What to Expect on The Day of Your Surgery or Procedure

1. Prior to surgery: Do not eat or drink anything including water or coffee starting 8 hours prior to your surgery. If you were instructed to hold aspirin or other blood thinners and cleared to do so by your doctor, do not forget to do this.

2. Arrival time: You will normally arrive approximately 1 hour prior to surgery, but this varies by where you are having surgery. The day prior to surgery, expect a phone call or explicit instructions from the location your surgery will take place explaining when to get to the center.

3. Check in: You will be checked into the surgery center or office by staff who will have you finish paperwork, change into surgical attire and get you prepped for surgery.

4. Meet the surgeon: Dr. Chen or Dr. Pharo will meet your prior to surgery to complete any necessary paperwork, answer any questions and go over post operative instructions prior to surgery.

5. Surgery: Surgical times vary, and your surgeon will discuss this with you at your pre-operative appointment. Your family can wait in the waiting room or in the car.

6. After surgery: After your procedure you will then go to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) where you will recover. There, you are typically observed for 30-60 minutes after surgery but this varies by procedure. The post-operative instructions will be reviewed with you in detail and you will have the opportunity to ask any questions.

7. Going home: Because even minimal amounts of anesthesia can make you sleepy, and can interfere with your ability to safely drive and make decisions, you will need to have a driver to take you home. We do not allow Taxi, Lyft or Uber to take you home. If you do not have a driver, you will not be having surgery.