Preparing for Plastic, Facial, Reconstructive or Cosmetic Surgery

As you get ready for your procedure, follow these guidelines to ensure you receive the greatest benefit from your plastic, facial, reconstructive or cosmetic surgery at OU Heath in Oklahoma City.

Pre-Operative Assessment

Before surgery (pre-operative), you’ll complete an assessment at OU Health University of Oklahoma Medical Center in Oklahoma City. During this appointment, a member of your care team will draw a blood sample for our laboratory to evaluate (labs) and you’ll take an EKG test (electrocardiogram) to check heart function. Depending upon your surgical procedure and if requested by your doctor, you’ll also get a chest X-ray. And you’ll meet with an anesthesiologist to review your current medications.

Pre-Op Appointments, Locations, Results

You’ll receive notifications about specific required appointments because you may not need all of them. For your pre-op appointments, go to the following locations:

• Labs – Floor 1, last desk on right side – Suite 1B; no appointment needed

• Chest X-ray – Floor 1, first desk on left side – Suite 1D; no appointment needed

• EKG – Floor 2, last desk – Suite 2F (behind glass door); appointment required

For results of your assessment tests, you will be contacted by our office ONLY if we find issues. Otherwise, your results will go directly to the hospital or OU Surgery Center. To get copies of your results for your personal records, ask for them at the time of your first appointment AFTER your procedure (post-operative).

Preparing for Surgery

Review information about surgery services at OU Health to learn what you can expect, how to prepare for surgery, how to handle medications you currently take—including herbs, vitamins and supplements, as well as those you may receive after the procedure—and other valuable guidelines.

Before Surgery

• Do not smoke or drink any type of alcohol for at least three weeks before your scheduled surgery. Get plenty of rest.
• Arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home after surgery and for a relative or friend to stay with you and assist you in the first few days following your procedure.

Day of Surgery

• Do not eat or drink anything, including water, starting at midnight of the night immediately before surgery, unless otherwise instructed.
• Do not wear makeup, nail polish, artificial nails, jewelry, contact lenses or body piercing items.
• Be sure your responsible adult companion accompanies you to the surgery location.

Research & Clinical Trials

Ask your physician about participating in a research-focused clinical trial if your situation corresponds to ongoing plastic surgery-related projects at OU Health. Current research topics include congenital anomalies, cancer reconstruction, cosmetic surgery, cleft and craniosynostosis conditions, virtual surgery, augmented reality, advanced imaging and 3D printing.

Your Expert Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Team

When you choose OU Health, you’ll collaborate with our skilled plastic and reconstructive surgeons who also serve as members of the University of Oklahoma faculty and bring their hands-on fellowship specialty training and plastic surgery residency experience to your care.

That means you benefit from their extensive expertise, which translates into the highest level of plastic and reconstructive surgery services and treatments in Oklahoma and the surrounding region.

• The Cleft and Craniofacial Center, busiest in the region and led by one of the most experienced surgeons in the country for management of pediatric cleft and craniofacial issues, includes the only comprehensive multidisciplinary group of specialized physicians in Oklahoma.

• You benefit from our thorough approach, where your plastic surgery team interacts with every health service at OU Health to aid reconstruction of the most complex situations.

• Your personal doctor may be one of the many physicians across Oklahoma who refer their patients to our skilled and experienced team, especially to manage complicated abdominal wall hernias by offering multiple techniques such as muscle flaps and the use of prosthetic materials.

• Every member of the OU Health plastic surgery team has worked in burn units and managed acute and chronic burn wounds. You’ll collaborate with surgeons who hold specialized training beyond plastic surgery—including hand, cranio-maxillofacial and microsurgery techniques.