What To Expect

The first step to having surgery is to schedule a consultation with the surgeon. At this visit, the doctor will perform an exam, review your medical records, and discuss treatment options, including alternatives to surgery if possible. We recommend you bring a list of prepared questions.

• Please request that all pertinent medical records, including any diagnostic testing such as CT scans or MRIs, be sent to our office.
• If your insurance requires a referral to see a specialist, please request one from your primary care physician prior to your appointment.
• If you are a new patient, please complete the forms on our Patient Forms page and bring them to your appointment, along with your insurance card. If you are unable to download these forms, please arrive 1/2 hour prior to your appointment time to complete them in our office.

If surgery is necessary, your doctor may order diagnostic or pre-operative testing, depending on your health history and type of surgery needed. Our staff will request authorization from your insurance company for surgery and any other testing or consultations needed.

Once all necessary testing and authorizations have been obtained, a member of our staff will contact you to schedule your surgery. All surgeries are performed at either Sharp Memorial Hospital or Sharp Outpatient Pavilion.

The pre-anesthesia department at Sharp Memorial Hospital or Sharp Outpatient Pavilion will contact you 1 to 2 days prior to surgery to confirm your arrival time and review your pre-operative instructions.

REMEMBER: your surgery time is always subject to change, so we ask that you be flexible with your transportation.

• If you smoke, try to quit as far as possible before surgery. Smoking increases your chances for problems and complications after surgery.
• Tell your doctor what medications you are taking, including things like aspirin and vitamins. Ask if you should stop taking them prior to surgery.
• Arrange for an adult to drive you home after surgery and stay with you for at least one night.
• Don’t drink alcohol for 24 hours prior to surgery.

Unless told otherwise, do NOT smoke, eat, or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery. This includes water, chewing gum, and mints.

• You may brush your teeth and rinse your mouth, but do not swallow any water or toothpaste.
• If you’ve been told to take any medications, take them with the smallest sip of water.
• Please shower and wear comfortable clothing. Avoid makeup, Hairspray, or perfume. Contact lenses will need to be removed prior to surgery.
• Bring a case for your dentures, glasses, contact lenses, or hearing aid.
• Please leave all valuables, such as watches, jewelry and credit cards, at home.

The kind of anesthetics possible for surgery are:

• General Anesthesia (completely asleep).
• Local Anesthesia with Sedation (a region of your body is numbed and a medication is given to you to make you sleepy and relaxed).
• Local Anesthesia (a numbing medicine is injected around the area of surgery).

The type of anesthesia you receive will depend on the type of surgery and your medical condition. On the day of surgery, your anesthesiologist will discuss all options available to you and make a suggestion for the type(s) of anesthetic. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to discuss them with the anesthesiologist.

Sharp Outpatient Pavilion
3075 Health Center Drive
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 939-5120

Sharp Coronado Hospital
250 Prospect Place
Coronado, CA 92118
(619) 522-3600