Preoperative Instructions for Excisional Surgery

  • Your surgery will be performed in our office on an outpatient basis.
  • Eat a light meal before coming in for surgery.
  • If you are known to have cardiovascular disease and have been prescribed aspirin, Plavix, or Coumadin by your physician, it is not necessary to discontinue it, unless you are told otherwise. If you have not been prescribed aspirin or other blood thinners by your physician for the treatment of known cardiovascular disease, avoid aspirin for at least 7 days prior to surgery and for 2 – 3 days after surgery.  All patients should try to avoid other NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as Advil/Motrin/ibuprofen, Naprosyn/Aleve/naproxen, and similar medications, and vitamin E as these medications also increase the tendency of bleeding.  Plain Tylenol may be taken if pain medicine is needed.
  • TAKE YOUR REGULAR MEDICINES on the morning of surgery, except as discussed above.
  • If not provided to us previously, please bring a list of all medicines that you are currently taking.
  • Avoid drinking alcohol for 2 – 3 days prior to surgery and for 2 days after surgery as this increases the chances of bleeding.
  • If you are diabetic, please bring a snack. If you have asthma, please bring your inhalers.
  • We use only local anesthesia, so you will not be put to sleep. A mild sedative (such as Valium) can be provided if desired, as long as you have someone drive you home.
  • Take a bath or shower using an antibacterial soap on the morning of your surgery. We recommend that you do not apply makeup on the morning of your surgery (if the surgical site is on your face).
  • Wear comfortable clothes. You will be asked to remove your shirt and a gown will be furnished.  Therefore, button-down shirts are preferable and one-piece garments (i.e., jumpsuits) are discouraged.
  • We recommend that you bring someone with you or have someone available to call in order to drive you home after your surgery, especially if the surgical site is on your face or near your eye.
  • If you have questions or want to cancel your scheduled appointment, please call and speak to our surgery coordinator as soon as possible.

FAQ’s

WHERE WILL MY SURGERY BE PERFORMED? WILL I NEED TO STAY OVERNIGHT?

Your surgery will be performed in our office on an outpatient basis. You will return home the same day as your procedure.

SHOULD I EAT OR DRINK BEFORE MY SURGERY?

Eat a light meal before coming in for surgery. Fasting is not necessary unless you are told otherwise.

IS MY EXISTING PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION ALLOWED PRIOR TO MY PROCEDURE?

If you are known to have cardiovascular disease and have been prescribed aspirin, Plavix, or Coumadin (please provide list of blood thinners you would like to see here) by your physician, it is not necessary to discontinue it, unless you are told otherwise. Take your regular medicines on the morning of surgery, except as discussed above. Bring a list of all medicines – prescription and over-the-counter –on the day of your surgery if you have not already given us this information.

ARE OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATIONS AND PAINKILLERS ALLOWED IN THE DAYS PRIOR TO MY SURGERY?

Unless you have been prescribed aspirin or other blood thinners by your physician for the treatment of known cardiovascular disease, avoid aspirin for at least 7 days prior to surgery and for 2 – 3 days after surgery. All patients should try to avoid other NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs & vitamin E) as these medications also increase the tendency of bleeding.

Examples of common NSAIDS:

  • Advil, Motrin or generic ibuprofen
  • Naprosyn, Aleve, or generic naproxen

Plain Tylenol may be taken if pain medicine is needed.

SHOULD I AVOID CONSUMING ALCOHOL BEFORE MY PROCEDURE?

Avoid drinking alcohol for 2 – 3 days prior to surgery and for 2 days after surgery as this increases the chances of bleeding.

I AM DIABETIC. WILL THIS IMPACT MY SURGERY?

Your healthcare team will be aware of your condition. Be sure to bring a snack on the day of the procedure, we also have snack available.

I HAVE ASTHMA. WILL THIS IMPACT MY SURGERY?

Your healthcare team will be aware of your condition. Be sure to bring your inhaler(s) on the day of the surgery.

WILL I BE “PUT TO SLEEP” FOR THE SURGERY?

We use only local anesthesia. This means you will not be put to sleep. A mild sedative (such as Valium) can be provided if desired, as long as you have someone drive you home.

WHAT SHOULD I DO THE MORNING OF MY SURGERY?

Take a bath or shower using an antibacterial soap on the morning of your surgery. We recommend that you do not apply makeup on the morning of your surgery if the surgical site is on your face.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO MY SURGERY?

Wear comfortable clothes.  You will be asked to remove your shirt, and a gown will be furnished. Therefore, button-down shirts are preferable, and one-piece garments (i.e., jumpsuits) are discouraged.

CAN I DRIVE MYSELF HOME AFTERWARDS?

Most patients can drive themselves home as long as they have not been given Valium. However, we recommend that you bring someone with you or have someone available to call to drive you home after your surgery. This is especially important if the surgical site is on your face or near your eye.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT MY PROCEDURE?

If you have questions that aren’t answered here, please call and speak to our surgery coordinator.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I LIKE TO CANCEL MY PROCEDURE?

If you want to change or cancel your scheduled appointment, please call and speak to our surgery coordinator as soon as possible.