Pre-Operative Instructions

You may visit your surgeon as many times as you wish to have all of your questions answered. At your final preoperative visit, your final questions will be answered and you will confirm that you have understood the procedure to be performed, that this material has been explained to you, that you have read and understand these information sheets, and that you accept the risks by signing the informed consent forms. You will be given information on skin care products, prescriptions for antiviral medications, pain pills, antibiotics and instructions for their use. Certain laboratory tests will also be required within two weeks of surgery. If you are over the age of 50, you will have to obtain a cardiogram from your doctor’s office or any certified laboratory. You may have blood drawn by our office nurse during your final preoperative visit, or, if you prefer, at your family doctor's office or any state licensed laboratory (e.g. Kaiser Hospital, etc.). All patients will be asked to stop smoking at least a month prior to surgery in an effort to maximize your body's ability to heal the incisions following the operation.

Patients being treated with Acutane® for active acne should not consider a skin resurfacing procedure until they have stopped with Acutane for at least twelve months prior to any skin resurfacing procedure. If you have darker skin, your surgeon might prescribe a bleaching cream prior to surgery. For four weeks prior to the skin resurfacing procedure, the patient is asked to wash the face with soap and water each evening, then to dry the face thoroughly and apply a generous layer of Retin-A® or Renova® as prescribed by your surgeon. You should wash your face in a normal fashion in the morning and apply your skin care products, sun block and makeup. The office staff will discuss skin care products with you anytime you wish to do so.

To minimize the possible development of “cold sores” or herpes infections around the mouth, your surgeon will prescribe Acyclovir® (800 mg.) three times daily, which you are to begin three days prior to surgery and continue for seven days after surgery.

For a period of five days prior to the procedure, thoroughly cleanse your face three times a day, using any bland soap or a cleansing cream. Sun block, makeup and glycolic acid may be applied between these cleansings.

The evening before and the morning of treatment, wash your face, neck, ears and hair thoroughly for five minutes. There is no need to set or style your hair, but you may do so if you wish. Do not wear any makeup to the office on the day of treatment. Likewise, moisturizers should not be applied to the face on the day of the procedure.

It will be necessary to arrive at the Laguna Hills Surgery Center with an empty stomach. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight prior to the procedure, but do take any medications prescribed by our physicians.

If you develop any signs of infection, pustules or boils on the face prior to the operation, please notify the office; it may be necessary to reschedule your procedure.

Arrangements must be made to have someone bring you to the Surgical Center and to take you home following the procedure. When you arrive at the Surgery Center, let the receptionist know who is to be called to take you home. If you receive any intravenous sedatives or a general anesthetic, you MUST have someone spend the first night with you, and preferably the second day and night as well, after you return home. Usually, your anesthesiologist will call you the night before surgery to discuss the anesthetic care plan with you. But if you miss the call or your anesthesiologist does not call you, do not worry as you will be able to discuss your anesthesia and have all your questions answered in the morning, at the Surgery Center, prior to your procedure.