Before & After Treatment Instructions

What do I need to do before my procedure?

• Please ask your physician any questions you may have about your diagnosis and treatment plan.
• If you are taking any NSAlD's (ie: Motrin, Naprosyn, Advil, Aleve, Celebrex, etc.) please discontinue 5-7 days prior to treatment. You do need to stop taking aspirin or blood thinning medications unless your Bluetail physician tells you differently.
• The night before and the morning of your procedure, scrub your entire body with anti-bacterial soap.
• Please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing, sports bra or shorts depending on site treated.
• If you have any anxiety regarding your procedure, please call at least 2 days before your procedure for an oral sedative prescription. If you take an oral sedative, a driver is required to take you to/from your procedure.
• If you are currently on Coumadin, Plavix, Lovinox, Prodaxa or another blood thinner we ask you to see your PCP/ Specialist and receive their permission to discontinue this medication for 3 days prior to treatment and resume the evening after treatment. You understand the risk of stopping these medications may lead to significant illness or even possible death.
• Alert the staff if you have an allergy to anesthetics, bandages or skin preparation solution.
• Follow your normal daily routine on the day of your procedure; make sure to drink plenty of water.

What should I expect after my treatment?

• The harvest sites and the areas treated will be numb for 2-6 hours after your procedure.
• Refrain from strenuous activities, but gently moving the treated area will decrease soreness and stiffness.
• BMAC and Lipoaspirate graft patients: No submersion in water for 48 hours. You may shower. Leave initial bandage over bone marrow and fat graft harvest sites for 24 hours. It is normal to have a small amount of bleeding from these sites - replace the bandage if your dressing becomes soaked. At 24 hours post procedure remove these bandages and clean with anti-bacterial soap, apply antibacterial ointment and cover with new bandage. Keep covered until incision has closed and change your bandage daily thereafter.
• You will have small band-aids on your area(s) treated, that may be removed after 24 hours.
• It is typical to experience increased pain in the treatment area for 2-5 days after your procedure. Return to baseline pain takes 7-14 days.
• Some people experience a low-grade fever after treatment. Call if your temperature is above 100.4°.
• Use Extra Strength Tylenol or prescription medication provided for pain. Apply ice for pain and or swelling (10-20 minutes every 2-3 hours). Make sure to place a barrier between your skin and the ice.
• Check with your doctor for use of anti-inflammatory medication (Ibuprofen, Motrin, Aleve) post-treatment.
• You may experience the "roller coaster" syndrome where you feel great one day and for no apparent reason, the area(s) treated starts to hurt again. This is normal in the healing process.
• Follow the instructions given for exercises post-treatment. Start your physical therapy or home exercise program 2 weeks after treatment.
• If a lower extremity was treated take 325 mg Aspirin daily for 7 days after your procedure.
• A follow-up phone call or appointment with our nurse will be scheduled for 6-8 weeks post-procedure.
• You will be scheduled to have a PRP therapy 10-12 weeks after your initial BMAC.
• It can take up to 12 months for normal collagen to form and for the graft to mature completely.
• Your physician's goal for improvement in your pain and function has been outlined. You may or may not need more than 1 treatment to reach that goal. In some cases, a series of 2-3 treatments are needed to achieve complete healing. You are aware there exists no guarantee you will reach this goal.