Pre-operative Instructions

While you will receive written specific Pre-operative Instructions from us at the time of your pre-operative visit with Dr. Zemplenyi and staff, these instructions are reprinted here for your easy reference and convenience:

1.  You must arrange for a ride both to and from our office as we cannot let you drive following an anesthetic.  A responsible adult person must remain with you for 6-8 hours following an anesthetic.

2.  Please pick up all of the prescribed medications by Dr. Zemplenyi before your surgery.

3.  Please have absolutely nothing to eat or drink after midnight before the surgery except for the pre-operative medications that are to be taken with a small sip of water. This ensures that you will have an empty stomach and thus reduces the possibility of aspiration into the lungs during anesthesia.

4.  The morning of surgery, please take your normal daily medications such as those for high blood pressure, heart and lungs with a small sip of water. 

5. You may pick-up a bottle of Arnica Montana from a health food store and begin taking the pills t two days prior to your surgery. This may diminish on your post-operative bruising.

6.  Many over-the-counter medications contain aspirin, which promotes bleeding.  It is essential that no aspirin or aspirin-containing products be used for ten days prior to surgery.  Also avoid usage of other non-steroidal anti‑inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Motrin) and others.  The only pain medication that you may use before surgery is Tylenol. Also avoid Vitamin E, Gingko biloba and all other natural products for one week before surgery.  

7.  On the morning of surgery wear loose clothing such as a sweat suit or flannels. Tops need to open in the front and should be button or zipper-down.  Bottoms need to be loose.   Please do not wear jeans or tennis shoes as they are too tight and too difficult to slip on and off.

8.  If your surgery involves the face or scalp, please arrive with clean hair and without any hair gel or other hair product.  Shampoo your hair twice before a facelift or a forehead lift. 

9. Please wash your body the night before surgery and in the morning of surgery with a disinfectant liquid such as Hibiclens if you are having liposuction, tummy tuck or breast surgery.

10.  Please remove make-up and leave jewelry at home.

11.  Please remove nail polish over your index fingers. Clear polish or French nails are O.K.

12.  Please notify our office if you develop fever, cough or an upper respiratory infection prior to your scheduled surgery.  PLEASE CALL US IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

13.  Please call our office at noon the day before surgery to confirm your expected arrival time.  Please understand that the time that we expect to begin your surgery may be delayed by prior surgeries and unforeseen circumstances.

14.  If you are having nasal surgery, please spray Afrin into each nostril the morning of your surgery, wait twenty minutes, and repeat two more times, each time separated by twenty minutes.