Once you register for your procedure at the facility, the surgical team will ask you to remove your clothes and put on your hospital gown. You may want to bring a backpack or small bag to store your clothes in.
Just before the operation
You'll be asked to get undressed and change into a hospital gown. The details of the operation will be explained to you. For many operations, a needle connected to a drip will be put into your hand. This allows fluids, nourishment and medicine to be given while you're under anaesthetic.
When you arrive at the surgery center or hospital, we will ask you to wear a surgical gown. Following the procedure, you will likely have a dressing on your area of surgery. Loose and comfortable clothing will make it easier for you to get dressed and home safely.
Clothing/Hygiene: We suggest loose fitting, comfortable clothing and shoes be worn the day of your surgery. You may bring socks to wear.
Appropriate clothing includes loose, stretchy items such as sweatpants or pajamas. If you are having surgery on your upper body, consider a short-sleeved baggy shirt or something that zips/buttons. For some surgeries women may be able to wear a sports bra or a bra that doesn't have any metal.
Do not wear makeup, lotion, powder, deodorant or nail polish. It is important to remove your nail polish so that the doctors and nurses can see your true color during the surgery and in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit.
According to Dr. Berman, although it can be uncomfortable, your treatment won't be affected, as surgeons are accustomed to seeing blood. Let your admitting nurse know that you are on your period so that they know when to change you and advise the recovery workers to provide you with sanitary items.
You will most likely be required to remove all undergarments. We understand this can be confronting and uncomfortable for some people, however it is required for surgery, assists in an emergency and ensures your personal garments aren't unnecessarily cut or stained.
Oral hygiene must be excellent prior to surgery. Therefore, way in advance of the surgery, the patient should brush, floss, and care for their teeth and gums twice a day. On the morning of surgery, brush and rinse with mouthwash or water.
If you're having general anesthesia, an anesthesiologist will give you medications that make you lose consciousness. After the surgery is complete, he or she will reverse the medication so that you regain consciousness — but you won't be wide awake right away.
On the day of surgery, you may be asked to arrive several hours before your procedure is scheduled to begin. This allows the staff to complete any tests that cannot be performed until the day of surgery.
Do NOT Shave over the surgical site. Using a razor over the surgical site produces microscopic cuts and scrapes which fill immediately with millions and billions of bacteria. One of the worst actions you can do prior to a surgery is to shave your legs or arms. The surgical team loves to see hairy legs and armpits.
Wash your hair with shampoo, but do not use conditioner. If your surgery will be on the head or face, wash your hair with baby wash. Wash your body from neck to feet with Scrub-Stat 4%, finishing with the groin and anal area. Leave the soap on for 2 minutes, and then rinse your body well.
You are encouraged to drink clear liquids before surgery or anesthesia — NOT milk or dairy products — until 2 hours before the time you are scheduled to arrive at the hospital or surgery center. Staying hydrated is good for you, and it's especially important in hot weather! Clear, see-through liquids include: Water.
After you receive anesthesia, your surgical team will clean and shave the area of your body where surgery is needed. This helps reduce the risk of infection.
Showering will help prevent surgical site infections. You may shower the night before and the morning of your surgery, but avoid aggressively scrubbing the area of the surgical site. Wash your hair with shampoo first. Using a clean washcloth for both showers, wash your body with a liquid antibacterial soap.
You can't wear deodorant during surgery because it can leave a residue on your skin that's difficult to remove. This residue might make it challenging for the surgeon to cut through the incision site or accurately assess your skin circulation during surgery.
Chances are, if you haven't fasted for eight hours prior to surgery, your surgery will be postponed. Drink alcohol. Avoid drinking for several days before surgery. Similarly, stay away from street drugs, including cannabis.
Usually, before having a general anaesthetic, you will not be allowed anything to eat or drink. This is because when the anaesthetic is used, your body's reflexes are temporarily stopped. If your stomach has food and drink in it, there's a risk of vomiting or bringing up food into your throat.
If you have problems removing rings, contact a jeweler. All valuables, such as jewelry and credit cards should be left at home. Only light make-up should be worn, with no make-up around the eyes. All nail polish should be removed prior to surgery, including polish on toenails.
The nurse will help you to move onto the operating table, which will feel hard and sometimes cool. Since the operating room table is narrow a safety strap will be placed across your lower abdomen, thighs or legs. Your arms will be placed and secured on padded arm boards to prevent them from falling off the table.
With arms positioned "hands up", there is a risk of compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow and stretching of the brachial plexus at the shoulder. In addition, no supports should be positioned directly in the axilla to avoid compressing the brachial plexus.
Excessive bleeding, greater than expected by the surgeon, is reported in ∼3% of all procedures. In 75 to 90% of cases, intraoperative and early postoperative bleeding result from a technical defect.
For safety concerns, we ask that you do not wear a tampon on the day of your surgery (if your period has already started). The surgical procedure could take several hours and after surgery, it can take some time for the anesthesia to wear off so you will be unable to change it for some time.
During surgery bleeding is normally controlled by either electrocauterization or direct ligation of the vessel. When operating each day I use a coagulation device that directly burns the small blood vessels and prevents hemmorhage. Larger blood vessels can be either hand tied off or suture ligated.