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General instructions for surgery 

Preparing for surgery

Discuss your postoperative activity restrictions with your surgeon and arrange for:

  • Transport home after your surgery.
  • Prescription medications that need to be filled either pre-operatively or after surgery.
  • Assistive devices you may need such as a walker, wheelchair or cane.
  • Equipment you may need at home such as a ramp, shower chair or elevated toilet seat.
  • A place to collect pre and postoperative instructions, prescriptions and any medical information you may need on the day of surgery or in an emergency.

A follow-up appointment will be made for you, in most instances, at the time of your preoperative visit. If you do not have this or need clarification, please contact the office.

    Postoperative instructions

    • You will receive written instructions for your post-surgical care. Please follow these instructions carefully and contact our office with any questions.
    • We will contact you after your surgery to check on your condition. Please address any questions or concerns you may have.
    • In general, you should limit your activity for at least the first few days after any procedure. You should consult your care team prior to returning to work and resuming normal activities.

    Incision care

    • Your surgeon will provide you with specific instructions on monitoring any surgical incisions, but it is generally appropriate to check the site daily and apply a clean dressing as needed unless instructed daily.
    • The first postoperative dressing should usually stay in place for 48-72 hours postoperatively.
    • Specific instructions on bathing and soaking the area should be provided by your surgeon.
    • A small amount of reddish-brown drainage that resolves within 48 hours is not unusual. Please report any persistent or worsening incision drainage to your physician.

    Antibiotics

    • Routine antibiotics are not generally recommended postoperatively.
    • If you are prescribed antibiotics by your surgeon, it is important that you take all of them as directed.
    • Please notify our office if you are prescribed antibiotics by another provider postoperatively.

    Pain expectations

    • Inflammation and some pain are expected after any surgery. This is a natural part of healing, and pain medications can make this more tolerable, but we do not want to completely block this important healing process and some pain is expected as the body heals itself.
    • Prescription pain medications are very tightly regulated and refill requests may take up to 48 hours to process and cannot be refilled on weekends, so please plan accordingly.

    Contact us immediately if any of the following conditions apply:

    • You have a persistent temperature above 101 degrees.
    • You have drainage and/or odor from your wound.
    • You have increased redness and/or swelling at the incision site.
    • You have increased discomfort, pain or weakness.

    If you are not able to reach your provider or have more urgent symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath, please dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

    Note: This is a guide only. Special instructions may be given to you by our staff.