Do you recommend your patients to take Emend anti-nausea medication on the morning of facelift surgery?

Nausea is very uncommon after facelift surgery. There is a lower incidence of nausea when having a facelift under IV sedation rather then general anesthesia. However, even pain medication can give you nausea. Nausea is good to avoid because vomiting after surgery can potentially increase swelling and/or the chances for a hematoma. Most surgeons will give you zofran to take just in case you experience nausea after surgery. We give our patients a dose during surgery in order to help prevent this. We rarely have anyone complain of nausea after surgery.

Facelift surgery and nausea

here are some of our recc.   Emend is given to patients with severe hx of nausea who do not do well with other meds  ..  See the cross activity on medications

1 day before surgeryScopolomine patch (nausea) Place on upper arm the day of surgery.Day of Surgery Antibiotic – only three pills required (preventative only) If you are having your surgery in the office please eat a light breakfast and take your firstpill with breakfast the day of surgery. Proceed to take the next pill the evening of yoursurgery and the last one the following morning. If you are having your surgery at a surgery center (Talbert or HSC) please begin takingthe antibiotic after surgery with food at dinner time. You will then take the second pill thefollowing morning and the last one the following evening. Aprepitant (EMEND) (nausea) Take with a sip of water 1-3 hours prior to surgery. If taking birthcontrol pills, also use additional contraception for 28 days. Note: This medication costsapproximately $60 but worth it. Celebrex (Pain/Swelling) Take 2 pill (200mgs) with a sip of water upon awakening on the day ofsurgery. Zofran Take 1 pill by disolving on the tongue the morning of surgery. Ativan (oral sedative) Please bring the prescription of Ativan with you on the day of surgery. It will beadministered to you by the staff.After Surgery Norco (pain medication) You can begin taking your pain medication once home from your surgeryand may continue to take one pill every 6-8 hours as needed for pain relief. Zofran (nausea) Take one pill every 8-12 hours as needed for nausea (this medication melts underyour tongue). DO NOT TAKE IF YOU ARE ON ANTI-DEPRESSANTS. Periactin (nausea) Take one pill 3 times per day while taking pain medication or if nausea persists. Flexeril (muscle relaxant) Take one pill 3 times per day for 5 days beginning the day after surgerywhen you start eating. Celebrex (pain/swelling) Take one pill every 12 hours. Do Not take with other anti-inflammatorymedications. Sclopolomine patch Remove after 3 days, then wash hands immediately after removal. Clonodine patch Remove 7 days after application

I am a big proponent of preventing post op nausea. It feels terrible and frankly wretching is the last thing you need after surgery. A lot of it will depend on what kind of anesthesia you had before and what kind you will have this time. Nausea is much more common with general anesthesia compared with conscious sedation. I have had a lot of success with the scopalomine patch that I have patients put on 24 hours before surgery. It is much cheaper than Emend!