What To Expect

You will receive a “Pre-Operative” phone call from one of our dedicated and experienced nurses prior to your scheduled surgery date. This call will confirm your surgery and medical history. Please have your medication list available and any allergies you may have.

Contact your surgeon/physician immediately, if any of these conditions apply to you:

• You experience any changes in your health from your most recent visit to your physician to the day of your procedure – even minor ones like a temperature, cough, or a cold.
• You take medications or vitamins on a regular basis, such as herbal supplements, diet pills, aspirin, ibuprofen, blood thinners, or other medications. There may be certain medications you should or should not take prior to your surgery.

Make Arrangements:

• Have a responsible adult accompany you to the center and drive you home; you will not be allowed to drive yourself home after surgery.
• Plan for someone, such as a friend, relative, or dedicated caregiver, to stay with you for the first 24 hours following your procedure.
• Make accommodations for childcare if you have young children at home you normally care for.
• We currently limit one adult to accompany you to the surgery center.

Food and Drink:

• DO NOT consume any alcoholic beverages 24 hours before your surgery.
• DO NOT drink or eat anything (including water, gum, mints, or candy) after midnight the night before your surgery, unless otherwise instructed. Undigested food in the stomach can cause complications and your surgery is likely to be postponed or canceled.

After your surgery, you will be taken to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU Recovery Unit) where specially trained nurses will monitor you closely until you are ready to go home. The amount of time you stay in the recovery room will vary, depending on the procedure performed and the physician’s instructions, but most patients will typically spend one hour recovering.

You will receive verbal and written post-operative care instructions regarding diet, rest, exercise, and medications before discharge. Please make sure a responsible family member or friend is available to drive you home, where you should plan to rest for the remainder of the day.

If anesthesia and/or pain medications were administered, arrange for an adult to remain with you for at least 24 hours. The following precautions should also be taken after discharge:

• Do not drive or operate heavy machinery
• Do not make any major or legal decisions
• Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages for at least 24 hours

Contact your physician for follow-up appointments, as needed, and for any questions or unexpected problems. If there is a medical emergency, dial 911 immediately.