FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Your surgeon will go over the specifics of your procedures and medical instructions to follow. If you have any questions regarding your procedure, please contact your surgeon directly.

A nurse from Scottsdale Outpatient Surgery will call you one week prior to your surgery to discuss medical history, medications and answer any questions you have about our Surgical Center.

A member of our staff will call you the day before surgery to go over surgery time and last minute instructions. If you have not received a call by 3:00pm the day before your surgery, please reach out to our office.

You must have a responsible adult accompany you to and from the Surgery Center. We will not allow any patients to drive themselves after their procedures. All minors must have an adult/legal guardian remain at the Surgery Center to the duration of their procedure. A responsible adult must stay with the patient for 24 hours to monitor recovery at home.

You can expect to be at Scottsdale Outpatient Surgery for at least 3 hours the day of your procedure, but surgery times do vary. Some also may require an overnight stay. Please discuss specifics about surgery time with your surgeon. 

AT HOME BEFORE SURGERY:

The night before surgery, please do not eat or drink ANYTHING (including water/gum/mints) after midnight.

Your surgeon will give you specific instructions about what medications and supplements you are able to take and not take. If they instruct you to take any medications the morning of surgery, please take them with a sip of water.

Please remove all dark colored nail polish.

Please shower the night before surgery or early in the morning and have dry hair when arriving to the Surgery Center.

MORNING OF SURGERY:

Wear loose fitting clothing and shoes that are easily removed.

Do not wear jewelry, piercings, make up or contacts.

Please leave valuables at home.

WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU TO SURGERY:

List of all medications and supplements (or their containers).

Required payment and your insurance card (if applicable).

Picture ID with your street address.

Pre-surgery documents and consents that have been completed.

REGISTRATION:

Arrive at Scottsdale Outpatient Surgery at the time you have been given by the center. At check-in, we will ask that you show your picture ID and complete any outstanding registration paperwork.  

PRE-SURGERY:

After changing into a surgical gown, you will meet with a Nurse, Anesthesiologist and your Surgeon. Your surgical consent will be reviewed, if you have any questions about your consent or your procedure, those will be answered by your surgeon prior to you signing your consent. 

The anesthesiologist will assess your vital signs, lab results or tests, and ask more details about your health history, medications and any previous anesthesia experiences. The assessment will determine the appropriate anesthesia for your procedure, for which you will sign the anesthesia consent.

Your surgeon will visit with you and make sure you are well prepared answering any remaining questions you may have about your procedure.

RECOVERY:

After surgery, you will be moved to a recovery room and a nurse will monitor your progress and give you medications for comfort. Recovery time varies by patient and procedure. In some cases, recovery lasts one hour and others you will stay overnight. When you are medically cleared for discharge, we will go over discharge instructions with you and your companion.

AT HOME:

You will feel the residual effects of anesthesia for 24 hours following surgery. Do not drive a vehicle or make important decisions. Do not drink alcohol while taking pain medication. Rest under the supervision of a responsible adult who can follow up on discharge orders and oversee your progress. If you experience any complications or adverse effects, call your doctor or 911.

A Surgery Center nurse will call to check on you the next day. Continue to rest until fully recovered. Follow your doctor’s instructions for return to normal activities.

COMPANION INSTRUCTIONS:

We will keep your companion updated with your progress. While you are in surgery, your companion can wait comfortably in the reception room, offering WiFi, TV and complimentary coffee.

Once your procedure has been completed, your surgeon will speak with your companion. When you are ready for visitors, your companion can rejoin you in recovery to receive verbal and written discharge instructions.

Please limit the number of people accompanying you and leave small children at home with a guardian.