and we will call in some medication to help relieve the nausea.

Diet

It is important to remain on a soft or liquid diet for seven (7) days following the surgery to avoid any soft tissue damage or disruption of the sutures. On the day of surgery avoid citric acid products, (orange juice, grapefruit juice, lemonade and tomato juice). Please do not use a straw. Do not rinse or spit the day of treatment

Swelling

Keep an ice pack on the outside of the face (adjacent to the surgical site or sites) Doing this will minimize the swelling. The suggested regimen for use of the ice pack is (10) – (20) minutes on and (10) – (20) minutes off. Use the ice packs only on the day of surgery. The following day, use warm moist heat (such as a hot water bottle), if swelling remains. Please do not use a heating pad, doing them may dry out your skin.

The day of surgery keep you head elevated on two pillows. Avoid sleeping on the same side in which the surgery was preformed. This procedure will help to minimize the swelling.

Gauze

You will leave our office with a gauze pack placed over the surgical site. You will be given extra gauze to change every fifteen (15) to thirty (30) minutes for the first (2) hours. After that time, change the gauze as seen necessary. This will allow the bleeding to stop. It is important that you bite firmly on the gauze.

Second Day - Day Seven

Oral Hygiene

Start warm salt water rinses three (3) to four (4) times per day (One teaspoon of salt in an 8 – ounce cup of lukewarm water). Gently rinse and expectorate. No water piks. Continue this procedure for one week.

Us a Q-tip dipped in peroxide on silver caps (for 1- stage patients)

Your surgical site is closed with sutures. These sutures will be removed approximately seven to fourteen days following surgical treatment.

Some discomfort, swelling, bruising, and pain may be experienced for the next to (2) to three (3) days. This is normal… it will get better!

For those patients who are wearing a removable appliance (i.e. a partial/dental), explicit instructions as to it’s use will be explained by Dr. Barsamian. In many cases, the prosthesis will be adjusted and soft lined. This liner will be replaced periodically by our staff.

Patient Escort

An escort is a responsible adult who assists with the safe discharge and follow-up care for a patient after a surgical procedure.