Preparing for Surgery

Please follow these steps carefully prior to your procedure to help ensure your procedure goes as smoothly as possible.

Contact your physician prior to your procedure date if

  • You are not sure what time to arrive at the center on the day of your procedure.
  • You experience any changes in your health between your most recent visit to your physician and the day of your procedure, even minor ones like a temperature, cough or a cold.
  • You suspect that you are pregnant. Anesthesia and medication may be harmful to the developing fetus.
  • You have a latex allergy, diabetes, heart conditions, kidney or liver failure.
  • You take medications on a regular basis. Your physician/physician may have guidance about which medications you should or should not take on the day of your procedure.

Note: Do not take any medications containing aspirin, vitamin E, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, herbs, or weight loss products for at least seven (7) days prior to the procedure and the day following your procedure. If you have taken any of these, please inform your physician as soon as possible.

After midnight the day of your procedure

  • Do not smoke after midnight the day of your procedure.
  • Do not eat or drink anything (including water, gum, mints, hard candy) after midnight the day of procedure, unless you are directed otherwise by your physician. Undigested food in the stomach can cause complications and your procedure is likely to be postponed if you forget to follow these instructions.

Morning of procedure

  • Take a bath or shower and brush your teeth (taking care not to swallow any water) the morning of procedure because this will minimize the chance of infection.
  • Remove all makeup, nail polish, jewelry, and contacts. If you must wear contacts, please bring your storage case for use during procedure.
  • Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Keep in mind that our center is always kept at a cooler temperature. During the procedure, you will wear a patient gown provided by the center.

Day of your procedure

On the day of procedure you should arrive at your scheduled appointment time. You will be admitted to the center and we will begin preparing you for your procedure.

You will be asked to sign a consent form for your procedure which acknowledges your permission for the physician and facility to care for you. If the patient is a minor, this form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.

What to bring with you on the day of your procedure

  • Bring all insurance cards. It is important for us to have all the current and correct information.
  • Bring a government issued photo ID such as a driver’s license. Minors do not need ID but the primary insured party does need theirs.
  • Bring your form of payment, if required.
  • Bring a copy of your consent forms and an Advanced Directive if you have one. Your signature will be required in accordance with your particular procedure.
  • If you have asthma or emphysema, bring inhalers with you.
  • If you take insulin, bring the bottle of insulin and syringes with you.
  • Arrange for a responsible adult to accompany you to the center, receive discharge instructions, drive you home and stay with you for the first night following procedure.
  • Limit the number of people who accompany you to the center. We suggest that adult patients be accompanied by only one person.

What not to bring to the procedure center

  • Leave all jewelry, wigs, cash and valuables at home. We cannot be responsible for their safety.

Please call us

If we have not reached you two days prior to procedure to review your medical history, pre-operative instructions, and financial arrangements, please call us at (281) 312-6900 and ask to speak to the scheduler for your physician. If you have any other questions about getting ready for your procedure, please feel free to call us.

After Surgery

After your procedure, you will be moved to our full-equipped recovery room where our recovery room nurses will observe you closely until you are ready to go home. Your physician will want to talk with a family member/friend after your procedure so it is important for this person to remain in the building.

The time a patient stays in the recovery room will vary depending on the procedure performed and the physician’s instructions, but typically most patients are discharged within one to two hours after their procedure.

Your physician will provide post-operative instructions about diet, rest, exercise, and medications. The center will provide you with a written summary of these instructions before you are discharged. We suggest that you pamper yourself for the first 24 hours following your procedure.

If you had anesthesia and/or pain medications, arrange for an adult to remain with you at home for at least 24 hours. Since it is normal to feel drowsy after receiving an anesthetic, we also recommend that you postpone the following activities for 24 hours after discharge:

  • Driving and operating equipment
  • Signing important papers
  • Making significant decisions
  • Drinking alcoholic beverages

If you have any unexpected problems, please call your physician. A nurse from the Center will attempt to call you the next day to check your progress and discuss any questions you may have.