Patient Information for Surgery

If you have not already completed these, attached to the email confirming your surgery details, both a pre-operative and psychological screening questionnaire will be included, which must be returned to us prior to your surgery via email, post or in person. Failure to do so may mean a delay in your surgery.

You must arrange to be looked after for the first 24 hours by a responsible adult this can be a relative or friend. If you are taking a taxi home your ‘responsible adult’ must accompany you and if you have children at home you must ideally arrange childcare for the first 24 hours. How long this will be required will depend on the type of procedure you are undergoing.

Lastly, please ensure that you wear loose, comfortable clothing which is easy to put back on when you go home.

+ Any tablets, medicines or inhalers that you are currently taking (tablets in their original boxes please)

+ Something to help you pass the time such as a book, magazines or your Kindle / iPad etc

+ Spectacles /contact lenses

+ You will have a small locker next to your bed for personal possessions. Storage space is limited so please only bring essentials

You should not take any solid food or milk in the 6 hours before your procedure. However, you will be able to continue to take any prescribed medicines. The email confirming your surgery date will inform you of your admission time and scheduled time of procedure. It is essential that you follow the fasting instructions as if you do not fast we may have to postpone or cancel your procedure.

It is essential for your own safety during sedation or anaesthetic that your stomach is empty. If there is any food or liquid in your stomach during your anaesthetic, it could come up into the back of your throat and then go into your lungs. This would cause choking, or serious damage to your lungs.

If you have diabetes or have concerns about fasting please contact your consultant or the clinic nursing staff who can advise you.

Smoking prior to your surgery greatly increases the risk of anaesthetic complications. If you smoke you will be advised by your consultant to stop at least 2 weeks prior to your procedure and in some cases for an even longer period of time. This is for your own safety as smoking decreases healing and consequently allows infection and poor scarring.

Please note that the Cadogan Clinic recommends you stop smoking in the weeks prior to your surgery, do be aware that your consultant or anaesthetist has the authority to postpone your surgery if you do not adhere to these guidelines, in which case you would be subject to rescheduling fees (detailed later).

+ DO refrain from applying fake tan for a period of 7 days prior to your operation date

+ DO NOT apply any moisturiser to your skin for a period of 24 hours prior to your operation

+ DO NOT drink any alcohol 48 hours prior or post surgery

+ DO ensure you are well hydrated the day before your surgery, and if your procedure is in the morning please try and have a snack in the evening before going to bed

+ DO remove false eyelashes or nails including acrylic and gel overlays, makeup and piercings before you arrive at the clinic

+ DO Shower either the evening before or the morning of your operation

+ DO NOT apply anything topically to your skin after showering including deodorant

+ DO tie your hair up if it is long

+ DO wear loose fitting clothes to clinic so that you can change easily both before and after your procedure

+ DO advise your nurse before surgery if you think there is any chance you may be pregnant

+ DO NOT smoke or take recreational drugs prior to surgery – for many procedures such as such as; breast surgery, abdominal reshaping and facelifts, one should stop 2 weeks before surgery

+ You may feel tired; so only do as much as you feel comfortable and do not take any sleeping tablets or recreational drugs.

+ Do not operate machinery or drive a car or motorbike for 24 hours due to your anaesthetic – specific guidance based upon the surgery you have had will apply.

+ You must not take sole care of any children.

+ Due to being nil by mouth, you must rehydrate yourself - Drink plenty of fluids and eat light meals to raise blood sugar levels – this will aid recovery and help alleviate any side effects.  Do refrain from drinking alcohol for at least 24 hours.

+ Please follow specific Nursing and Consultant advice when taking prescribed medication – including painkillers.

+ Do not make any important decisions or sign any contracts for at least 24 hours after a general anaesthetic.

You may experience a sore throat, a headache or feel tired and a little confused a few days following your surgery – this is completely normal.  Some patients report feeling slightly nauseous following their surgery but all symptoms are usually quite mild, are easily managed with medication and tend to subside within a day or so after surgery.  It is very unlikely you would suffer a delayed severe allergic reaction to anaesthesia but if in doubt please contact us on the emergency numbers provided.

The type of sedation that we use for all patients know as ‘TIVA’ or ‘Total intravenous anaesthesia’ is a technique administered solely via the intravenous route meaning that the more ‘traditional style’ of gas based products is not required – it is this that typically leaves patients feeling unwell so with TIVA, you should feel back to yourself within hours after your surgery.

In the case of an emergency please contact your consultant in the first instance.  Only if you are unable to reach your consultant please call: 07899 964893 and speak with a senior member of staff.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your procedure or recovery please feel free to contact the Cadogan clinic and speak with the nursing team who are available from 7am – 8pm Monday to Friday on: 0207 901 8500

You must escort your friend or relative home by either taxi or a car.  Public transport is not appropriate following surgery.  The type of care your friend or relative will need depends on the type of procedure they have had.

General responsibilities are:

+ Escort your friend or relative home by car or taxi (not public transport).
+ Stay with them for the 24 hours following surgery in your or their home.
+ Help with household activities, such as cooking and cleaning.
+ Offer the patient plenty of fluids to drink (no alcohol).
+ They may need help with washing/bathing and getting dressed.
+ Ensure they take regular painkillers or medication as prescribed/advised.
+ After 24 they should be feeling considerably better and will need less support and help. You might not need to stay overnight, but perhaps could still offer some daytime support, such as shopping, cooking or child minding.

After surgery you experience a little discomfort which can be easily managed with painkillers.  You may even be prescribed a combination depending on your operation and level of comfort (which is typically hard to predict).  Each of the below drugs can be taken together effectively and do not interfere with one another.  Please note if you do experience any side effects you must stop taking that painkiller and rely on another, any undesired side effects wear off rapidly.

Paracetamol: Often the most effective painkiller and provides satisfactory pain relief with very few side effects.  Paracetamol can be combined well with other drugs but advice provided on this must be followed.  Use of any drug must be discontinued if you feel unwell or experience any unusual or undesired side effects.

CoDydramol: When taking this medication, you must not take addition paracetamol – it is a combination of Paracetamol and Dihydrocodeine.  This is quite a strong painkiller and can sometimes cause constipation after taking it for a few days.  If your discomfort is moderate or low we would recommend switch to just paracetomol.

Ibuprofen: This is an anti inflammatory drug which works similarly to Asprin.  If you have or suffer with stomach ulcers or gastritis due to excessive amounts of stomach acid we would advise you avoid this medication.  It is a very effective drug but can increase bleeding and bruising in the first 24hrs after breast surgery so we would advise to avoid taking it until the next day.

Tramadol: This is classed as a medium strength painkiller.  A small number of patients can experience a little excess sweating, anxiety or nausea after taking it.  It is usually reserved for more painful or extensive surgeries.  It can be particularly useful when neither codrydamol and ibuprofen are not enough.