Having a neck lift and the nurse said I could take 2mg or 4mg of Ativan one hour before procedure. How much is sufficient?

Thank you for your question.The answer is yes but I reserve this recommendation for my very anxious patients.I perform all my necklifts under intravenous sedation with local anesthesia so my board-certified anesthesiologist will always administer the intravenous version of Ativan, along with other medications (analogous to the intravenous medications given for colonoscopy and gastroscopy).Now some of my patients want to control the anxiety for the night before so they can have a somewhat normal night and I will prescribe 1mg in most cases, unless they are accostumed to the 1mg dose; in those later case, 2 mg would be enough.I have never had to prescribe 4mg and it seems high to me so be careful.  And please ask your plastic surgical team, surgeon or nurse.And remember that alcohol is never recommended before surgery as this will increase your bleeding.Please let us know if this information was helpful.Best regards,Dr. Marc DuPéré, Toronto aesthetic plastic surgeon and facialist

As our patients enter the Clevens Center here in Melbourne, FL for a Laser-Assisted Weekend Necklift, they typically do not need anxiety pills. The Laser-Assisted Weekend Necklift is a minimally invasive procedure that is nearly painless as our patients experience a short recovery of only a few days. I suggest you consult a board certified facial plastic surgeon
to receive the highest quality knowledge, treatment, care and skill available. A consultation provides you the opportunity to relay your
concerns and desired outcome to the surgeon while the surgeon can assess your
health profile and discuss his/her pertinent advice.

Thank you for the question. Ativan is commonly used to help relax patients before induction of anesthesia or sedation. The dose really depends on your prior exposure to the medication (tolerance) in addition to your weight. A 2mg dose to start seems reasonable. Best of luck!

2 - 4 mg of Ativan is the usual adult dose for insomnia.  Most surgeons will be very specific about the medications and dosages they prefer their patients to have before a surgical procedure.  I would suggest contacting your surgeon's office and asking them for a specific dosage of Ativan for you to take before your procedure.  

2 mg of Ativan should be sufficient dose for pre-medication before a neck lift. Check also with your physician.Hope this helps,Dr. Gus Diaz

If I am doing a procedure under local, I usually have my patients take between 1-2mg of Ativan before the procedure and I may add another 1mg during the procedure. I caution against using too much Ativan as it can lead to post-op nausea. 

 In our practice, we do not use Ativan prior to a neck lift procedure, so it is best to check with your operative surgeon. We also perform neck lift procedures under general anesthesia, not local anesthesia for patient safety and comfort

The 2mg of Ativan should be sufficient?  You can take the 2mg 1 to 2 hours before your procedure and give the medication 30 to 60 mins. to take effect.  If you are still s/w nervous and/or awake, you can take the second 2mg.  Check with your surgeon for their recommendation in your case.  Best wishes, Dr. Lepore.