Preparing for Prominent Ear Surgery: Blood Tests, Anesthesia Review and the Week Before

The paperwork arrived in an envelope thicker than expected: a health questionnaire, a consent form, and a page of instructions with the phrase “nil by mouth” underlined twice. For a procedure many people picture as small, prominent ear surgery comes with a surprising amount of homework.

That homework is otoplasty preparation, and most of it exists for reasons that have little to do with the ears themselves. Surgeons and anesthesia teams are trying to make sure nothing in your health, your medicine cabinet or your daily habits interferes with clean healing under a very thin flap of skin.

This guide walks through what the pre-operative assessment involves, why blood tests are ordered for some people and not others, what the anesthesia review is really checking, and how to use the final seven days well. Your own team’s written instructions always take precedence over anything printed here.

How otoplasty preparation actually starts: the consultation

Otoplasty is surgery that reshapes or repositions the outer ear, most often to set back ears that stick out more than the person would like. Roughly one in twenty people has ears that would be described as prominent, according to the StatPearls review, so the consultation room sees a wide mix of ages and reasons.

The first appointment is mostly conversation and measurement. The surgeon looks at the fold of cartilage that normally runs down the middle of the ear (the antihelix), the depth of the bowl near the ear canal (the concha), and how far the ear sits from the side of the head. Photographs from several angles go in the record. Expect to be asked what specifically bothers you, because “pinned back” means different things to different people, and the plan is built around that answer.

Then comes the medical history. This is where preparation truly begins. You will be asked about bleeding that seemed unusual after dental work or cuts, previous operations and how you reacted to anesthesia, allergies, chronic conditions, and every medicine, vitamin and herbal product you take. Writing this list down before the visit saves time and prevents forgotten items.

Many hospitals then book a separate pre-operative assessment, usually nurse-led. Its job is to decide whether any tests are needed, which type of anesthesia suits you, and whether anything should be adjusted before the day. If the answer to all three is “nothing special,” that is a good outcome, not a sign that anything was skipped.

What actually happens during prominent ear surgery

Ear cartilage is springy tissue with a memory of its own shape. Prominent ears usually come from one of two things, or both: the antihelical fold never developed fully, so the upper ear stays flat and flares out, or the conchal bowl is unusually deep, pushing the whole ear away from the head. The Naumann review in the NIH library describes how surgical techniques target each cause.

Most operations begin with an incision hidden in the crease behind the ear. Through it, the surgeon can either weaken the cartilage by scoring its surface so it bends more easily, or place permanent internal stitches that hold the cartilage in a new fold. Stitches placed to create an antihelical fold are often called Mustardé sutures; stitches that anchor the conchal bowl closer to the skull are Furnas sutures. Some surgeons combine methods and remove a sliver of cartilage or skin.

An incisionless approach also exists, in which sutures are passed through tiny needle punctures without a cut behind the ear. It suits some ear shapes and not others; whether it is offered depends on the anatomy and the surgeon’s assessment, not on preference alone.

The procedure usually takes 1 to 2 hours, according to the NHS and Mayo Clinic, and the vast majority of people go home the same day. A padded head dressing goes on at the end to protect the new shape and reduce swelling. Knowing this sequence in advance makes the preparation steps, especially the medicine review and the bleeding questions, feel far less arbitrary: everything is aimed at keeping that thin pocket of skin and cartilage undisturbed while it heals.

Who is usually a candidate, and who is usually asked to wait

The ear grows quickly in early childhood and then slows. StatPearls notes the ear reaches about 85 percent of adult size by age 3, and Mayo Clinic describes surgery as generally considered once the ears have reached full or near-full size, often around age 5 or later. Beyond that, there is no upper age limit; adults in their sixties and seventies have otoplasty when general health allows.

Good candidates share a few traits. They are in stable health, they understand that the goal is improvement rather than perfect symmetry, and they can follow after-care such as wearing a headband at night for several weeks. For children, surgeons generally look for a child who is bothered by their ears themselves and can cooperate with dressings, not only a parent who is concerned.

People are commonly asked to wait, rather than refused, when:

• There is an active skin, ear or chest infection; a cold in the week before a general anesthetic often means postponement.
• Blood pressure or diabetes is not well controlled, because both affect bleeding and wound healing.
• They currently smoke or vape nicotine and have not yet stopped.
• They are pregnant, since elective surgery is usually deferred.
• A bleeding tendency or a medicine that affects clotting needs a plan from the prescribing clinician first.
• Expectations and the likely result do not match, or distress about appearance seems out of proportion to the ear shape, in which case a psychological assessment may be suggested as part of good care.

None of these is a judgment. Each is a variable that changes the risk calculation, and the treating team decides how and when it can be addressed.

Do you need blood tests before otoplasty?

Often, no. This surprises people who expect every operation to begin with a needle in the arm. United Kingdom guideline bodies advise against routine pre-operative blood tests for healthy adults having minor surgery, and otoplasty under local anesthetic falls into that category. Testing is driven by your health and the type of anesthesia rather than by the operation itself.

When blood tests before otoplasty are ordered, they usually come from a short list:

• A full blood count, which measures red cells, white cells and platelets, the tiny fragments that plug leaking vessels. It is considered if there is a history of anemia, heavy periods or a bleeding tendency.
• A clotting screen, which times how quickly blood forms a clot, requested when someone reports unusual bruising, takes an anticoagulant, or has liver disease.
• Kidney and electrolyte tests when a person takes medicines that affect kidney function or has a known kidney condition.
• A glucose or HbA1c level, the three-month average blood sugar marker, when diabetes is present.
• A pregnancy test where applicable, usually on the day.
• An ECG, a tracing of the heart’s electrical rhythm, for older adults or anyone with heart disease facing a general anesthetic. It is not a blood test but is often bundled into the same visit.

The reasoning is specific. The most feared early complication after ear surgery is a hematoma, a collection of blood under the skin that presses on the cartilage. Anything that makes bleeding more likely, whether low platelets or a clotting problem, matters more here than in many larger operations. Results that fall outside the normal range do not automatically cancel surgery; they prompt a conversation with the anesthetist or your regular doctor about whether the plan should change.

The anesthesia review: local, sedation or general

Otoplasty can be done three ways. Under local anesthesia, numbing medicine is injected around the ear and you stay awake; this is common for adults. Sedation adds a medicine through a vein that makes you drowsy and relaxed but still breathing on your own. General anesthesia puts you fully asleep, and the NHS notes it is the usual choice for children, who find lying still for an hour or more with someone working beside their head difficult.

The anesthesia review exists to match you to the safest option. An anesthetist, or a nurse working to their protocol, will ask about previous anesthetics and any problems such as severe nausea, slow waking or breathing difficulty. A family history of a rare inherited reaction to certain anesthetic gases, called malignant hyperthermia, is important to mention because it changes which drugs are used. Sleep apnea, reflux, asthma, loose or capped teeth and neck stiffness all affect airway planning.

You will also be told the fasting rules. For a general anesthetic or sedation, the NHS describes a typical pattern of no food for about 6 hours and no clear fluids for about 2 hours before the procedure; your own hospital’s times apply. The point is to keep the stomach empty so nothing can be inhaled while reflexes are suppressed.

Nobody expects you to choose the anesthesia type alone. If you have a strong preference, say so, and the team will explain whether it fits the operation planned and your health. Ask who will be present throughout: in most settings a qualified anesthetist or anesthesia provider monitors you the entire time, regardless of which method is used.

Medicines and supplements: what your team will ask about

Bring the boxes, or a photograph of them. The medicine review is the single most useful part of otoplasty preparation for preventing bleeding, and it only works if the list is complete.

Certain classes matter most. Anticoagulants slow the chemical cascade that forms a clot; antiplatelet drugs make platelets less sticky; some common pain relievers, the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory class, also reduce platelet function for a period after each dose. Any of these can increase oozing under the skin behind the ear. Whether a medicine is paused, continued or swapped is a decision for the prescribing clinician together with the surgical team, because stopping a blood thinner without a plan carries its own serious risks. Never make that change on your own.

Supplements deserve the same honesty. Fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo, garlic extracts and ginger have all been reported to affect bleeding in small studies; the evidence is mixed and the effect is probably modest, but most surgical teams ask people to stop them for a period before surgery as a precaution. St. John’s wort can interact with anesthetic and sedative drugs by speeding up how the liver clears them. Many people do not think of a herbal capsule as a medicine, so say it anyway.

Medicines for diabetes, blood pressure, thyroid disease, epilepsy and mental health are usually continued, sometimes with timing adjustments around fasting. Steroid tablets taken long term need a specific plan because the body may not respond normally to surgical stress. Hormonal contraception is generally a minor concern for a short day-case procedure, but mention it. When in doubt, the right move is always to write it down and let the team decide.

Smoking, vaping and alcohol before ear surgery

The skin behind the ear is thin and has a modest blood supply. After otoplasty it must stay alive over reshaped cartilage while swelling squeezes its vessels. Nicotine narrows small arteries within minutes of each dose, and carbon monoxide from smoke reduces how much oxygen the blood can carry. The combination is a poor start for a wound that depends on tiny vessels.

MedlinePlus advises stopping smoking as far ahead of any operation as possible, with benefits building over the following weeks: carbon monoxide clears within a day, airway irritation settles over one to two weeks, and healing capacity improves the longer you are nicotine-free. Even a short break helps; a longer one helps more. Mayo Clinic lists smoking among the factors that raise the risk of skin problems and poor healing after otoplasty.

Vaping is not a safe alternative for this purpose. The vasoconstricting effect comes from nicotine rather than smoke, so nicotine e-liquids, patches and gum all carry it. If you use nicotine replacement to quit, tell the team; they will weigh the trade-off against the risks of continuing to smoke.

Alcohol matters in two ways. Heavy regular drinking affects clotting factors and platelet function and can complicate the anesthetic, and stopping abruptly after long-term heavy use can trigger withdrawal. Moderate drinkers are usually simply asked to avoid alcohol for a short period before and after surgery. Whatever your pattern, an honest answer on the questionnaire is safer than an optimistic one; the anesthetist plans drug choices around it.

Cannabis, whether smoked or eaten, also interacts with anesthesia and should be disclosed in the same spirit.

The week before otoplasty: a practical timeline

The final seven days are mostly logistics. The table below gathers the steps that come up most often in pre-operative instructions; your own list overrides it where they differ.

Timing	What usually happens	Why it matters
7 days before	Confirm the plan for every prescribed medicine with the prescriber; stop supplements only as instructed; fill any prescriptions given for after surgery	Bleeding risk and drug interactions are easiest to manage with time in hand
5 to 7 days before	Arrange a driver and, for the first night, an adult to stay with you; book time off school or work	Sedation and general anesthesia impair judgment for around 24 hours
3 to 4 days before	Buy a soft, wide headband if your team recommends one; set up extra pillows; prepare easy meals	You will be told to sleep propped up and to protect the ears at night
48 hours before	Watch for fever, cough, cold sores or skin infection near the ears and report them	A recent infection can mean postponement, especially for general anesthesia
Night before	Wash hair thoroughly; skip styling products; begin fasting at the time given	Clean skin lowers surface bacteria; an empty stomach protects the airway
Morning of	Clear fluids only until the stated cut-off; loose front-opening clothes; no jewellery, piercings or makeup; bring your medicine list and glasses case	Pullover tops and earrings are awkward with a head dressing

Two items deserve emphasis. First, hair: for a week or two you may not be able to wash it normally, so start clean. Second, clothing: a shirt that buttons or zips avoids dragging fabric over freshly dressed ears on the way home. Small things, but they are the ones people wish they had known.

Ear pinning surgery preparation for a child

A five- or six-year-old cannot be prepared with a leaflet. Children cope best when they know, in concrete terms, what will happen and what will feel different afterward. Use their words: the doctor is going to help the ears sit closer to the head, there will be a big soft bandage like a hat, and it will come off after about a week.

Timing the conversation matters. Younger children tend to do better with a few days’ notice rather than weeks of anticipation; older children may want more time and more detail. Picture books about hospital visits, a doll or teddy with its own bandage, and a short tour of the day-surgery unit if the hospital offers one all reduce the fear of the unknown. Let the child pack a comfort item; most units allow it into the anesthetic room.

The anesthetic itself is usually general for children, per the NHS. In many hospitals one parent can stay until the child is asleep, and a play specialist may help with distraction. Fasting is the hardest part for small patients, so ask for an afternoon slot only if your team advises it, and follow their fluid times precisely; a clear drink at the latest permitted time makes the wait easier.

After surgery, children need a quiet week. The NHS suggests most children can return to school after about 1 to 2 weeks, with rough play and contact sports avoided for longer. Plan for a parent to be at home, arrange schoolwork, and warn siblings that the bandage is not a toy. Any medicine for discomfort afterward is prescribed and explained by the treating team, who tailor it to the child’s age and weight.

The night before and the morning of surgery

Most cancellations on the day come down to three avoidable things: eating or drinking past the cut-off, a new illness nobody mentioned, and a missing driver. Guard against those and the rest is detail.

The evening before, eat a normal meal within the permitted window and then stop at the time on your instructions. Shower and wash your hair; avoid conditioner, sprays or gel afterward. If you have long hair, ask whether the team prefers it loose or in a low tie so the dressing sits well. Lay out clothes that open at the front. Charge your phone and write down the unit’s contact number in case the morning brings a fever or a sore throat.

On the morning itself, sip clear fluids such as water until the second cut-off if your instructions allow it; staying hydrated makes cannulation easier and reduces headaches afterward. Take any medicines you have been told to continue with a small sip. Leave earrings, piercings and metal hair accessories at home. Skip makeup, moisturizer and perfume; the surgical team needs to see the skin’s true color and cleanliness.

At the unit you will meet the surgeon again, who will confirm the plan and may mark the ears while you sit upright, since ear position changes when you lie down. The anesthetist will repeat a short version of the questionnaire. This repetition is deliberate and is a recognized safety step, not a sign that records were lost.

Bring reading glasses in a case if you wear them; the arms of glasses press on the incision line behind the ear, so you may be advised to avoid them for a period afterward and to have contact lenses or a workaround ready. Then, mostly, you wait. A book helps.

Otoplasty recovery time: what the following days and weeks usually look like

The first day is dominated by the dressing: a snug, padded wrap around the head that most people describe as more awkward than painful. Discomfort is usually modest and managed with the plan your team gives you. Sleeping propped up on two or three pillows, on your back, helps swelling drain and keeps weight off the ears.

Timelines below are typical ranges from the NHS and Mayo Clinic, not guarantees; your surgeon’s schedule is the one to follow.

• Head dressing: usually removed by the team after several days to about a week.
• Stitches behind the ear: dissolve or are removed at around 1 week.
• Headband worn at night: commonly advised for several weeks after the dressing comes off, to stop the ears folding forward during sleep.
• Return to school or desk work: about 1 to 2 weeks for most people.
• Swimming: typically avoided for about 4 to 6 weeks.
• Contact sports and activities with a risk of a blow to the ear: often 12 weeks or more.

Side sleeping is the question nearly everyone asks. There is no universal date. Most teams advise staying off the ears until the incision has knitted and swelling has settled, which for many people means several weeks, and then only with the protective headband in place. Ask at the follow-up visit rather than guessing.

How many days of rest? Most adults take it easy for the first few days and are moving normally within the week, with strenuous exercise, bending and heavy lifting held back for longer because raised blood pressure can provoke bleeding. Numbness or tingling of the ear skin is common and usually fades over weeks to months. The final shape continues to settle as swelling resolves, and scars behind the ear soften over many months; judging the result at week two is judging it too early.

What can go wrong with otoplasty?

Every operation carries risk, and honest preparation includes knowing what the risks are. The NHS and the Naumann review describe the following in neutral terms; frequencies vary with technique and patient factors, and your surgeon can speak to their own audit.

• Bleeding and hematoma: blood collecting under the skin in the first hours or days. It is uncommon but urgent because pressure can damage cartilage, which is why the medicine review and dressing rules exist.
• Infection: usually of the skin or wound; rarely it reaches the cartilage itself, which needs prompt treatment.
• Asymmetry: the two ears are never identical before surgery and will not be identical afterward. Small differences are expected; larger ones occasionally lead to a revision.
• Over- or under-correction: ears set too close to the head can look unnatural; ears that remain more prominent than hoped may spring back as internal stitches loosen over time.
• Stitch problems: permanent sutures can occasionally work their way to the skin surface months or years later and need removal.
• Scarring: the line behind the ear usually fades well, but some people, particularly those with a history of thick or keloid scars, form raised scars.
• Numbness or altered sensation, usually temporary.
• Skin breakdown over cartilage, rare and more likely in smokers or under a dressing that is too tight.
• Anesthetic risks, which are low in healthy people and are discussed at the anesthesia review.

Alternatives are worth naming. In newborns, soft molding splints applied within the first weeks of life can reshape cartilage while it is still pliable from maternal hormones; that window closes in infancy. In older children and adults, the alternatives are hairstyle, acceptance, or no treatment. Non-surgical products marketed to adults as permanent fixes lack supporting evidence. The decision to proceed, and how, belongs to you and the treating team after weighing all of this.

What people often get wrong about otoplasty preparation

“It’s a small operation, so the rules are optional.” The operation is small; the consequences of a hematoma under thin skin are not. Fasting, medicine and smoking instructions carry the same weight as for larger surgery.

“I should stop all my medicines to be safe.” Stopping a blood thinner, a blood pressure tablet or a seizure medicine on your own can be far more dangerous than the surgical bleeding risk. Only the prescribing clinician should change a prescription, and often the answer is to continue.

“Vitamins and herbs don’t count.” Several supplements have plausible effects on clotting or on how the liver handles anesthetic drugs. They belong on the list.

“Nothing to eat or drink for 24 hours.” Excessive fasting leaves people dehydrated, headachy and harder to cannulate. Follow the specific times given, and use the clear-fluid window if you have one.

“Wearing a headband now will train adult ears.” Mature cartilage holds its shape. Splinting works only in early infancy; in adults a headband protects a surgical result, it does not create one.

“Younger is always better for children.” Surgeons wait until ear growth is nearly complete, usually from around age 5, and until the child can cooperate with dressings. Earlier is not automatically kinder.

“I’ll be fine to drive myself.” After sedation or general anesthesia, reflexes and judgment are impaired for around a day even when you feel alert. A driver is a requirement, not a courtesy.

“The ears will match perfectly.” Improvement is the realistic goal. Both ears will look better balanced; identical is not how human ears work.

“Blood tests mean something is wrong.” Tests are ordered by protocol based on age, health and anesthesia type. Being asked for a full blood count is routine risk management, not a warning sign.

Questions to ask your care team

Consultations move quickly, and the most useful questions are the ones you have written down. These cover the ground that matters for preparation and for judging whether the plan fits you.

• Which technique do you plan for my ears, and why that one rather than the alternatives?
• Will I be awake, sedated or asleep, and who will monitor me throughout?
• Do I need any blood tests or an ECG, and if not, why not for someone in my situation?
• Which of my medicines and supplements should I continue, and who will confirm any change with my prescriber?
• How long before surgery do you want me to be free of nicotine, and can I use replacement products?
• What exactly should I eat and drink, and when should I stop?
• What will the dressing be like, how long will it stay on, and who removes it?
• When can I wash my hair, wear glasses, sleep on my side and exercise?
• What signs in the first 48 hours should make me call, and which number do I call at night or on a weekend?
• What are the realistic limits of the result for my ear shape, and how often do you see recurrence or a need for revision?
• If a revision were needed, how is that decided and when?
• For a child: can a parent stay until they are asleep, and is there a play specialist?

Bring someone with you if you can. A second listener catches details you miss, and the team will not mind repeating an answer. If anything in the responses feels vague, it is reasonable to ask for it in writing. Clear instructions are part of safe surgery, and a good team treats your questions as evidence that you are ready.

When to call your doctor

Most recoveries are uneventful, and mild aching, tightness under the dressing and light staining of the bandage are expected. A few signs are different and should prompt a call to the surgical team the same day, or emergency care if the team cannot be reached. Do not wait for a scheduled appointment if any of these appear.

• Pain that increases sharply on one side, especially a throbbing, pressure-type pain under the dressing; this is the classic warning of a hematoma and needs same-day assessment.
• Bleeding that soaks through the dressing or continues after the dressing is off.
• A dressing that has slipped so an ear is bent forward, or one that feels far tighter than when it was applied.
• Fever, chills, or feeling generally unwell in the days after surgery.
• Spreading redness, heat, swelling or pus around the ear, or a foul smell from the dressing.
• Skin over the ear that turns dusky, dark or blistered once the dressing is removed.
• Severe or persistent vomiting after a general anesthetic that prevents you from keeping fluids down.
• Breathing difficulty, a widespread rash, or swelling of the face or lips at any point, which need emergency care immediately.
• Any new symptom that worries you and that the discharge leaflet does not explain.

For children, add a child who is unusually drowsy, will not drink, or cannot be settled despite the comfort plan you were given. Parents know their child’s baseline better than any chart.

Keep the unit’s number where you can find it in the dark. Teams would rather take a call that turns out to be nothing than miss a hematoma by a night. Every decision about examination, dressing changes or a return to theater rests with the treating team, and the earlier they hear from you, the more options they have.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take for otoplasty to fully heal?

The visible part of healing takes a few weeks, but the full settling of swelling and scars takes months. The dressing usually comes off within about a week, most people return to school or work in 1 to 2 weeks, and swimming is commonly held back for 4 to 6 weeks, according to the NHS. Numbness can persist for weeks to months, and the scar behind the ear keeps softening for up to a year.

What can go wrong with otoplasty?

The main risks are bleeding or a hematoma under the skin, infection, asymmetry between the ears, over- or under-correction, internal stitches later working to the surface, raised scars, and temporary numbness. Rarely, skin over the cartilage can break down, more often in smokers. Anesthetic complications are uncommon in healthy people. Your surgeon should discuss how these apply to your ear shape and health.

When can I sleep on my side after otoplasty?

There is no single date; most teams advise back-sleeping, propped up, until the incision has healed and swelling has settled, which for many people means several weeks. When side-sleeping is allowed, it is usually with a soft protective headband in place for a further period. Ask your surgeon at the follow-up visit rather than assuming a timeline from someone else’s recovery.

How many days should I rest after ear surgery?

Most adults take it easy for the first few days and are moving around normally within a week, with the NHS suggesting about 1 to 2 weeks off school or work. Strenuous exercise, heavy lifting and bending are usually delayed longer because a rise in blood pressure can provoke bleeding under the skin. Your team will give a schedule based on the technique used and how your ears are healing.

Do I need blood tests before otoplasty?

Not always. Healthy adults having the procedure under local anesthetic often need none, in line with guideline advice against routine testing for minor surgery. Tests such as a full blood count, a clotting screen, kidney function, blood sugar or an ECG are added when a medical condition, a bleeding history, certain medicines, older age or a general anesthetic makes them relevant. The pre-operative assessment decides.

Is otoplasty done under local or general anesthesia?

Both are used. Adults commonly have local anesthesia, sometimes with sedation to help them relax, while children usually have a general anesthetic because staying still for one to two hours is difficult for them, as the NHS notes. The anesthesia review considers your health, previous reactions and preferences, and the final choice is made with the anesthetist and surgeon.

What should I avoid before otoplasty?

Nicotine in any form, alcohol in the days before, and any supplement your team has asked you to pause are the usual items, alongside food and drink after the fasting cut-off. Do not stop prescribed medicines without instruction. On the day, skip makeup, hair products, jewellery and piercings, and avoid arriving with a new cold, fever or skin infection without telling the unit first.

How long should I stop smoking before ear pinning surgery?

As long as possible; guidance from MedlinePlus and Mayo Clinic is to quit well ahead of surgery, with benefits accumulating over weeks. Carbon monoxide clears within about a day, airway irritation eases over one to two weeks, and skin blood flow improves the longer nicotine is absent. Vaping and nicotine replacement still deliver nicotine, so discuss them with your team rather than switching quietly.

What age can a child have ear pinning surgery?

Surgeons generally consider otoplasty once the ear is close to adult size, which Mayo Clinic describes as usually from around age 5, and once the child can cooperate with dressings and a night-time headband. StatPearls notes the ear reaches about 85 percent of adult size by age 3. Newborn ear molding is a separate option that only works in the first weeks of life.

What happens at a pre-operative assessment for otoplasty?

A nurse or anesthetist reviews your medical history, allergies, previous anesthetics and every medicine and supplement you take, then decides whether any tests are needed and which anesthesia type suits you. You receive fasting times, instructions on what to pause or continue, and practical advice on clothing, hair washing and transport. It is also the best moment to raise questions about recovery and warning signs.

References

• NHS: Ear correction surgery, including ear pinning
• NIH StatPearls: Otoplasty
• NIH PMC: Otoplasty – techniques, characteristics and risks
• MedlinePlus: Smoking and surgery

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.