Please read each page of these instructions thoroughly and keep them for reference following surgery.

It is required that patients pre-register with the hospital at least 72 hours prior to surgery.

The Methodist Hospital, Neurosensory Center
6501 Fannin Street, 7th floor, Jones Tower (tele: 713/394-6805)
As soon as your surgery is scheduled, call to pre-register. Within two weeks prior to your surgery, you will need to report to the 7th floor Day Surgery Patient Registration area between the hours of 9:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. to complete registration, be evaluated by the Anesthesia Department, and have any lab work done. (No appointment is required)

Doctor's Surgical Center
8111 Southwest Freeway, 1st floor (tele: 713/272-6300)
As soon as your surgery is scheduled, please call the pre-operative nurse between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The nurse will pre-register you, obtain your medical history and advise of any labs that are indicated (you can select from many facilities in the Houston metropolitan area).

Texas Center for Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
6560 Fannin Street, Suite 704 (tele: 713/532-3223)

Other surgical center_________________________________________

Your surgery is scheduled to begin at:______________on:__________________
If surgery is scheduled at a hospital, please report 2-hours prior to your scheduled surgery time, unless instructed otherwise.

During the two-week period preceding and for two weeks following your surgery:

• DO NOT TAKE ANY ASPIRIN OR PRODUCTS CONTAINING NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-INLAMMATORY INGREDIENTS, e.g., Advil^®, Motrin^®, Bufferin^®, etc. Please note that many over-the-counter medications contain aspirin and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ingredients. Consult the attached sheet for a comprehensive list of products to be avoided. If you regularly take aspirin, please inform Dr. Alford. For management of headaches and pain during this four-week period, you may use Tylenol^® and Tylenol Extra Strength^®.
• DO NOT TAKE ANY HERBAL MEDICATIONS OR NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS. Please see the list of medication and herbal supplements attached.
  
  Your preoperative visit is scheduled at:_______________on:______________
  During this visit Dr. Alford and his staff will complete all of the paperwork necessary for your surgery and, most importantly, they will answer any questions you may have about your procedure, medications, expected recovery, and postoperative care. Please bring a list of all medications you are currently taking and any information from your family doctor about your current health status. If any laboratory studies or "blood work" have been done in the past 30-days, please bring copies of these reports, as well. If any additional testing or "blood work" is required, you may have this done when you visit the hospital or surgery facility for pre-registration.

This is your best opportunity to have Dr. Alford answer all of your questions in detail. You may want to prepare a written list of your questions, to ensure that all questions are remembered, asked and answered.

At this visit, Dr. Alford will give you written postoperative instructions to follow during your recovery. You will also receive prescriptions for any medications you will need after your surgery.

Your postoperative visit is scheduled at:_______________on:_________________
At your preoperative visit or after surgery, please call Dr. Alford's appointment number (713-532-3223) to schedule your postoperative appointment.

Preoperative instructions:

• DO NOT TAKE ANY PRODUCTS CONTAINING ASPIRIN OR ASPIRIN-LIKE SUBSTANCES!
• If you have any CT scan results, x-rays or photos relating to your surgery, please give them to Dr. Alford at this visit or bring them to the hospital on the day of your surgery.
• Please notify Dr. Alford or his nurse if you develop any symptoms such as a cold, sore throat, fever, or cough prior to your surgery.
• If you are unsure of the time of your surgery, check with Dr. Alford's nurse or call the hospital/surgical center at least 24 hours prior to your surgery.

The night before surgery:

• DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING AFTER MIDNIGHT THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR SURGERY!
• Please leave valuables such as watches, jewelry, credit cards, etc. at home.

The morning of surgery:

• DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING! This includes coffee, tea, or liquids of any kind. You may brush your teeth and use mouthwash, if you like, but do not swallow any of the liquid.
• DO NOT TAKE YOUR CUSTOMARY MORNING MEDICATIONS! Bring any medications you would normally take in the morning to the hospital - ask your anesthesiologist to determine which of these medications you should take.
• You may bathe or shower as usual but do not apply any makeup, hairspray, or other grooming products to your skin or hair.
• Dress in loose-fitting, comfortable clothing and shoes. Avoid pullover shirts.
• Be sure to arrive at the facility in which your procedure is to be performed on time, generally, two hours before the scheduled time of your surgery. If you realize that you are going to be late the day of surgery, please inform the facility immediately.
• Bring any CT scan results, X-rays or photos to the hospital, if you have not already given them to Dr. Alford or his nurse.

Immediately following surgery:

• Following surgery, you will be taken to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) where highly skilled nurses will care for you during the first stage of your recovery. You can expect to stay in the PACU for 1-2 hours*. You will then be transported to the Outpatient Day Surgery Center (ODC). Your stay in the ODC will last from 2-4 hours and you will not be released until the nurses and physicians feel that you are stable for discharge.
  *If you are scheduled for inpatient surgery, you will leave the PACU and be taken to your hospital room.
• Family members and friends should wait in the assigned surgery waiting area near the operating room where the procedure is being performed. For procedures lasting more than 2 hours, the operating room nurses will provide you with regular updates as to the progress of the surgery and will answer questions to the best of their ability.

After surgery and discharge:

• REMEMBER, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BAD QUESTION.
  If you have a question or concern, first refer to the printed Postoperative Instructions Sheet given to you by our office. If the answer is not there or you still have a concern or question, do not hesitate to call our office at: 713/532-3223.
• Call the office if any of the following conditions should develop:
  • Persistent fever above 101.5o that is unresponsive to Tylenol^®
  • Redness of the wound
  • Bleeding or drainage from the wound
  • Pain that is not relieved by medication prescribed by Dr. Alford

• Take all of your medications, as instructed. Continue to take your antibiotics until they are all gone, even if you feel well. Regarding medications for pain - take this medication as scheduled for the first 24 hours following surgery. Beginning the 2nd or 3rd day, you will experience less and less discomfort and you can reduce the amount of pain medication you take, accordingly. Usually, by the 5th day, Extra Strength Tylenol^® is adequate for pain relief. Again, do not take aspirin, Advil^®, Motrin^®, Bufferin^®, Ibuprofen^® or products on the attached list for at least 10 days following your surgery.

If you have any questions or problems, please call Eugene Alford, M.D. or Linda Meason, R.N. at 713/532-3223 ext. 113.

General Preoperative Checklist

Before Surgery:

• Pre-register with the hospital at least 72 hours prior to surgery.
• Do not take any aspirin and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory products for two weeks prior to your surgery. (See attached product list)
• Come to your preoperative office visit:______________________________
• Bring any CT scan results, X-rays and photos relating to your surgery to Dr. Alford.
• Schedule your postoperative office visit.
• Do not eat or drink ANYTHING after midnight the night before your surgery.

Day of Surgery:

• DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING!
• DO NOT TAKE YOUR CUSTOMARY MORNING MEDICATIONS.
• Bring your customary morning medications to the hospital the morning of your surgery.
• If you have not already done so, bring any pertinent CT scan results, X-rays and photos to the hospital.
• Arrive at the hospital 2-hours before your scheduled surgery time, unless instructed otherwise.

After Surgery and Discharge from the Hospital:

• Take all of your medications as instructed. Finish any antibiotic you have been prescribed.
• Come to your postoperative office visit:_______________________________
• Do not take any aspirin and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory products for two weeks following your surgery

If you have any questions or problems, please call Eugene Alford, M.D. or Linda Meason, R.N. at 713/532-3223.