Pre & Postop Instructions

• No smoking (ideally 12 weeks before and after surgery)
• No cosmetic injections
• No body tattoos

• Consent forms due
• Outstanding accounts due
• Organise a support person to pick you up and stay with you 24 hours after surgery

• Discontinue ALL non-prescription medication (including multivitamins and herbal products)
• Discontinue ALL diet medications- including shakes, thermogenic products, and duromine (phentermine)
• No blood thinning medications, including: Aspirin, Ibuprofen (e.g. Nurofen), Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory, Vitamin E, Gingko Biloba or Fish Oil
• No illegal drugs
• You CAN continue to take the contraceptive pill

• No alcohol
• Report any signs of infections, colds, rashes, or skin sores
• If you have ANY respiratory symptoms – notify the clinic
• No spray tanning/ remove ALL traces of tan to prevent infection
• If you require a medical certificate: email the clinic with exact days. For example: 24.3.2021 – 24.04.2021

• Remove acrylic nails, nail polish/shellac off 1 finger each hand
• Eyelash extensions may be left on
• Wash your hair
• Follow fasting instructions given to you by the hospital: NO eating or drinking anything after midnight. Regular prescription morning medication may be taken with a small sip of water

• Shower with the preop wash
  Apply wash to your entire chest, abdomen, underarms
  Apply from the neck down, do not use on face or genitals
  Clean in circular motions for 5 minutes using gentle pressure
  Turn the water off. Leave the product on the skin for 5 minutes
  Rinse thoroughly
  Do not use any other wash over the area
  Pat dry with a clean, soft towel
• Do not apply anything to the skin: lotion, powder, deodorant, perfume
• Remove all jewellery and piercings
• Wear clean, loose and comfortable clothing
• Brush your teeth
• No contact lenses
• Visit a bathroom prior to admission to theatre
• Bring a pillow in the car to hold against your stomach on the drive home

• No showering for 5 days. After 5 days, avoid wetting the dressings, dry with a hairdryer on a low heat setting. If dressings get overly wet, you will need an earlier dressing change
• You may find it comfortable to walk in a hunched position for the first few days – slowly straighten up as comfort permits
• You may be more comfortable sleeping and resting at a 45 degree angle with your knees bent with a pillow underneath
• You may experience giddiness, tiredness or mild nausea
• Eat healthy food and drink plenty of fluids
• Rest for maximum healing
• Do not drink alcohol for 1 week
• Mini abdominoplasty: do not drive for 1 week
• Full abdominoplasty: do not drive for 2 weeks
• You may resume all supplements ceased after 2 weeks
• No smoking for at least 6 weeks
• The surgical area may feel quite unusual for the first few weeks. It may feel tight and there may be reduced sensitivity

• You will need to wear your compression garment for at least 6 weeks. It should feel firm. Additional garments can be purchased through the clinic

• No exercise or submerging your body under water for 6 weeks, no exceptions
• Week 1: Gentle walking only – the pace you would walk around a shopping centre
• Week 6 (pending review): exercise, gym work, running, swimming
• 3 Months: contact sports: surfing, horse riding, netball, scuba diving, gun range, ski diving, roller coasters, bowling
• 6 Months: Crossfit style exercising, MMA fighting
• Sexual intercourse: may be resumed after 2 – 3 weeks

• ALL patients will require a dressing change at week 1, 2, and 3 – these are performed in clinic by our Nurse on Thursdays
• In summer we see an increase in infections due to the heat. If you get HOT or SWEATY you will need to arrange an earlier dressing change
• You MAY experience some discomfort at your week 1 dressing change, take your pain medication prior to reduce this

All patients will have scheduled postoperative appointments with their surgeon at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months (optional), and 12 months (optional). If you know your schedule you can book these appointments in advance!

Book Your Dressing Changes & Postop Appointments

• We will provide you with a Dressing Change Letter to give to your GP – please make sure you read this letter yourself! Unfortunately some GPs do not read the instructions properly
• You will have a Virtual Appointment with your surgeon at Week 1

Dressing Change Letter

After your last scheduled dressing change you will look after your incisions yourself using Micropore (the brown or white roll of tape), please advise us in advance if you have any tape allergies!

• Wash hands thoroughly
• Remove dressings in the shower, rinse with tepid water
• Pat dry with a clean towel
• Snap a pic and email through to us for review: info@inigocosmetic.com.au
• Cover with the Micropore
• Change tape every 5 days, or as required (changing it too often may irritate the skin)
• Continue use until your 6 week appointment
• If you notice any discharge or redness contact the clinic ASAP

For information on scarring and how to care for your incisions after 6 weeks refer to our Surgery & Scarring Guide

Scarring After Surgery – The Complete Guide

• ANTIBIOTIC: Cephalexin 500mg 4 times per day(every 6 hours) until finished

• PAIN RELIEF: Paracetamol 1000mg 4 times per day (every 6 hours)
• ANTI-INFLAMMATORY: Celecoxib 200mg 2 times per day (every 12 hours)

• STRONG PAIN RELIEF: Oxycodone 5 or 10mg every 4 hours IF needed
• ANTI-NAUSEA: Ondansetron 4mg every 4 hours IF needed

• It is important to take the antibiotics as prescribed until finished to decrease risk of wound infection and implant rejection
• We recommend that you take paracetamol REGULARLY with the antibiotics for at least the first 5 days
• Paracetamol & Celecoxib work together in different ways to give you pain relief so it’s important to take them for this initial period, you can continue to take them for up to 10 days IF required
• Oxycodone is an opioid pain killer. You should take this type of medication ONLY if you have severe pain AFTER taking paracetamol & celecoxib
• Do NOT take the oxycodone on its own without taking regular paracetamol & celecoxib as they all work in different ways to control pain

• Oxycodone can cause constipation: ensure a high fibre diet with plenty of water. You may ask the pharmacist for a stool softener
• Oxycodone can impair your function (driving) when you first start taking it. If you don’t usually take oxycodone, please be aware this may affect you more
• Antibiotics and oxycodone may cause nausea. Take both with food. Don’t take these medications together (try to space out by 30mins or so). An ondansetron wafer may relief nausea