Preparing for Surgery

Pre-admission Testing and Medical Clearances

The physician involved in your care, along with office staff, will advise you of any testing that you may need prior to surgery. Please keep in mind the time frame in which these tests or clearances must be performed. Our office–and often the surgical facility–needs to review pre-admission tests and medical clearances prior to surgery to provide the best care possible for you or your family member.

It is your responsibility to advise our office of any medical conditions, allergies, previous surgeries and medications. If there is a change in the medical status of the patient prior to surgery (e.g. cold or flu symptoms), you must notify us immediately.

Preparing for Surgery

Our office staff will assist you with any pre-certifications that may be necessary for a surgical procedure. However, you must contact your insurance company to check your specific benefits. If you do not do so, you may be financially responsible for the surgery.

Failure to cancel surgical procedures within 24 hours notice, may result in a $500 no show fee being charged. Review our Payment Policy.

Please make all appropriate arrangements with work or school ahead of time. Any notes needed for out of work/school or gym should be requested from our office with as much notice as possible. If you anticipate that your child will need special accommodations at school (e.g. wheelchair or elevator pass), please contact the school nurse as soon as possible.

You must stop all anti-inflammatory medications (Advil, Aleve, Motrin, Ibuprofen and Aspirin) two weeks before surgery, unless told otherwise by your physician. Tylenol is acceptable to take pre-operatively for pain. If you are unsure about which medications must be stopped, please contact our office for assistance.

If you, the patient or someone in the same household smokes, STOP IMMEDIATELY. This can affect anesthesia and post-operative healing.

The Day of Surgery

PATIENTS MUST NOT CONSUME ANYTHING BY MOUTH (FOOD OR DRINK, INCLUDING WATER) AFTER MIDNIGHT THE NIGHT BEFORE SURGERY, unless told otherwise. For infants 12 months or younger, there are exceptions but it must be discussed with a member of our office staff or with the anesthesiologist prior to the surgery. If you or your child routinely take medication in the morning, you should contact our office to see if the medication should be held or given with a sip of water.

The anesthesiologist or the surgical facility will often contact patients prior to surgery to review medical history and arrival time. You will meet the anesthesiologist in the morning or afternoon of surgery prior to the procedure.

Please remember to bring your insurance card, driver’s license for patients over 18 (or driver’s license or other ID with current residence of accompanying parent for patients under 18) and any referrals that may be necessary per your insurance company.

After the surgery is completed, you or your child will be taken to the recovery room. The surgeon will speak with the family members in the waiting room. Family members are allowed in the recovery room once the patient begins to wake from surgery.

The surgery facility will give you a prescription for pain medication upon discharge. You should fill this prescription immediately.

Recovery at Home

Ice and elevate the involved extremity as instructed at the time of surgery. For most surgeries, you should apply ice (on/off) as well as elevate for the first two or three days. this will help reduce swelling and relieve discomfort.

Remove all dressings as instructed by your physician or as written on the facility discharge sheet. Most dressings are removed the second day after surgery. Leave all steri-strips on until they naturally fall off.

Do not take showers or baths until directed by your physician.

Warning Signs

Call the office if there is increasing drainage from the wound site, increasing redness or pain around the incision or a fever of 102 or higher. These are all potential signs of an infection.

Please call the office with any concerns regarding your surgery. We are glad to assist you through your pre- and post-operative process.