Dr. Serhan Derin, born in 1982, is a seasoned ENT specialist who graduated from Ankara University School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Kocaeli University in 2010. Dr. Derin is a highly skilled surgeon specializing in functional and cosmetic nose surgeries, including Primary Rhinoplasty, Revision Rhinoplasty, Ethnic Rhinoplasty, Septoplasty, Septorhinoplasty, Nasal Valve Surgery, and Sinus Surgery.
There is one more day before you get your nose surgery and at this point, you are wondering about what to do the night before rhinoplasty. There are a handful of things you should do. From getting 8 hours of sleep to preparing your bag for the day of surgery, and making your home ready for your post-op recovery, you should take care of everything.
You are almost there, just one step away from the nose job surgery you have waited so long for. In this article, we will help you find the answer to this question of what to know the night before rhinoplasty and prepare for your procedure with a free mind. After reading this piece, you can see how easy it is to organize everything without worrying. So, don’t miss our article.
Prepping for the big day: What to do the night before surgery
You are about to undergo a surgical procedure to make a big change. Therefore, you should prepare yourself for your big day. For this purpose, there are a few simple things to do. These few small yet important tasks result in better surgical outcomes and a more convenient recovery period.
Rhinoplasty preparation begins the days before the surgery. So, what to do the night before rhinoplasty surgery? Let us take a look at the list of things you should do the night before rhinoplasty:
Get enough hours of sleep
Eat and drink before midnight
Ask someone to drive you home
Prepare your recovery area
Prepare meals for the postop
Prepare your bag
Get enough hours of beauty sleep
Sleeping for 7 to 9 hours before your rhinoplasty procedure is a must. You don’t want to show up tired to your operation. Your body needs to be ready for surgery. This will impact the body’s ability in the initial recovery time.
Don’t forget to take a shower the night before you undergo rhinoplasty. You won’t be able to do so for at least 3 to 4 days following the procedure.
That one meal before the operation: Avoid eating and drinking after midnight
You can only eat and drink until midnight before the surgery. This is because nose surgery is done under general anesthesia. Just like any other surgical procedure, you should be fasting for 8-12 hours before anesthesia. It prevents complications and risks associated such as food aspiration into the lungs.
You can eat whatever you want unless you are instructed against specific foods and beverages. keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water until midnight. This will help balance the blood pressure and result in a better recovery process.
You are not allowed to take some specific medications 2 weeks before surgery, so the night before the nose surgery is included. The medications you must avoid are:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications
- Blood thinning medicines
- Herbal supplements
- Vitamin E supplements
Just a quick reminder that you should avoid nicotine products and alcoholic beverages for at least two weeks before any type of surgery including rhinoplasty.
Ask someone to drive you home
You need someone to pick you up from the hospital and drive you home, as you cannot do it yourself. We recommend you arrange for this the night before the procedure, as it will be a difficult task after that.
Make sure someone will be there for you if you want to stay the night at the hospital or return home. It’s always better to have things planned so you won’t be overwhelmed when it comes to going home.
Necessary arrangements: Make your recovery area ready
Let’s be realistic the first few days after the surgery you just need to rest and you won’t be able to prepare the space for resting once you get home from the operation. So, why not make everything ready before you leave for the procedure?
Prepare the bed on which you are going to spend your recovery period. Make everything available and easily accessible. Put some extra pillows near your bed. You will put them below your head and neck since you have to sleep with your head elevated for at least the first two weeks after surgery. Wash or change your bedsheets. You are going to spend a lot of time in bed so make sure everything is comfortable.
To spend a comfortable healing process away from stress, you can also purchase all the things you will need for this period beforehand. This includes:
- Hydrogen peroxide to clean your nostrils and other nasal parts
- Cotton swab
- Nose tape
- Pads and sterile gauze
- Nasal sprays
- Decongestant nasal sprays
We also suggest putting some comfortable clothes aside to wear during this time. Button-up shirts are the best option.
Put your favorite books and magazines within reach. Make a list of your favorite podcasts. Basically, provide your recovery area with the things that can entertain you while you are recovering.
Prepare meals for the post-op
One effective way to ease your recovery process is to prepare some meals and healthy snacks the day before surgery and put them in the refrigerator:
- Fresh fruits such as pineapples and bananas,
- Canned fruits,
- Dried fruits that are soft and easy to chew,
- Mashed potatoes,
- Natural juices that are low in sugar.
Do not forget to get straws. You will be needing them to drink the first few days following the operation.
Prepare your bag
You asked about what to do the night before rhinoplasty. We tell you. It’s time to prepare your bag for your big day. Make a list of the things you have to put inside your bag to avoid forgetting anything. Taking the following stuff with you facilitates your post-op recovery the day after surgery:
- Lip balm
- Ice pack
- Painkillers suggested by your nose surgeon
- Antibiotics prescribed by your doctor
- Wet wipes and tissues
- Neck pillow
- Contact lenses in case you wear glasses
- A book or something to entertain yourself with
Most probably you will stay only one night at the hospital so you won’t be using some of this stuff. But take them with you just in case your hospital stay extends. Double-check everything before you go to bed.
How to mentally prepare before rhinoplasty surgery?
It is normal for rhinoplasty patients to experience anxiety or stress, especially the night before their cosmetic surgery. In addition to all other rhinoplasty preparation tips, a few things can help mentally prepare for your upcoming nose job surgery. Let’s take a look at them together.
Firstly, go over all your reasons for rhinoplasty surgery once again. Remind yourself why you are doing this and how much it means to you. If that doesn’t help, talk to a friend or your therapist about how you feel. Lastly, some activities such as meditation, yoga, or even exercise help you get over your anxiety.
One useful way to get rid of stress before rhinoplasty is to practice mindfulness techniques. But how?
Mindfulness practices for the night before surgery
In this practice, you don’t need any specific device. This is a practice to accept current internal events and emotions. Mindfulness means paying attention to events in a particular way with full awareness. (1). There will be no judgments. It literally means regulating your attention toward the events at the very moment and accepting this experience.
So, whatever you do, focus on that, try to be aware of every moment of the action, and don’t judge. A few useful mindfulness practices can be mindful breathing, guided imagery, body scan, and certain seated meditation techniques.
Mindfulness is a great way to help you calm down the night before rhinoplasty.
So you made it to the end of this article. Now you have a wide vision of what to do the night before rhinoplasty. Do you still have more questions? Ask us and we will reach back to you in no time.
References:
(1) Luberto CM, Hall DL, Park ER, Haramati A, Cotton S. A Perspective on the Similarities and Differences Between Mindfulness and Relaxation. Glob Adv Health Med. 2020 Feb 5;9:2164956120905597. doi: 10.1177/2164956120905597. PMID: 32076580; PMCID: PMC7003166.
