Patients undergoing elective plastic surgery at our practice in Bloomington, Illinois, typically experience a range of different emotions: excitement, hope, optimism, and occasionally anxiety. Since 1992, Dr. Jeffrey S. Poulter has provided superior care and thoughtful guidance to patients from all walks of life. Because he understands that feelings of apprehension before surgery are completely normal, he’s provided this page to help demystify the surgical process and clear your emotional path to your procedure.
If you would like to learn more about how we can help you look and feel your best, request a consultation at our Bloomington plastic surgery office. Or you can call us at (309) 663-1222 or Toll Free (888) 841-4108, and one of our helpful staff members will assist you.
Get to Know
Dr. Jeffrey Poulter →
An experienced plastic surgeon. Dr. Poulter is committed to your beautiful results with minimal discomfort and downtime.
Dr. Poulter provides each of his Illinois plastic surgery patients with specific preoperative instructions, so be sure to follow them carefully. Keep in mind that the instructions you see here are only general guidelines, and you will receive more specific information that is relevant to your health and procedure.
Prior to surgery, you may be instructed to avoid eating or drinking certain foods and to discontinue the use of some medications or supplements. Dr. Poulter may also recommend washing with an antibacterial soap on the morning of your procedure. You should have a trusted friend or family member accompany you to the office, as anesthesia and medication will prohibit you from driving yourself home.
In general, Dr. Poulter recommends arriving at the Bloomington surgical center at least 1 hour prior to surgery, and we will give you a specific timeline. This will allow you plenty of time to fill out your required paperwork and be prepped for your procedure by our medical staff.
Depending on the specifics of your surgery, you may undergo general anesthesia or local anesthesia with twilight sedation. You’ll know which version is planned for you well in advance of your procedure. The length of your procedure may last up to a few hours, and during this time, Dr. Poulter and his team of nurses and anesthesiologists will actively work to ensure your utmost comfort and safety.
Most procedures performed by Dr. Poulter and other plastic surgeons in Illinois and elsewhere are outpatient, which means you’ll be able to return home the same day after a period in our comfortable recovery room. For the first 24 hours after surgery, Dr. Poulter generally advises patients to rest and relax, moving about a couple of times a day to help prevent blood clots. The day after a major contouring procedure, he recommends patients get up briefly every 1 to 2 hours and drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water to help prevent blood clots. Ambulate and hydrate.
You will have detailed instructions from our team about when to take medications, change bandages, shower, return for follow-up appointments, and so on. We encourage you to contact us during this time if you have any questions.
Dr. Poulter has a strong interest in postoperative pain management, and he works hard to ensure that patient comfort and safety go hand in hand. He employs many leading-edge techniques for managing pain and discomfort during and after a procedure. The latest of these advancements is called EXPAREL.
EXPAREL is an innovative, non-opioid local anesthetic that is added to the area of surgery during the procedure, whether it’s cosmetic or reconstructive. EXPAREL’s time-release formula provides several days of pain relief without the grogginess and nausea that sometimes accompany opioid pain medications.
“I use EXPAREL in all breast cases, tummy tucks, torsoplasties, and post-weight loss surgeries. I still combine it with our multimodal pain therapy of tylenol three times a day, dextromethorphan in cough syrup, Gabapentin a neuromodulator, a muscle relaxer and for breakthrough pain a low dose narcotic to well control your postoperative pain.”
– Dr. Poulter
Another bonus associated with EXPAREL is that many procedures that previously required surgical drains, such as breast lift and breast reduction, can now be performed without them.
“This not only keeps the patient from having to empty and record the drainage, it also removes any discomfort the tape or sutures holding the drain can produce. It also lets patients shower within 24 and 48 hours after surgery, where previous patients were not able to shower for 3 to 7 days. Everyone in the family is happy about that.”
– Dr. Poulter