Surgery Overview | How to Prepare | What to Expect | Before/After Photos | Patient Handouts

How to Prepare

Medications

• Continue all your normal medications.
• Do NOT stop any blood thinners (Coumadin, Aspirin, Plavix, etc.).

Smoking

• Stop smoking at least 7 days prior to your surgery. Smoking increases your risk for infection and impairs wound healing.

Alcohol

• Avoid alcohol for 24 hours prior to surgery. Alcohol increases your risk for bleeding during and after surgery.

Pre-operative Antibiotics

• If you require antibiotics prior to surgery due to a previous joint replacement, heart valve problem, or any other reason, please notify our office prior to your surgery so that antibiotics can be provided to you.

Pacemaker or Defibrillator

• Notify our office if you have a pacemaker or defibrillator. We may need to contact your Cardiologist prior to surgery if you have one of those devices.

Kidney Problems

• If you have kidney problems, contact your primary care doctor or kidney doctor to find out your most recent creatinine level. We need to know your creatinine level in order to give you the correct dose of certain commonly used antibiotics.

Make-up and Jewelry

• If your surgical site is on your face, ear, or neck, please do not wear make-up or jewelry. This can increase your risk for infection and make it difficult to correctly identify the border of the skin cancer.

Transportation

• In most cases, you will be able to drive yourself home. However, a driver is needed if the surgery is near the eye or if you want a medication (e.g. Ativan or Valium) to help you relax during your surgery. If you have any questions regarding the need for a driver, please contact our office.

Attire

• Wear comfortable clothes on the day of surgery.

Rest

• Try to get a good night’s sleep and eat a good breakfast prior to surgery.