Preoperative Preparation

You may visit your surgeon as many times as you wish to have all of your questions answered. At your final preoperative visit, your final questions will be answered and you will confirm that you have understood the procedure to be performed, that this material has been explained to you, that you have read and understood these information sheets, and that you accept the risks by signing the informed consent forms. This is an elective procedure and is only performed on a patient desiring the operation. This procedure is frequently performed on children – even though a parent must sign the consent forms, the child must have an understanding of the procedure to be performed, must desire the procedure and be able to verbalize that they do indeed wish to have the operation performed. Most children get by with Tylenol® to control any discomfort after surgery. You will be given prescriptions for antibiotics along with instructions for their use. Certain laboratory tests will also be required within two weeks of surgery. If you are over the age of 50, you will have to obtain a cardiogram at your doctor’s office or any licensed laboratory. You may have blood drawn by our office nurse during your final preoperative visit, or, if you prefer, at your family doctor's office or any laboratory (e.g. Kaiser Hospital, etc.). All patients will be asked to stop smoking at least a month prior to surgery in an effort to maximize your body's ability to heal the incisions following the operation.

Patients should shampoo their hair the morning of or the night prior to surgery. Absolutely nothing may be taken by mouth after midnight prior to the day of surgery (except medications prescribed by your family doctor, but please mention these to the anesthesiologist in advance.)

Ordinarily, your anesthesiologist will call you the night before surgery to discuss the anesthetic care plan with you. But if you miss the call or your anesthesiologist does not call you, do not worry as you will be able to discuss your anesthesia and have all your questions answered in the morning, at the Laguna Hills Surgery Center, prior to your procedure. It is absolutely imperative that you make arrangements in advance to have someone drive you to the surgery center on the day of your operation and to drive you home when you are discharged from the recovery room – you will typically be at the surgery center for about four or five hours.

Please wear loose fitting clothing, which will be easy to get off and on after the operation. Wear no makeup to the surgical facility on the day of surgery, but you may apply facial moisturizers.

All patients anticipating an elective surgical procedure are to stop taking any medication containing anti-inflammatory agents (Aspirin®, Advil®, Motrin®, etc.) as these interfere with the body’s clotting mechanism and can result in dangerous blood loss and excessive bruising.