Preparing For Surgery

To help you prepare for your surgery, please follow the instructions below:

• Eat Nothing after midnight
  It is best for you to have your stomach as empty as possible to prevent the risk of complications during anesthesia. Solid food is not to be taken after midnight the night before your surgery (milk and orange juice are considered to be solid food). This includes chewing gum, candies or mints.
• Bring your medications
  You may take medication prescribed by your doctor up to one hour before surgery with a sip of water.
• Notify your surgeon
  Please notify your family physician or surgeon if your health changes, you develop a cold or any other illness in the week before your surgery. Please also be sure to notify your surgeon of any changes in your home address or telephone number.
• Leave valuables at home
  Southlake Regional Health Centre makes every effort to ensure a safe environment; however, we are unable to constantly monitor the traffic in patient care areas or changing rooms and therefore, cannot be held responsible for lost or stolen valuables.  Please leave all personal items, large sums of money  and credit cards safely at home.

Before Coming to the Hospital

Please be sure to have a bath or shower the night before your surgery. This will greatly reduce the risk of infection from bacteria on your skin.

Remove artificial nails and/or wash off all make-up and nail polish prior to your arrival at the hospital.

All jewellery must be removed before you go into the operating room. We recommend you leave these items safely at home.

What to Bring

• Your Ontario Health Card
• An updated medication list of any medications you may be taking including the dosage and frequency.
• Housecoat or bathrobe and slippers (All patients must wear a hospital gown to the operating room). You will feel more comfortable with your own housecoat/bathrobe as most patients walk to the operating room
• Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing
• Denture cup
• Case for glasses/contact lenses (lenses must come out prior to  surgery)
• If having foot surgery,  please bring loose-fitting slippers or footwear recommended by your surgeon

No Smoking

Parking

For information on parking and rates, please click here.

Going Home

You must arrange for a family member to drive you home following your surgery. We suggest making arranged to have someone wait with you if you are going home the same day.  Instruct your family member or friend to come to the Post-Op Same Day Surgery unit to pick you up.  You may not meet your ride at the Hospital door.  You may not take a taxi or bus home unless there will be a family member or friend with you.

For information on resources available to you during your hospital visit or stay (for example: parking, what to bring, discharge times and other helpful information) please click on Patients and Visitors.