Frequently Asked Questions

Before Your Surgery

Day Of Your Surgery

After Your Surgery

Preparing For Your Surgery

Our surgical staff is committed to making sure your surgery is safe and your experience with us a a positive one. Here are some commonly asked questions that may help you before, during or after your procedure.

Anesthesia

Anesthesia providers may use many different drugs or a combination of them to render someone unconscious. There are two types that are commonly used for surgeries:

Sedation is usually when a person is given anti-anxiety medications with/without something which causes sleep. Sedation is what is used for procedures such as a colonoscopy where you are “asleep”and have no memory of the event, may hear the staff in the OR talking, may be able to respond to a question or painful stimuli. This is NOT the type of anesthesia that prevents you from feeling a painful stimulus.

General anesthesia is typically used for procedures such as liposuction, gynecomastia removal, breast augmentation, tummy tuck or breast lifts. This allows you to ”feel” nothing and allows the surgeon to accomplish the best outcome for your procedure. General anesthesia may be achieved through intravenous, inhalation or a combination of the two. You may be breathing spontaneously (on your own) with a nasal oxygen cannula, face mask, airway in your mouth/throat (especially if you snore).

 
Anesthesia providers are highly skilled clinicians whose job it is to keep you safe and comfortable for your procedure. Most of the surgical procedures done are best with general anesthesia.
Despite the fears of most young patients who have never experienced anesthesia/surgery, anesthesia is safer today than it has ever been due to advances in medicine. Most often you may fear the loss of control, the unknown, revealing you innermost thoughts. That is a natural reaction, fear & anxiety are commonplace. The definition of minor surgery? Something ANOTHER person is having ! It’s never minor when it’s you ! 
 
Most common anesthesia complications are minimal. These may include a pinched lip (if an airway is placed), a sore throat from Oxygen flow drying out the mucosa or placement of an airway. People who get “car sick” should advise their anesthesia provider prior to surgery, a patch can be placed behind the ear in addition to the several medications we use to prevent nausea. DO NOT TAKE PAIN MEDICATION ON AN EMPTY STOMACH ! This most often will result in gastric irritation & nausea.

If you are breathing on your own, become nauseous, you may regurgitate and your stomach acid may come up in your throat and go down the “wrong” pipe.

That is the reason that we prefer patients to have NOTHING to eat or drink for at least 8 HOURS prior to surgery, including chewing gum (increases acid volume in your stomach). Any kind of gastric volume in the stomach can cause nausea because surgery is a trauma to your body, digestion stops, your body is busy taking care of the changes you are undergoing. If you have undigested food in your stomach, the body will likely want to get rid of it because it’s not going through the system normally (your GI tract is on strike).

Your surgeon and your anesthesia provider will develop an anesthetic care plan. This plan may include preoperative sedation and other medications if necessary.

When you arrive, you will be given a drink (1oz) of Extra Strength Tylenol PM (1000 mg) and Benadryl (50 mg). This is part of an effort to reduce narcotics both in and after surgery. You may become sleepy from the Benadryl (an antihistamine) which has the added benefit of easing any allergy symptoms that may arise. You will still be able to walk into the OR verify your name, procedure, be placed on monitors and then anesthesia will begin.
 
This is often accomplished with an IV medication and most people remember nothing after this and awaken amazed that the procedure has been completed!

You may feel nausea, foggy, fatigue. Your throat may be a little dry or sore due to the high flow of oxygen during your procedure. Most of these side effects from the anesthesia are should go away by the next day.

It’s important to rest, stay hydrated and maintain good nutrition after surgery so your body can recover. Proper rest may help decrease the chance of new or continued bleeding.

Even if you do not have an appetite, we recommend having protein shakes or protein bars in small amounts.

If you have a sore throat, hot saline gargles or throat lozenges may help.

If you experience any dizziness when you change positions, you may be dehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids such as electrolytes, fruit juices or protein shakes.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor or nurse provider if you have any questions or concerns!