INSTRUCTIONS
Here For You Before, During & After Your Procedure
Important Steps & Guidelines
Before Anesthesia
Prior to your appointment involving anesthesia, please ensure you are following the steps and guidelines outlined below. This allows us to ensure your anesthesia is successful and we are able to perform your procedure efficiently and effectively. If you have any questions about the instructions below, please don’t hesitate to contact our office.
Common Problems
For a variety of procedures, there is a shared selection of common problems that may occasionally arise. If you experience any of these issues, first try the home remedies and then, if necessary, contact your doctor for instruction or intervention. Common problems include bleeding, nausea and vomiting, facial swelling, muscle soreness and discoloration of the skin.
Bleeding
For a number of hours after surgery, you can expect some slight amount of blood around the surgery site. When mixed with the saliva in your mouth, there may appear to be more blood than there actually is. If you do notice significant or continuous bleeding, rinse your mouth out gently with fresh water and place a fresh gauze pad directly over the surgery site. If bleeding persists, repeat the pressure with gauze for an additional 45 minutes.
Discoloration
In some cases, swelling of the face is followed by skin discoloration. The development of black, blue, green or yellow discoloration on the skin is due to blood spreading beneath the tissue, similar to a bruise. This is a normal occurance for those recovering from a surgical procedure, which may occur 2-3 days after the operation. This discoloration may go away faster if you apply moist heat to the affected area intermittently.
Nausea And Vomiting
Any unease in your stomach after surgery is likely due to swallowing blood or sensitivity to the medications used during and after surgery. To settle the stomach, drink a glass of milk or eat some bland food. If nausea continues, narcotic pain medications should be discontinued unless absolutely necessary for pain control.
Facial Swelling
Some patients are more likely to have facial swelling following oral surgery. Applying ice packs over the swollen areas will often reduce the size of the swelling. Any swelling will often be most significant 36-72 hours after surgery and should slowly decrease over the next few days.
Muscle Soreness
Stiffness of the jaw muscles is a common side effect of facial surgery and may cause some difficulty when opening your mouth for a few days post-operation. This soreness will diminish and heal itself over time.