Pre-Surgery Patient Care
Planning For Surgery
Before surgery, prepare your life to be as simple as possible for two weeks. Purchase groceries and household supplies in advance. Prepare meals and freeze them for easy use. Also consider stocking up on microwave dinners and juice boxes. This will be extremely helpful while you are healing and unable to cook.
You will need to arrange for transportation for the day of surgery and your follow-up appointment. Anticipate that you may not drive for a few days or while you are on pain medication.
You must have a friend or family member watch you during your first night after surgery (this is mandatory). This person should be able to refresh your ice packs as needed, give you fluids, and prepare your food, check on you throughout the night and most importantly recognize if there are any problems and contact your doctor in case of an emergency.
If you have children, it would be a good idea to arrange for someone to take care of them for at least the first 24-48 hours. You will not be able to pick them up.
Day Before Surgery
- Our office will will call you the day before to go over your surgery times and remind you of all the DO’S AND DON’T’S. Also our Anesthesiologist will be calling to go over a few things to prepare you for Anesthesia.
- Don’t bring your valuables or wear any jewelry (no rings, earrings, chains, toe rings, watches or other metal piercing, such as tongue and nose rings). This can interfere with anesthesia.
- If you have a body piercing that cannot be removed, please contact the office to find out what your options are; it may be possible to tape it.
- If you wear contacts, please remove them the morning of surgery and wear your glasses instead. It’s also a good idea to bring the eyeglasses case to store them while you’re in surgery. Additionally, wear comfortable clothing. We suggest dark, loose-fitting clothes that you do not need to put over your head. The best options are a button-up or zip-up top and pull-on pants.
- Warm socks are also nice because the operating room is cold and most people feel chilly after the anesthesia.
- If you have long hair, make sure you bring a hair clip or a scrunchie for after surgery.
For the First Few Days After Surgery
- Stay away from foods that contain a lot of salt and MSG. This could upset your stomach and cause you to retain water.
- It is normal to be afraid and concerned about having surgery. Please ask our team lots of questions.
- Drink plenty of water and get bed rest.