What antibiotics or medicines are given in the IV before and during surgery?

Typically we give a lorazepam pill (which is like a valium) and clonidine pill (which keeps your blood pressure under control) when you are in the changing room before you go into the operating room.  In the operating room, if you wish a little iv sedation then we start an iv and give you a little versed and demerol for comfort.  Fluoroquinolones are not used. These combinations make you very comfortable and you have a great pleasant experience with your liposuction procedure.  Most patients are watching movies with our DVD headset through the whole procedure.  Because they are so comfortable and awake, they are able to turn in all positions and even stand up so I can fine tune the results nicely.

Patients who have certain risk factors for bacterial infection are administered IV antibiotics one hour before the surgical incision. The most commonly administered drug is cefazolin (Ancef, Kefzol), but your PS may have a different protocol.

It really depends if the surgery is being performed under general anesthesia or sedation.  I typically perform liposuction under general anesthesia in the operating room rather than in an in office setting.  I feel that there is better control of the patient and more comfort for the patient when general anesthesia is used, not to mention the sterility factor.Protocol is to have antibiotics given within 60 minutes of making the incision.  Most often the antibiotic used in plastic surgery is Ancef, which is a cephalosporin.  If patient is allergic to Ancef (cefazolin) then other antibiotics would be used, some include Clindamycin, Vancomycin or levaquin/cipro.Hope that helps.

Dear Anna B.,every plastic surgeon has his own pre/postoperative protocol which he uses. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hello and thank you for the question. For the majority of plastic surgery procedures involving skin and soft tissues, an antibiotic effective against skin bacteria is administered within 30 minutes prior to start of surgery. First generation cephalosporins (e.g. Cefazolin or Ancef) is probably the most common antibiotic used for pre-operative prophylaxis. In patients allergic to penicillin, your surgeons might choose to use other agents (Vancomycin, Clindamycin, etc). Fluoroquinolones are not commonly used in this setting. Best,Pejman Aflaki, M.D.Johns Hopkins-trained plastic surgeon

Antibiotics and medications vary depending on the preferences of the surgeon and anesthesiologist as well as standards set by the operating facility. Generally speaking, cephalosporins are given rather than fluoroquinolones. Other medications may include pain medication, sedatives, and anti-nausea medications. The medications are given shortly before surgery. It is not expected for you to get IV medications hours before your surgery time as many of the medications will have worn off by the time your surgery began. Hope this helps!Johnson C. Lee, MD Board-Certified Plastic SurgeonIG: @drjohnsonlee

Dear Anna B,Hello and thank you for your excellent question. In my practice, we regularly place an IV line, but we rarely give IV medications unless necessary.  All medications are typically given by mouth.  You may want to look into a body contouring procedure that combines both liposuction with laser, radiofrequency (RF), or acoustic therapy to produce the best balance of fat reduction and skin tightening and smoothing for your body type and anatomy. For the last 12 years, we have been developing a proprietary technique that we call IDEAL Liposuction. First off, all devices and instruments used are FDA-approved, unlike some of the liposuction and fat transfer devices being used today. These procedures are usually performed in the office, with only local anesthesia. We typically use Smart / Laser Liposuction or VASER (ultrasound) to reduce dense, fibrous fat, and stimulate collagen formation; Radiofrequency-based skin tightening to maximize skin contraction; and Ultrasound, RF, or subcision (Z Wave, Venus, Cellfina) to treat cellulite. Patients go home the same day as surgery, do not need any narcotics postop for pain control, and can return to light exercise and work two days after their procedure. In my practice, we select the appropriate treatment for each patient based on their skin quality, amount of fat and surgical goals. It is best to answer your question during a face-to-face evaluation, when you can discuss your goals and expectations for the procedure, and you can have a physical examination to evaluate for that procedure. I recommend that you find a board-certified, or board-eligible plastic surgeon with whom you are comfortable. Be sure to have all of your questions answered during a face-to-face meeting with your surgeon, and review before and after pictures of similar patients whom have had this procedure. If you have any questions, call our office for assistance. Good luck!

Best,

Jon Ver Halen, MD FACS

Harvard educated plastic surgeon

Texas “Top Doc” 2017, 2018

RealSelf100

America’s Top Plastic Surgeons, Consumer’s Research Council, 2010 – 2018

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