Preparing for Your Surgery
Patient Resources
Congratulations! Welcome to the Saxon MD family! We look forward to working with you in preparation for your procedure and continuing your care for many years to come!
Pre-operative Timeline
6 Weeks Before Surgery
- Arrange travel plans and accommodations in Austin.
- QUIT SMOKING! Smoking will affect recovery and results since it reduces circulation to the skin and impedes healing. Smokers have a higher likelihood of wound healing complications, skin death, skin necrosis, and delayed healing. Failure to abstain from smoking may jeopardize the quality of your outcome.
- If instructed by Dr. Saxon, set up an appointment with your primary care physician to get medical clearance. This appointment should take place within 30 days of surgery. Our office will provide you with an order set of required labs based on age, medical history, and scheduled procedures. If you do not have this form, please contact our office.
Four Weeks Before Surgery
- Notify our office of any changes in your medical condition as this may interfere with your scheduled surgery (i.e. a cough, flu or cold symptoms).
- Surgical Balances are due! If you are uncertain about your remaining payments, please contact our office and will be happy to inform you of the various balances.
- Visit your doctor for your preoperative exam (if needed). Remember to bring your paperwork with you to your Pre-Op appointment and have them fax it to us upon completion at (512) 614-1838.
Two Weeks Before Surgery
- Discontinue hormones, including Spironolactone and oral contraceptives
- Discontinue any herbal medications except for a multivitamin
- Discontinue any diet medications including semiglutide and tirzepatide
- Purchase any needed items for your recovery.
- Prescriptions will be given to you at your preoperative visit. Ensure you fill these prescriptions prior to your surgery date.
- Start taking a multivitamin each day and supplement meals with protein shakes to healp with healing. Aim for 100-150 grams of protein daily.
- Confirm with our office of your travel plans and hotel arrangements. We will need the address where you will be staying and name and contact information of the person staying with you after your surgery.
- Arrange for a responsible adult to drive you to and from the surgery center as well as stay with you the first 24 hours after your surgery. For your safety, you are not permitted to leave the surgery center without an escort or use a shared ride service such as Uber. You are not permitted to drive home after any procedure in the operating room.
- If you would like to set up a driver or a private duty nurse for your hotel recovery, please contact our office to coordinate.
One Week Before Surgery
- Avoid alcohol and the medications listed in this packet that can cause bleeding problems during surgery or after surgery. If you have a headache or pain, opt for medications containing acetaminophen (Tylenol) instead of NSAIDS like ibuprofen.
- The surgery center will confirm your arrival time and location the day before surgery.
- Write down any last-minute, remaining questions to discuss with Dr. Saxon before surgery.
Day of Surgery
- Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your procedure. This includes no gum, candy, or water. Brushing your teeth is fine but refrain from swallowing any water.
- Bathe before you arrive at the surgery center. Avoid the use of moisturizers, makeup, sprays, gels, deodorants, or fragrances.
- Remove ALL jewelry, artificial nails, and lash extensions.
- DO NOT wear contacts to surgery. If you wear glasses, bring your eyeglasses case.
- Bring a photo ID and change of clothes to the surgery center. We suggest a shirt that is easy to get on and off- preferably with a zip or button front.
- Leave valuables at home or in your hotel safe.
The Details
Medical Clearance
To maximize the safety of your procedure, Dr. Saxon may require you to have a physical by your primary care physician (PCP or GP) within 30 days of the procedure. If surgical clearance is not obtained from the PCP following the examination, further visits and examinations may be required to be cleared for surgery.
In conjunction with the physical exam, there may be required preoperative screening tests. A letter to your PCP will be in your pre-op packet with a list of the labs and tests required. Your PCP may require additional testing beyond that if they think it is necessary to clear you for surgery. Tests should all be completed between 30-14 days before surgery and be faxed to our office at (512) 614-1838.
Pre-operative Visit With Dr. Saxon
Transportation
Patients are not permitted to travel home alone following surgical procedures in the operating room without exception. You are not permitted to use Uber or other rideshare service for your safety. In addition, someone must stay with you for the first day after your surgery. This can be a friend of family member. Dr. Saxon will specify if an overnight nurse is required depending on the length of your surgery and the procedures being performed.
Many of our patients travel from out of town on their own for their surgery. If this is the case, our office is happy to arrange for medical transportation and/or nursing services if needed.
Our office will require the name and phone number of your escort home as an emergency contact as well as your home/lodging address if traveling from out of town.
Prescription Medications
You will be given prescriptions for medications at your pre-operative visit. Please have them filled PRIOR to the day of surgery so you have them handy when you need them. All patients with oral incisions will also receive a mouth rinse to keep incisions clean. Pain medication varies depending on patients’ needs. Please alert our office of all medication allergies prior to your pre-operative visit.
Items to Avoid
Review the list of drugs below carefully. Such drugs can cause bleeding problems during or after surgery. If you are taking any medications on this list, they should be discontinued 10-14 days prior to surgery. It is absolutely necessary that all of your current medications be specifically cleared by Dr. Saxon prior to surgery.
Medications to avoid:
- 4 way cold tabs
- Adprin-B products
- Anacin products
- Arthra-G
- Arthritis Pain Formula
- ASA
- Aspergum
- Azdone
- Backache Maximum
- Strength Relief
- Bismatrol Products
- Buffetts 111
- Butalbital Compound
- Cheracol
- Cope
- Damason-P
- Dipemtum
- Dolobid
- Easprin
- Equagesic
- Fiorinal products
- Gensan
- Isollyl Improved
- Lortab ASA
- Magnesium Salicylate
- Arthritic
- Methocarbamol
- Mobigesic
- NightTime Effervescent Cold
- Olsalazineq
- Pabalate products
- Panasal
- Percodan products
- Propoxyphene
- Compound products
- Roxeprin
- Salicylate products
- 5-Aminosalicylic Acid
- Alka-Seltzer products
- Anexsia with Codeine
- Arthriten products
- Asocial
- Asprimox products
- Asocial
- Asprimox products
- Azulfidine products
- Bayer products
- Buffered Aspirin
- Buffed
- Cama Arthritis Pain Reliever
- Choline Magnesium
- Trisalicylate
- Circadian
- Darvon Compound-65
- Discalcid
- Dritan
- Ecotrin products
- Excedrin products
- Gelpirin
- Goodys ES Headache Powders
- Kaodene
- Magan
- Magsal
- Meprobamate
- Micrainin
- Momentum
- Norgesic products
- Orphengesic products
- P-A-C
- PEntasa
- Phenaphen/Codeine #3
- Robaxisal
- Saleto products
- Salsalate
- Acetilsalicylic Acid
- Amigesic
Suggested Shopping List
- Ibuprofen
- Regular strength Tylenol
- Prescriptions
- Multivitamins
- Protein shakes
- Gentle foods like jello, saltine crackers, pudding, soups
- Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing with a zip front or button front
The Big Day
Going to the Operating Room
At Saxon MD we realize that going to the operating room is not a normal experience for most people. We also know there is a natural anxiety with which most patients approach this step in the process of achieving their goals. We believe the following description of the experience will be helpful.
You will be asked to arrive at the surgery center 1 hour before your scheduled procedure. When you arrive at the operating suite you will check into the front desk where you may be asked to provide identification. You will then be brought back into the prep area where you will be asked to change into a hat and gown. Your procedure will be performed at a state-of-the-art fully accredited operating suite. Dr. Saxon will be performing surgery for you with the assistance of her selected operating room nursing team, and an anesthesiologist. You will have an opportunity to speak with both Dr. Saxon and the anesthesiologist on your case prior to entering the operating room, so make sure you jot down any last questions you may have prior to entering surgery. Once you are ready, the team will bring you into the operating room and the staff will do everything they can to make you feel comfortable and secure. Then, just leave the rest to Dr. Saxon.
The Recovery Room
When the procedure has been completed and your dressings are in place you will be moved into the anesthesia room or (PACU). Post-procedure typically lasts for about 30 minutes. During this time, recovery room personnel will take care of you and remain with you at all times.
Your stay in the PACU will likely be short, depending on how soon you are ready to leave. Most patients are fully awake within 30 minutes after surgery, though you may not remember much about your stay in the recovery room. If you are scheduled for day surgery you will be able to leave shortly after your procedure. You MUST arrange for someone to bring you to and drive you home following your procedure. Either a friend or family member must remain with you the first night after surgery since you will have been sedated. This is for your safety, and mandatory. If you are unable to have someone stay with you, the office can assist you by coordinating a Medical Assistant or Nurse for the first night post-operatively.
