Everything we share with patients in print, available here as a reference.
The information below mirrors the printed packets we provide to patients before surgery and at discharge. Personalized instructions provided by Dr. Whitmore or our nursing team always take precedence over what you find here.
If you are an active patient and have an urgent concern, please call our office directly at (919) 000-0000. After hours, the on-call line will reach Dr. Whitmore.
Photo identification, your insurance card (for documentation purposes only — most procedures are self-pay), a list of any current medications and supplements (including dosages), and any prior imaging or operative reports relevant to a previous procedure.
Patients frequently bring photographs to consultation — both of themselves at earlier ages and of aesthetic outcomes they admire. Both are useful. Photographs of yourself help us understand the trajectory of your features; photographs of others help us calibrate what "natural" looks like to you.
Plan on 60–90 minutes. You will meet with our patient coordinator first, then spend most of your visit one-on-one with Dr. Whitmore. Photographs will be taken in our standardized photo studio. We will discuss anatomy, candidacy, technique options, and expected recovery. Pricing is provided in writing the same day.
We do not pressure same-day decisions. Most patients reflect for one to four weeks before scheduling. We hold tentative dates for two weeks following consultation; after that, dates are released.
Stop all blood-thinning medications and supplements as directed: aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, fish oil, vitamin E, gingko, ginseng, garlic supplements, green tea extract, and turmeric supplements. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is acceptable.
Smoking and nicotine — including patches, gum, and vapes — must stop fully two weeks before surgery and remain stopped for two weeks after. Nicotine constricts blood vessels and is the single largest controllable risk factor for poor wound healing.
Begin pre-operative hydration and high-protein nutrition. We provide a written nutritional protocol at your pre-op appointment.
Avoid alcohol. Continue your prescribed pre-operative skincare regimen. Confirm transportation and care arrangements for after surgery — you may not drive home or stay alone the first night.
Pre-fill any prescriptions sent by our office. These typically include an antibiotic, a pain medication, an anti-nausea medication, and a stool softener.
Begin chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) showers as instructed. Do not shave the surgical area. Wash bedding and have loose, button-front clothing ready for after surgery — anything you have to pull over your head is best avoided.
Nothing to eat or drink after midnight, including water, gum, mints, and candy. You may take essential medications with a small sip of water if specifically instructed by our team. Remove all jewelry, including piercings.
Shower with Hibiclens. Brush your teeth without swallowing water. Wear loose, comfortable clothing — yoga pants, slippers, a button-front shirt or zip-up hoodie. Leave valuables at home. Arrive 90 minutes before your scheduled surgical time. Bring your driver's license and a credit card on file.
Recovery varies by procedure. The day-by-day expectations below are a general guide; your specific instructions take precedence.
Day 1–2: Bruising and swelling around the eyes; sometimes one black eye, sometimes two. Sleep with your head elevated 30 degrees on two or three pillows. Use a cold compress (frozen peas wrapped in a thin towel) on cheeks and under-eyes — never directly on the nose. You will breathe through your mouth.
Day 3–6: Swelling and bruising peak around day 3 and begin to subside by day 5. Continue saline nasal spray as directed. No bending at the waist; no lifting more than 5 pounds.
Day 7: External cast and splints come off at your one-week visit. You will get your first look at the new shape. Bruising is generally fading; concealer can be used.
Week 2: Most external bruising has resolved. The nose looks swollen and "puffy" — this is normal. Light cardio (walking) is permitted. No glasses on the bridge of the nose for 6 weeks.
Weeks 3–6: Return to most activities including the gym, with no contact sports for 8 weeks.
Months 3–12: Subtle swelling continues to resolve. The tip refines slowly; final shape settles between 9 and 12 months.
Day 1: A private nurse stays with you overnight. You will be drowsy and have head/neck dressings. Some swelling and tightness; minimal pain.
Day 2: Dressings come off at your in-office check; you will see steri-strips along the incisions. Drains, if used, are typically removed at this visit.
Days 3–7: Bruising peaks and begins to fade. Sleep elevated. Cool compresses to cheeks and jaw — avoid direct ice on incision lines.
Day 7–10: Sutures come out. Most patients can return to non-public work — Zoom calls fine, in-person meetings still off the table.
Day 14: Most are presentable in social settings with concealer. Numbness around the ears and cheeks is common and resolves slowly over months.
Weeks 3–6: Light exercise resumes at three weeks; cardio at four; full activity at six.
Months 3–6: Tightness softens, scars mature and lighten. Final result reads at six months.
Day 1: Sore and tight. Sleep on your back, slightly inclined, with pillows supporting your arms. Pain is typically managed well with prescribed medication for 2–4 days.
Days 2–5: A surgical bra is worn around the clock for the first six weeks. No lifting your arms over your head; no lifting more than 5 pounds.
Week 1: Most patients return to desk work. Implants will sit high on the chest — this is expected and resolves over the following weeks ("drop and fluff").
Weeks 2–4: Light cardio (walking, stationary bike) is permitted. No upper-body exercise. Implants begin to settle.
Weeks 6+: Full activity including upper-body workouts. Final shape reads around three months.
Day 1: The most physically demanding recovery in our practice. You will sleep with your knees bent ("beach chair" position) on a recliner or supported in bed for the first two weeks. Walking begins the day of surgery — small steps, slightly bent at the waist.
Days 2–7: Drains may be in place; drain output is logged twice daily. Pain is moderate but well-managed. No bending, lifting more than 5 pounds, or straining.
Week 2: Most return to desk work. Drains typically removed at 7–14 days. Continued use of compression garment.
Weeks 3–6: Walking gradually upright. Light cardio at three weeks; no abdominal work.
Week 6: Full activity. Final contour reads at three months.
Days 1–3: Bruising and significant swelling in treated areas. Compression garment worn 24/7. Drainage from incision points (clear, blood-tinged fluid) is normal and expected for several days.
Week 1: Most return to desk work. Compression continues full-time.
Weeks 2–4: Bruising resolves. Compression continues during the day. Light exercise is permitted.
Weeks 6–12: Final contour emerges as residual swelling resolves. Full result reads at three months.
Call our office immediately for any of the following: temperature above 101.5°F (38.6°C), increasing pain not responding to medication, asymmetric swelling or a sudden enlarging mass, foul-smelling drainage from any incision, calf pain or swelling, shortness of breath, chest pain, or any concern that does not feel right to you. After hours, the on-call line will reach Dr. Whitmore directly.
Pricing varies by procedure and combination. As a general guide: rhinoplasty starts at $24,000; deep-plane facelift starts at $42,000; breast augmentation starts at $14,500; tummy tuck starts at $19,500. All quotes include surgeon, anesthesia, and facility fees. Detailed quotes are provided in writing after consultation.
Aesthetic procedures are not covered by insurance. Some procedures with a functional component may have partial insurance coverage — most commonly breast reduction (back/neck pain), septorhinoplasty (breathing), and panniculectomy (post-weight-loss). Our team will help you navigate insurance pre-authorization where applicable.
Yes. We work with CareCredit and Alphaeon for medical financing, both of which offer promotional zero-interest periods for qualified applicants. Our patient coordinator can walk you through application during or after consultation.
We host a meaningful number of out-of-town patients. For most procedures we ask that you remain in the Raleigh area for 7–10 days post-operatively. We have arrangements with several preferred hotels offering recovery rates and can provide referrals for private nursing if needed.
Surgical deposits are refundable up to 30 days prior to the scheduled date. Within 30 days, deposits are credited toward a future procedure scheduled within 12 months. Within 7 days of surgery, deposits are non-refundable due to anesthesia and facility commitments.
Within 12 months of an original procedure, if Dr. Whitmore agrees that a revision is warranted, surgical fees are waived; only anesthesia and facility costs are billed. Outside 12 months, revisions are quoted as new procedures.
Absolutely. We encourage it for any major decision. We do ask that the conversation focus on your goals — bringing a partner who has strong opinions about what you "should" do can make for a difficult consultation.
Active patients can call our office line at (919) 000-0000. The on-call line will reach Dr. Whitmore directly outside business hours.
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