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Preparing for Surgery

Before Your Surgery

Arrival Time

You will be called the day before surgery with your arrival time.

Please allow enough travel time to arrive at the Center at the designated arrival time which is usually one hour before the scheduled start time of your surgery.

Fasting Instructions

Clear (sugar-rich) liquids are encouraged up until 3 hours before your arrival time

  • Clear liquids include anything you can see through including non-red Gatorade, apple juice, water (White cranberry juice is okay.)
  • Clear liquids DO NOT include orange juice, apple cider, or milk.
  • Black coffee and tea are allowed (NO milk, NO honey).

If your surgery is scheduled for the afternoon, a light breakfast is allowed but must be a minimum of 7 hours before arrival time.

  • A light breakfast includes 2 or 3 of the following: hot or cold cereal  with low fat milk, toast with jam, low fat yogurt, fruit, fruit juice, coffee or tea

Medications

  • If you are taking blood thinners (e.g. Coumadin, Pradaxa, Eliquis, Arixtra, or Xarelto), please consult with your surgeon and prescribing physician for further instructions.
  • If you are having surgery on your Foot, Ankle, Hand, Wrist, or Elbow you may continue to take Aspirin or Plavix. For all other surgeries consult with your surgeon.
  • Seven days prior to surgery, stop all vitamins, multi-vitamins, herbal supplements, including: Vitamin E, Ginger, Cayenne, Papaya, Bilberry, Ginkgo, Ginkgo Biloba, Selenium, Fish Oil, Omega 3, Fatty Acids, Tumeric, Curcumin
  • Diabetes/Weight Loss Drugs in the GLP-1 agonist class
    • Weekly injections must be stopped one week prior to surgery
    • Daily injections must be stopped the day before
    • Exenatide extended release (Bdureon bcise) – weekly
    • Exenatide (Byetta) – twice daily
    • Semaglutide (Ozempic, Trulicity) – weekly
    • Liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda) – daily
    • Lixisenatide (Adlyxin) – daily
    • Semaglutide (Rybelsus) – by mouth once daily
    • Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) – weekly
    • Victoza – daily

You will be called the day before surgery with your arrival time.

Please allow enough travel time to arrive at the Center at the designated arrival time which is usually one hour before the scheduled start time of your surgery.

Clear (sugar-rich) liquids are encouraged up until 3 hours before your arrival time

  • Clear liquids include anything you can see through including non-red Gatorade, apple juice, water (White cranberry juice is okay.)
  • Clear liquids DO NOT include orange juice, apple cider, or milk.
  • Black coffee and tea are allowed (NO milk, NO honey).

If your surgery is scheduled for the afternoon, a light breakfast is allowed but must be a minimum of 7 hours before arrival time.

  • A light breakfast includes 2 or 3 of the following: hot or cold cereal  with low fat milk, toast with jam, low fat yogurt, fruit, fruit juice, coffee or tea

  • If you are taking blood thinners (e.g. Coumadin, Pradaxa, Eliquis, Arixtra, or Xarelto), please consult with your surgeon and prescribing physician for further instructions.
  • If you are having surgery on your Foot, Ankle, Hand, Wrist, or Elbow you may continue to take Aspirin or Plavix. For all other surgeries consult with your surgeon.
  • Seven days prior to surgery, stop all vitamins, multi-vitamins, herbal supplements, including: Vitamin E, Ginger, Cayenne, Papaya, Bilberry, Ginkgo, Ginkgo Biloba, Selenium, Fish Oil, Omega 3, Fatty Acids, Tumeric, Curcumin
  • Diabetes/Weight Loss Drugs in the GLP-1 agonist class
    • Weekly injections must be stopped one week prior to surgery
    • Daily injections must be stopped the day before
    • Exenatide extended release (Bdureon bcise) – weekly
    • Exenatide (Byetta) – twice daily
    • Semaglutide (Ozempic, Trulicity) – weekly
    • Liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda) – daily
    • Lixisenatide (Adlyxin) – daily
    • Semaglutide (Rybelsus) – by mouth once daily
    • Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) – weekly
    • Victoza – daily

Day of Surgery

Items To Bring With You

  • Valid insurance card
  • Photo identification card
  • All fees not covered by your insurance must be paid in full prior to your surgery.
  • Urgent medications, as listed above.
  • If your child is the patient, please bring a favorite soft toy or blanket.
  • If your procedure is ambulatory, a responsible adult must be available to discuss discharge instructions and accompany you home. They should be with you for 24 hours after discharge.

Items To Leave At Home

  • Your wallet (except for your insurance card, credit card, and photo ID)
  • Jewelry and other valuables should be left at home for safekeeping.
  • The ASC cannot assume responsibility for lost items.
  • Please leave children who are not patients in the care of a responsible adult at home.

What To Wear

  • Please wear loose and comfortable clothing. You will be provided with proper attire during your stay.
  • Patients having shoulder, arm or hand surgery shoulder wear a button-down shirt, as it can be difficult to pull a shirt on over a sling, splint or cast. Patients having leg, knee or foot surgery should wear loose fitting pants. Leggings can be especially difficult to wear with a splint or cast.

What Not To Wear

  • Remove all jewelry including rings, earrings and body piercings. The metal in jewelry may burn the skin if electrocautery is using during you surgery.
  • Please do not wear contact lenses.
  • Please do not wear makeup.
  • Please do not wear dark fingernail polish. Fingernail polish may interfere with our ability to monitor the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream.

  • Valid insurance card
  • Photo identification card
  • All fees not covered by your insurance must be paid in full prior to your surgery.
  • Urgent medications, as listed above.
  • If your child is the patient, please bring a favorite soft toy or blanket.
  • If your procedure is ambulatory, a responsible adult must be available to discuss discharge instructions and accompany you home. They should be with you for 24 hours after discharge.

  • Your wallet (except for your insurance card, credit card, and photo ID)
  • Jewelry and other valuables should be left at home for safekeeping.
  • The ASC cannot assume responsibility for lost items.
  • Please leave children who are not patients in the care of a responsible adult at home.

  • Please wear loose and comfortable clothing. You will be provided with proper attire during your stay.
  • Patients having shoulder, arm or hand surgery shoulder wear a button-down shirt, as it can be difficult to pull a shirt on over a sling, splint or cast. Patients having leg, knee or foot surgery should wear loose fitting pants. Leggings can be especially difficult to wear with a splint or cast.

  • Remove all jewelry including rings, earrings and body piercings. The metal in jewelry may burn the skin if electrocautery is using during you surgery.
  • Please do not wear contact lenses.
  • Please do not wear makeup.
  • Please do not wear dark fingernail polish. Fingernail polish may interfere with our ability to monitor the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream.