Preperation

Months Before

Stop Smoking
Smoking affects the circulation to the skin and impedes healing so please stop.

Take Multivitamins
Taking multivitamins twice daily maintains or may improve your general health. You may consider taking them once you have scheduled your surgery.

Take Vitamin C
Start taking 500 mg of Vitamin C twice daily to promote healing.

Do not take Aspirin or Ibuprofen
Avoid medications containing Aspirin or Ibuprofen. During your consultation you will be given a list of medications, natural products and foods to avoid prior to your surgery. All contain substances that may interfere with healing or cause bleeding problems during and after surgery. Minor pain prior to your surgery can be controlled with medications containing acetaminophen (such as Tylenol).

Limit Vitamin E
Please limit your intake of Vitamin E to less than 400 mg per day.

One Week Before

Fill Your Prescriptions
You will be given prescriptions for medications. Please have them filled before the day of your surgery and bring them with you.

The Day Before

Confirm Surgery Time
We will call you to confirm the date and time of your surgery. If you are not going to be at home or at your office, please call us the day or two before your surgery at 514-933-3449.

Prescriptions
Make sure that you have filled the prescriptions you were given and set the medications out to bring with you tomorrow.

Cleansing
The night before surgery, shower and wash the surgical areas with soap that does not contain perfumes or moisturizers.

Eating and Drinking
Do not eat or drink anything after 12:00 (24:00) midnight. This includes water.

The Morning of Your Surgery

Special Information
Do not eat or drink anything. If you normally take a daily medication, you may take it with a small sip of water in the early morning.

Oral Hygiene
You may brush your teeth but do not swallow the water.

Cleansing
Shower and wash the surgical areas again with a soap that does not contain perfumes or moisturizers.

Clothing
Wear only comfortable loose fitting clothing that do not go over your head. Please do not bring any valuables with you.

Procedure Day

You may wonder what happens on the day of your procedure.

Arrival at the Clinic
You'll receive directions on how to locate the private operating facility prior to your surgery. There's plenty of free parking available.

After entering the clinic, you'll be greeted by the clinic's secretary or one of the nurses. There is a comfortable waiting room for you and your support team. When the time of your surgery approaches, the nurses will take you into the changing room with lockers where you can leave your clothes. Here you'll put on your gown then be escorted into a comfortable room to relax as best you can before your surgery.

Preoperative Visits
Before your surgery, you'll be seen by three people. I'll (Dr. Zelt) stop in to say hello and quickly review your procedure with you again. Markings will be made on your chest at this time as well.

The anesthetist will speak with you about the anesthetic you'll be receiving. He or she will also ask you some general health questions, if you have any allergies and if you've had any problems with general anesthesia in the past.

The nurses will also meet with you and describe the procedures of the day. She'll also give you some medication before your surgery.

Although the three visits just mentioned are brief, please feel free to ask any last minute questions you have before your surgery.

Your Operation
When the time comes for your surgery, the nurses will lead you into the operating room. You'll lie on the operating room table while the anesthetist starts a small intravenous on your hand or forearm. The atmosphere in the operating room is very relaxed so if you are a little nervous, feel free to talk with the people around you. They are all friendly and very supportive. Within a few minutes of entering the room, the anesthetist will give you some oxygen to breath and you'll drift off to sleep.

In the Recovery Room
In what feels like mere seconds, you'll be waking up in the recovery room. There will be a nurse by your side attending to your every need. She'll make sure you are comfortable in your bed and you receive your pain medication. You may have an oxygen mask on when you wake up to help you breathe easier. Usually 20 to 30 minutes later, you'll feel more awake and the nurses will go get whomever is with you to come up to sit beside you in the recovery room.

Returning Home
When you are able to walk and have been able to go to the washroom following your surgery, the nurses will review with you a list of instructions to follow in days following your surgery. The nurses will also help you get dressed and help you walk down the stairs to the waiting area in the entrance. You'll need a ride home from your surgery from your family, friends or by taxi in some circumstances.

At home please relax as much as possible and avoid any strenuous activities. Take your mediations for pain as directed. Please leave your dressings intact. They will be removed within a week of your surgery as described below.

Any other questions you have about the procedure preparation can be addressed when you schedule your consultation.