Before Traveling
If you are over 50 years old or have any pre-existing medical condition, you will be required to have labs drawn and an EKG performed 30 days before surgery at your primary care physician’s office.
If you are having breast surgery and are over the age of 40 years old, you will need to have a bilateral mammogram performed within 12 months of your surgery date. If you have a positive family history of breast cancer or carry the breast cancer gene, please discuss this with Dr. Rammos, as he may require you to have a mammogram younger than 40 years old in these situations.
If you are a smoker or use any nicotine products (tobacco/hookah/patch/E-cig/Vape), the sooner you can quit, the better. Nicotine use is associated with delayed healing and can increase your risk of complications, therefore Dr. Rammos will ask that you cease smoking at least 6 weeks before and after your surgery.
It’s always a good idea to eat a healthy diet and stay hydrated in preparation for your surgery so that your body has the energy and nutrients it needs to heal as best as possible.
Medications, please provide us a list of any and all medications you are currently taking. Including birth control, anticoagulants/blood thinners, herbal supplements, vitamins, appetite suppressants/diet aids, or any over the counter medications.
Travel
We ask that you bring at least one caregiver with you. We are conveniently located 6 miles from the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport. This is approximately a 15 minute drive to our office and the hospital you will have surgery at.
We kindly request that patients arrive one full day before their scheduled procedure to allow time for any delays. You will meet with Dr. Rammos in his office for an in-person consultation before your surgery. At this time, Dr. Rammos will again go over the procedure in detail as well as what to expect during recovery. He will also perform a physical examination and take pre-op photographs.
Overnight arrangements
AirBnB Options:
Cozy 2 Bedroom 1 Bathroom House with Parking
Welcoming Retreat in the Heart of the Heights
Peoria Heights Haven on the Trail-A Wooded Retreat
Haven In The Heights…Steps Away From It All!!
Peoria Heights Petite Charmer- Cozy Cottage Escape
Post-Operative Care
We will customize your procedure plan and post-op based on your schedule. We recommend you stay after your surgery for the following minimum time periods after each procedure.
BREAST AUGMENTATION: 3-5 DAYS
Dr. Rammos will request a post-op appointment within 3-5 days of your surgery to follow up and see how you are healing.
BREAST LIFT/REDUCTION: 3-5 DAYS
The timeline for breast procedures can vary greatly. Dr. Rammos will determine when to schedule the initial post-op visit; in most cases, it will be within 7 days. After that, Dr. Rammos will need to evaluate your individual healing process before clearing you to travel.
ABDOMINOPLASTY/MOMMY MAKEOVER: 7-12 DAYS
This procedure varies greatly. Dr. Rammos will discuss your unique circumstances with you during the consultation.
FACE LIFT/NECK LIFT: 7-10 DAYS
Within 4-5 days Dr. Rammos will request a post-op appointment. At this time, further appointments will be based on individual needs.
Recovery
When it comes to Recovery, You’re in Charge
All cosmetic surgeries require some degree of recovery. While we do everything we can to make sure your surgery is safe and pleasant, recovery is the one area where you have almost complete control. There’s a lot you can be doing now to help your recovery go as smoothly as possible. Our recovery timeline will help you prepare physically and emotionally for this important part of the plastic surgery process.
The #1 Rule of Recovery
Follow your plastic surgeon’s instructions. Pre- and post-op instructions are requirements, not suggestions. Follow them to the letter before and after your procedure. If you’re unsure whether an activity, food, or even article of clothing is okay, never hesitate to call your surgeon or patient care coordinator and ask. You, and your results, are too important not to.
2-6 Weeks before Surgery: Plan Ahead
Your surgery is right around the corner. Now’s the time to get your body primed for the healing process. This means treating your body well and concentrating on practical matters of recovery.
Stay hydrated. A good idea anyway, but it’s especially important to drink enough water prior to surgery. This will help your body handle the effects of anesthesia, reducing your chance of nausea and other side effects.
Start honoring your list of foods and meds to boycott, such as green tea, NSAIDs, herbal supplements, etc. You will also need to stop birth control pills and any removable forms of contraception. Also, all weight loss enhancers, such as Phentermine, need to be stopped. This is important to prevent unnecessary bleeding after surgery.
Get adequate sleep. Being well-rested will help you stay relaxed and may reduce pre-surgery anxiety.
Schedule adequate time off of work. This will be hard if you’re the smart, driven, and energetic person we think you are, but it’s so important that you don’t push yourself after surgery.
Are you a smoker? Quit now, or forget about surgery.
You know it’s bad for you, but it can be downright dangerous when it comes to surgery. Smoking prevents healing by hindering blood supply to the areas that have been operated on. Not only will your results be compromised, but your risk of infection skyrockets. Smoking also makes anesthesia more risky. Due to these potential recovery problems, many surgeons refuse to operate on a smoker. At minimum, you should not smoke for 6-8 weeks before and after your procedure.
1 – 7 Days before Surgery: Prepare for the Big Day
To help make your recovery smoother, we’ve prepared a list of suggestions for you:
Prepare meals ahead of time, or arrange for someone to cook for you. Easy-to-eat foods like chicken noodle soup, oatmeal, or ice cream are good to have on hand. Plastic straws and a breakfast tray are a good idea too.
Stock up on couch-friendly activities. Books, movies, and crossword puzzles are good options.
Frontload the housework. You’ll be less stressed and have a nice, clean home to return to.
Arrange for someone to stay with you for a few days. You will need someone at home with you the first 24-48 hours after surgery while residual effects of anesthesia wear off. It’s ideal to have someone with you until you are no longer taking any prescribed pain medications.
Fill any prescriptions for post-op medications before surgery.
Call our office with any concerns, 309-670-7020. It’s perfectly normal to start getting nervous about surgery now, and your surgery team will be glad to answer any questions you may have, big or small.
Surgery Day
Congratulations! By the end of the day, you’ll be the proud owner of a new look.
You’ll need someone you know and trust to drive you home. You’ll be awake, but very groggy after surgery. It’s not safe for you to drive, and you’ll need help getting in and out of the car.
You will want to bring comfortable clothing to wear home from the hospital. Button up shirts or zip up sweatshirts, easy to put on pants, and slip on shoes are a must have. If you are staying overnight in the hospital, a phone charger is a good staple also.
Start drinking water as soon as you can. Hydrating can ward off nausea and help flush out remaining anesthesia agents. Also, eat as you feel up to it.
Take your pain medication as prescribed for the first 1-2 days, at least. Many patients dislike taking meds in general; that’s understandable. But don’t suffer unnecessarily. You’re not “weak,” you just had surgery!
