Things to do Before Surgery – Necessary Steps

(Newswire.net — July 12, 2019) — Do you have a surgery coming up?  Well, time to get some things ready because, otherwise, this crucial health procedure could be canceled if you fail to meet some explicit requirements – namely, pre-surgery instructions that you need to follow strictly in order to go through and clean and flawless clinical process. So, what to do before surgery? Believe me when I say that seemingly small things play a key role in this decision process, so pay close attention to this pre-surgery checklist and make sure that you don’t miss a thing. This article will go into the things to do before surgery.

Things to do Before Surgery

Basically, a day before surgery you should have the following:

1. A responsible adult (at least 18 years old, I mean) to take you home, be it through private or public transportation, and stay a day or two with you. This is a rather vital thing for you to have arranged the night before surgery because, should you have no one to look after you, either the surgery will be rescheduled or, in the worst-case scenario, canceled.

2. A government-issued photo identification (be it a driver’s license, state ID, passport or anything of the sort), insurance documentation, prescription papers and any other kind of co-payment information, if you need them.

3. Some extra money for parking, especially if you will not go through outpatient surgery.

4. The physician’s and/or ATC instructions as of what medications to take or NOT to take. This is a strict rule in every surgery preparation checklist, so stick to what the doctors say.

5. A place or someone of trust to leave your cash, cards, jewelry and other valuables for safekeeping. Don’t assume that somebody in the hospital will do you the favor, so don’t take their kindness for granted and simply plan this beforehand, long before your surgery date.

6. A clean face and body. That is, no makeup, nail polish, piercing, jewels or anything of the kind with you.

7. Similar to the two points above, storage cases for your contact lenses, glasses, dentures, and so on, so you can take them away while preparing for surgery too.

8. A phone next to you on the night before surgery. Why do you ask? In case you feel ill and you need to call your surgeon. Whatever the reason you’ll get your surgery, you need to let your doctor know if something else suddenly happens to you, especially if this makes you feel pretty unwell. This is a major safety measure you mustn’t let go.

Watch out:

1. You might ask yourself: can you drink water before surgery? Or smoke, eat, taste some candy or chew some bubblegum, mints, lozenges the night before surgery? The answer is a big no. This is one of the strictest rules in all surgery instructions, and the reason is: your diet during your pre-surgery stage might also affect the procedure itself. Again, although simple looking, these are critical points you need to look for in your pre-surgery checklist, as it could cancel your surgery if you fail to comply with them. So, what to eat the day before surgery? Surely your doctor will provide you with some sort of food guide you might have to follow the day before surgery, but once nighttime – particularly midnight – comes, it’s time to cut most of the food. Junk food, especially, is a big no, no.

2. Don’t shave your surgical area before surgery. Not so much because it’s dangerous but rather unnecessary. Simply put, the hospital staff will do it for you. It’s part of every surgery preparation, so don’t worry about it.

3. Don’t bring any luggage or personal belongings with you to the hospital. Or if you do, let a friend or relative keep an eye on them after your procedure. As we stated in a point above, the hospital is not responsible for your things.

4. Don’t bring any dependents with you on your surgery day, like children or older adults. Ask someone to keep an eye on them for you, especially during your surgical stay. It’s for the safety of both parties. Always make sure to follow post-surgery tips. 

Finally, expect a call from your surgeon’s office the day before cosmetic or plastic surgery. This would be one of the last things to watch out for in this surgery checklist for patients. Remember: your life is both in there and your hands.