Split Earlobe Repair: Pre and Post-Operative Instructions
Split Earlobe Repair: Rochester, NY

PREOPERATIVE SPLIT EARLOBE REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS

Please avoid any aspirin, aspirin-containing products, or ibuprofen (Advil, Aleve, etc.) for one week prior to your surgery. At your initial visit, we will provide a medication list (separate page of instructions) which outlines in detail products to avoid prior to surgery. If you are on any medications that affect bleeding (such as coumadin or warfarin) please notify the office immediately.

Please refrain from tobacco products and alcohol for one week prior and one week following surgery. Along with delayed wound healing, persistent skin redness and other complications may persist when tobacco and alcohol are not discontinued.

Please notify us of all routine medications and significant health history. We ask that you remain on your daily medications unless instructed otherwise. At the preoperative appointment, our nurse will tell you which daily medications to take with just a sip of water on the morning of surgery.

After your surgery is complete, you may be given prescriptions for use following surgery including an oral antibiotic (typically Keflex/Cephalexin) and pain medication (typically Vicodin/hydrocodone). Occasionally for patients with significant swelling, you will be given an additional prescription (typically Medrol Dosepak/methyl prednisolone).

The day before your surgery, we will ask you to begin Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 3000 mg daily for one week after surgery to help promote healing. To minimize bruising, you will also be asked to start Arnica (a natural supplement) the day before surgery and continue for one week following surgery.

Please call the Lindsay House at 244-1000 before noon on the business day prior to your procedure to confirm your arrival time.

There are no dietary restrictions before the procedure unless instructed otherwise. You may brush your teeth.

Do not bring valuables (cash, credit cards, watches, jewelry, etc.) to the Lindsay House on the day of surgery.

It is not required that a family member or friend stay at the Lindsay House during your surgery. If you have local (numbing) anesthesia, you will be able to drive yourself home after your surgery.

AFTER SPLIT EARLOBE REPAIR SURGERY
Following your split ear lobe repair, the nurse will review all instructions you will need for postoperative care. Avoid putting the phone to the affected ear for one week following surgery. Avoid turtlenecks or tight fitting clothing for one week following split ear lobe repair.

When your surgery is complete, you will notice a few steri-strips (little white Band-Aids) that may feel a bit tight because of the swelling. This dressing helps to keep the sutures securely in place. The steri-strips must be kept dry and in place for five to six days following surgery. You will be asked to come to our Lindsay House Office on postoperative day five or six for suture removal. Although your ear lobe is not completely healed at this time, the sutures are removed to prevent permanent suture marks.

The morning of the suture removal, we request that you shower and get the steri-strips wet, which will help loosen the steri-strips for removal at your appointment. Most patients describe suture removal as discomfort rather than pain and do not take pain medication prior to this appointment. However, if you want to take pain medication about an hour prior to suture removal you will need to have someone drive you to this appointment. When sutures are removed, new steri-strips will be placed to reinforce the incision. These new satirists must remain dry and in place for four days. You may then get them wet in the shower before your second postoperative appointment.

POSTOPERATIVE SPLIT EARLOBE REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS

Wound care
Keep dressing dry and intact the evening after surgery and until the morning you return for suture removal. Notify your doctor if the dressings become loose or fall off.

Medications

Most patients complain of discomfort more than pain. Use pain medication (typically Vicodin/hydrocodone) as directed/as needed. Vicodin contains Tylenol. Do not take additional Tylenol or acetaminophen while taking Vicodin. Do not drive or drink alcohol while taking pain medication. Taking pain medication with food helps minimize nausea sometimes associated with pain medications.

Start your antibiotic (typically Keflex/cephalexin) when you get home and one at bedtime. It is not uncommon to have a low-grade fever for 24 to 48 hours following surgery.

Start swelling medication (typically Medrol Dosepak/methyl prednisolone) when you arrive home and again at bedtime. Take with food.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 3000 mg daily for one week following surgery helps promote healing.

Activity
Sleep with head of the bed elevated or use two to three pillows for one week after surgery. Absolutely no bending, lifting or straining. If you have little children, bend at the knees or sit on the floor and let them climb on to your lap. Avoid putting the phone to the affected ear for one week following surgery. Avoid turtlenecks or tight fitting clothing for one week following split ear lobe repair. Patients typically do not need to take time off work other than the time for the surgery. You may wear clip on earrings beginning two weeks after split ear lobe repair.

Always protect your face from the sun. Following surgery, our staff will tell you when it is OK to apply sunscreen, cosmetics or facial creams to the surgical site. Avoid unprotected prolonged sun exposure for three months following split ear lobe repair to prevent pigmentation of incision lines.

Please Remember!
Swelling, bruising and disrupted sleep are very normal postoperative symptoms and will decrease as the healing process occurs.

Final Result
Following split ear lobe repair, it takes time for the swelling to subside and for the skin to heal. At ten days postoperatively, swelling and minimal bruising may be apparent to you but not to many of your coworkers and closest friends.

Final results following any cosmetic surgery are not apparent for one full year. After three months, the changes are ever so subtle, although still important. Being perfectionists about our work, you may tell us you are pleased long before the one-year anniversary. However, we request that you follow-up with us at that time for postoperative photographs and so that we can enjoy your final result.

Please notify the office 244-1000 and ask for our nurse for any concerns. For an emergency, please contact our office or professional answering service at 258-4851. Remember, we are all here to help in any way we can.

Copyright 2010 Quatela Center for Plastic Surgery