5 Things You Should Know Before Melanoma Surgery

Posted on: 20 April 2018

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If you are about to undergo melanoma surgery, you may be feeling scared and stressed. One of the best ways to relieve this tension is by knowing exactly what you can do prior to the surgery to make sure that things go well. Here are a few things you should and should not do before your surgery.

1. Pain Relievers

If you are feeling any kind of pain before your surgery it is best not to take any medications that have aspirin as an active ingredient. If you feel pain of any kind during the week before the procedure you should take a pain reliever that contains acetaminophen instead. Aspirin is a blood thinner and as such it can cause you to have excessive bleeding during surgery.

2. Herbal Medications

If you are on any herbal medications, it is best to stop taking these at least three days before the surgery, since some of them can cause excessive bleeding.  The major herbs that you should avoid are garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, and ginger. This means you should avoid the herbs themselves and any herbal supplements or medications with them as ingredients.

3. No Smoking

If you are a smoker, it is best for you to stop smoking at least two days before your scheduled surgery. Smoking can cause a delay in the healing of your surgery site. It is also best to continue refraining from cigarettes until your surgery site has healed.

4. Avoid Alcohol

Alcohol is also to be avoided for at least a day prior to and a day after surgery. If you can go for longer periods, then it is even better. Alcohol is one of the major causes of excessive bleeding after a melanoma surgery. It is best to avoid it until you have recovered.

5. Other Medical Issues

All the information you give about your medical history is important, but some are especially critical. If you have a heart problem, you should notify your doctor. If you wear a pacemaker or an intracardiac defibrillator to assist with the functioning of your heart, you must let your surgeon know, so he can be ready for any problems that may arise.

Melanoma surgery can be unnerving. However, once you know how to take care of yourself, you will have a greater chance at a successful and uneventful surgery. Always remember to give your doctor all the relevant information about your health status, so that he or she can make proper preparation for you.

Contact a medical office like Asheboro Dermatology & Skin Surgery Center for more information and assistance.