Before Your Surgery

Before your surgery, an assessment nurse will contact you with specific instructions. In general, you can expect the following:

• Follow ALL pre-operative instructions given by your surgeon.
• Follow ALL instructions given by the assessment nurse regarding when to stop eating/ drinking in preparation for the surgery.
• Failure to follow these instructions can result in cancellation of your surgery.
• You will be notified by phone 1-2 days prior to your surgery regarding your arrival time.
• Surgery times are approximate and vary based on the overall schedule.
• If you feel sick anytime before your surgery or the day of your surgery,  call your surgeon. He or she will tell you what to do.
• On the day/ evening before your surgery, drink plenty of fluids unless instructed otherwise.
• Bathe the night before or morning of your surgery.
• If you have been told to take any medication, take with a small sip of water before coming to surgery center. You may brush your teeth, but DO NOT swallow any water.
• Use applicable eye drops on the morning of surgery, prior to your arrival at Surgery Center and bring applicable eye kits. 
• Please remember to bring your insurance card(s), identification, and surgery deposit if requested.  Leave all other valuables, including jewelry at home.
• Glasses, contacts, dentures and hearing aids will be removed before surgery.
• Please do not wear any make-up or mascara. DO NOT use perfume, cologne, lotions, powder, or oil on chest, legs, or face. Light colored nail polish is OK. Deodorant is OK. 
• Please do not wear jewelry (including for body piercings) or hair pins.
• Wear loose fitting closthing, flat shoes, button-down tops/ shirts for those having a facial, arm, or shoulder surgery. 
• Have no more than two people accompany you on the day of surgery. We are unable to accommodate child-aged visitors; therefore, we ask that you make prior arrangements. 

Instructions regarding children:

• Follow ALL pre-operative instructions given by your surgeon.
• Follow ALL instructions given by the assessment nurse regarding when to stop eating/ drinking in preparation for the surgery.
• Failure to follow these instructions can result in cancellation of your surgery.
• Children may bring a small blanket or toy with them.
• Tonsillectomy patients may bring DVDs to watch.
• Have no more than two people accompany the patient on the day of surgery. We are unable to accommodate other children/siblings; therefore, we ask that you make prior arrangements.