Surgical Instructions

Pre Operative Instructions for General Anesthesia

1. The following instructions are designed for your comfort and understanding of your planned surgery.  If you have any questions concerning the pre-operative instructions or surgery itself, please feel free to contact the office.

2. DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING AFTER MIDNIGHT BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT; NOT EVEN  COFFEE OR WATER.  If you were given a prescription for antibiotics to take before surgery, you may take them with a small amount of water (1 fluid ounce).  If you take daily medications for blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes, ask Drs. Fraser and Michaels for specific instructions regarding your medication schedule.

3. If the pre operative diet restriction presents a problem (diabetic patient), please call the office.

4. Please attempt to be prompt for your appointment, we will do our best to be considerate of your time.

5. We request that you wear loosely fitted clothes with short sleeves or a shirt with sleeves that will easily pull up.  Access to your upper arms will be required during anesthesia for monitoring.

6. Please remove contact lenses, oral and facial jewelry, nail polish, false eyelashes, and heavy make-up before your surgery (non dangling earrings are acceptable).

7. In order to insure your safety, we insist that patients receiving a general anesthetic be accompanied to the office by a responsible adult who can drive them home.  You CANNOT take a taxi home without an escort.  Both the patient and companion should be present BEFORE surgery is started.  Your companion can then remain in the office suite so they will be available to assist you home when you leave the office.  An adult should be with you at home for the rest of the day.

8. A minor patient MUST come with his/her parent or the actual legal guardian who needs to stay in our facility during the procedure.

9. Patients MAY NOT drive or operate ANY machinery for the remainder of the day following the general anesthetic. 

10. If there is any change in your health in the few days before your surgery, such as fever, chest cold, flu, or persistent cough, please notify our office immediately.

11. Some surgical complications can occur rarely and may differ with each case.  The following complications DO NOT occur with great frequency, but so you may be informed of the possibility, the following list is provided: (1) Numbness or tingling of the lip, cheek or tongue (2) tooth in the sinus or a perforation of the sinus cavity into the mouth (3) sinus inflammation (4) damage to other teeth and/or dental restorations (5) infection (6) loss of taste (7) drug reactions and side effects (8) persistent bleeding (9) delayed healing (10) necessity for a subsequent operation.

12. Common post operative findings include: (1) post surgical discomfort for which medication will be prescribed (2) soft tissue swelling (3) muscle stiffness (4) bruising.