How to prepare for outpatient surgery

Feel confident when it’s time for your same-day procedure at Montage Health’s Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. Take steps recommended by your surgeon and care team to ensure your safety and comfort.

Registration phone call

Once you and your doctor decide surgery is your best treatment option, expect a phone call from our Patient Access department. In addition to scheduling your procedure, you’ll discuss:

• Registration information
• Insurance coverage and payment
• Your health history, including if you have any known allergies
• Your current prescription and over-the-counter medications and what dosages you take. Let us or your surgeon know if you regularly take aspirin, insulin, anticoagulants (blood thinners), antidepressants, heart or blood pressure medications, or herbal products
• Pre-operative (pre-op) instructions you’ll need to follow
• What to bring to the surgery center and what to expect the day of your procedure
• Any questions or concerns you have

Gathering this information helps us make sure we’re well-prepared to care for you.

Before your surgery

Ask your care team for specific instructions on how to get ready in the weeks and days before your procedure. You may need to:

• Start or stop taking certain medications
• Stop eating or drinking certain foods or beverages for a period of time
• Receive a physical examination to make sure surgery is safe for you
• Get certain laboratory or imaging tests

Boost your overall health

To give yourself the best chances for a smooth post-operative recovery:

• Avoid alcohol
• Be active unless instructed otherwise
• Drink plenty of fluids unless instructed otherwise
• Eat a healthy, nutritious diet
• Get plenty of rest
• Quit tobacco if you smoke at least two weeks before your procedure. Smoking makes it harder for your body to heal. If you need help to quit, check out our stop-smoking program, Kick the Nic, or call California’s toll-free smoker's helpline at (800) 622-8887

Skincare instructions

Taking special care of your skin can help prevent infections after your procedure. Before surgery:

• Tell your surgeon about skin conditions you have, such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, rashes, or boils, and follow any prescribed treatments
• Bathe or wash your skin daily with soap and water. Use pH-balanced soaps, such as Dove®, Aveeno®, Oil of Olay®, or Cetaphil®
• Avoid antibacterial soaps unless prescribed by your surgeon
• Don’t shave the area where you’ll have surgery for at least three days before your procedure

Make arrangements and ask for help

You’ll need time to rest after your procedure so you can focus on healing and avoid potential complications. Make arrangements for someone else to:

• Drive you home from the surgery center after your procedure
• Stay with you for at least a day after your surgery
• Take care of your children, pets, or other responsibilities

You may need to take time off work or school. Ask your doctor when you can resume your normal activities, including driving and lifting objects.

The night before surgery

Before midnight, eat a snack and drink a glass of water before you go to bed unless instructed otherwise.

On the day of your procedure

Review step-by-step instructions and what to bring on the day of your surgery, as well as how to take care of yourself when you go home.