This page provides general information and advice regarding your surgery. For specific information refer to the procedure guides.
Two Weeks Before Surgery
If safe to do so, stop taking aspirin or other blood-thinning medications to minimize the risk of bleeding. Different medications often need different periods of stopping before surgery. If you are unsure, consult your surgeon who can discuss this with your GP.
Avoid:
- Ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
- Supplements such as garlic, ginkgo, ginger, vitamin E, fish oil, or omega-3, as they may increase bleeding risk.
It is generally recommended that these medications are stopped as in the eyelid or tear duct the surgical field is very small and often the desired correction is measured in millimetres (in lid surgery), so significant bruising and bleeding can have a significant impact on the surgical outcome.
Nicotine constricts blood vessels, reducing oxygen supply to the tissues, which is vital for healing and infection prevention. It is strongly recommended to stop smoking at least one month before surgery and avoid smoking for at least two weeks after your wounds have fully healed.
If your procedure is under general anaesthesia or sedation , you may need blood tests and an ECG. If you are diabetic you will need to fast before your procedure discuss with Miss Lee /or the anaesthetist. You may need to not take the diabetic medication on the day of the surgery.
On the Day of Surgery
- Wear comfortable clothing (a front-buttoning top and slip-on shoes).
- No jewellery, makeup, or contact lenses.
- Wash your face thoroughly before coming in.
- If you take regular medications most can be taken with a sip of water.
- You will go through the consent process with Miss Lee and have an opportunity for any final questions. Pre-operative photographs may also be taken although usually this will have been taken beforehand.
Fasting Instructions (for sedation or general anaesthesia)
Morning surgery: No food or drink after midnight. Clear Fluids (water only) until 2 hours before hospital admission.
Afternoon surgery: Have an early, light breakfast; no food or drink after 7:30 AM.
Clear Fluids (water only) until 2 hours before hospital admission.
During Surgery
Your consultant should go through the consent procedure and you will have your opportunity to ask your final questions and sign the consent form. Often pre-operative photographs may be taken if this has not already been taken at the prior consultation.
You will be taken to the operating theatre. If you are having the operation under local anaesthetic, the injection in the eyelid area is generally the most unpleasant part with stinging. Afterwards you may feel sensations of pressure but there should be no pain. If you experience significant discomfort please let your surgeon know so your local anaesthetic can be topped up.
If you are having your operation under a general anaesthetic or sedation, you will first be seen by your anaesthetist and when you arrive in the operating theatre he/ she will insert a needle into a vein in the back of your hand. After this you should not experience much discomfort from any further anaesthetic or surgery.
One or both eyes may be bandaged. These bandages stay on for about 6 hours or overnight in most cases and if you are having the surgery as a day case procedure you may remove the bandages the next morning at home. If you are having a bilateral procedure then one or both bandages are removed before you leave the hospital.