Emetophobia is a worthwhile point to bring up with your Plastic Surgeon prior to surgery, but several steps can be taken to minimize the risks of nausea (and vomitting) post-operatively. The main risk factors for Post-operative Nausea and Vomitting (referred to as PONV) are 1) female gender, post-puberty, 2) non-smoking status, 3) history of PONV or motion sickness, 4) age between infancy and younger adulthood, 5) increasing duration of surgery, and 6) use of volatile anesthetics, nitrous oxide, large-dose neostigmine, or intraoperative or postoperative opioids.You'll notice that, as a patient, most of these risk factors are out of your control, including gender, history of motion sickness, age, etc. That said, great options exist to minimize the risk, and it is important to let your surgeon and anesthesiologist know prior to surgery of your concerns. Steps include taking anti nausea medication the night before surgery (our practice uses Emend), medication the morning of surgery (such as Zofran and Decadron), minimizing certain anesthetics (discuss with your anesthesiologist), surgical techniques to minimize bleeding from the nose and down into the stomach (which can create nausea), and lastly, minimizing the amount of narcotic pain medications that you take after surgery (since narcotic-based pain meds can make one nauseated). The above precautions are helpful to anyone with a high risk profile for PONV, but as a person who suffers from Emetophobia, consider seeking out the help of a psychologist who can also provide you with helpful coping techniques. Rhinoplasty is a gratifying procedure, and your phobia doesn't have to stand in the way. As with most phobias, a little education and training can go a long way. Cheers.
