Once you have booked an initial consultation appointment with Dr. Paul Pin, his staff will send you paperwork to fill out and bring in for your appointment. This paperwork is routine and includes your insurance information (in case your surgery can be covered for medical reasons), primary care doctor contact information, and disclosure forms. In addition, you will be asked to provide a thorough medical history, including all prescription and over the counter medications, vitamins and supplements, or herbal preparations you may be taking, along with dosage information.
Although the medical and medication history may seem unnecessary (particularly for an elective cosmetic surgical procedure), this information is actually very valuable to Dr. Pin. It will allow him to determine if you are a good candidate for surgery, as well as the type of anesthesia and surgical technique that would be best for you. Below are some common questions he might ask, along with the reasons behind him doing so.
Smoking and Alcohol Consumption
Questions regarding tobacco use and alcohol consumption may seem to have very little to do with cosmetic surgery. However, both have a direct effect upon surgical outcome. Both tobacco products and alcohol can thin the blood, which may increase the risk for excessive bleeding during and after surgery. This may also affect the quality and time of proper wound healing, leading to excessive scarring. Tobacco products are known to dry out the skin, which may cause complications, particularly when facial cosmetic surgery is performed.
Chronic Health Conditions
Dr. Pin will need to know about any chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Such conditions may affect breathing and heart rate during surgery. Patients who require close monitoring during surgery may need to have their surgery done in a hospital, rather than at a same-day surgery center.
Medications, Vitamins and Supplements, and Herbal Preparations
There are several prescription and over the counter medications that can place patients at risk of adverse events during and after surgery. Aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as naproxen and ibuprofen, and warfarin (Coumadin) act as blood thinners, which can increase the risk of excessive bleeding during and after surgery. Birth control pills or estrogen replacement medications can increase the risk of stroke during and after surgery. Such medications should ideally be stopped one month prior to surgery, but the trade-off between benefits and risks of stopping such medication should be carefully weighed.
Recent evidence has shown that popular supplements such as gingko biloba, ginseng, and fish oil can increase risks for bleeding during surgery. Garlic and ephedra can increase the risk of adverse cardiac events. Popular anti-anxiety supplements such as kava kava, valerian root, and St. John's wort are sedatives, and may increase the effects of surgical anesthesia. Excessive doses of vitamin E may also inhibit the blood's natural clotting process during surgery.
Dr. Pin wants to ensure that patients have the best possible outcome from their cosmetic surgical procedure. A large part of that will come from understanding patients' medical history, including medications, supplements, vitamins, and herbal preparations they take on a regular basis.