Facial Reconstruction
Facial reconstruction is surgery to rebuild or revise facial structures.
Before Surgery
- Plan to take off work for 2-6 weeks. It will depend on how complex the reconstruction is.
- Do household and outdoor chores ahead of time or make plans for someone to help you.
- Plan things that do not require a lot of standing or lifting.
- Have meals ready that are easy to prepare.
- Plan for someone to help with your children for 1-2 weeks, if needed.
After Surgery at Home
- You may have swelling and bruising around your eyes and face for a while.
- Wear loose fitting clothing for a few days. Avoid pulling clothing over your head.
- You may shower.
- Plan rest periods, but also move around the house as much as you can. You can resume your normal routines when you feel ready.
- You should not do any strenuous exercise until you see your doctor at your first clinic visit.
- Limit your lifting to less than 20 pounds for 1-2 weeks or unless your doctor tells you differently.
- There may be small areas of bruising at your incision site.
- Check your incision daily for signs and symptoms of infection: increased redness or swelling, red or hot incision, foul smelling drainage, or a fever over 100°F
- You should not drive while you are taking narcotic pain medicine.
- Plan to visit your surgeon a few times in the clinic.
When to Call Your Doctor
Call your doctor for:
- Fever over 100.5°F for 2 readings taken 4 hours apart.
- Excess swelling.
- Increased redness at incision site.
- Bleeding or pus from incision.
- Increase in pain.
Phone Numbers
Your doctor’s office phone number is (608) 26________________
After hours and weekends, the clinic number will give you the hospital paging operator. Ask for plastic surgery resident on-call. Leave your name and phone number with the area code. The doctor will call you back.
Toll free Hospital Number: (800) 323-8942
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 05/11/2011
Copyright © 05/11/2011 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#4778
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