Before and After Surgery
What to expect around your operation, so you can feel prepared. Your own instructions may differ, and the written information you receive at your appointment always takes priority.
Request an appointment · Fees and Patient Information · Preparing for Surgery checklist
Before Surgery
- Cost estimate and consent. You receive a written estimate covering the surgeon, assistant, anaesthetist and hospital, and time to ask questions before signing consent.
- Hospital admission. Complete the hospital's pre-admission forms when asked. The hospital may call you to go through your health history.
- Medications. Please tell us about all your medications. Blood thinners and medicines for diabetes or weight management often need to be stopped or adjusted before surgery. Please don't stop anything without advice.
- Fasting. Follow the fasting instructions from the hospital. See Fasting Before Surgery for general guidance.
- Weight loss surgery. Follow the pre-operative diet for two weeks to shrink the liver and make surgery safer.
- Smoking. Stopping smoking before surgery lowers the risk of complications. If you smoke, stop as early as you can.
- Arrange support. Organise someone to take you home and, ideally, to stay with you the first night.
What to Bring
- your Medicare and health fund cards
- a list of your medications, or the boxes
- your CPAP machine, if you use one
- comfortable, loose clothing
After Surgery
- Pain relief. You will be given pain relief to take at home. Take it regularly for the first few days.
- Wounds. Keyhole (laparoscopic) wounds are small and usually covered with waterproof dressings. See Caring for Your Wounds.
- Eating. Most people eat normally soon after gallbladder and hernia surgery. After weight loss or upper GI surgery, you follow a specific diet as instructed.
- Driving. Don't drive until you can brake suddenly without pain and are off strong pain relief, and for at least 24 hours after a general anaesthetic. After most keyhole (laparoscopic) operations, this takes one to two weeks.
- Work and exercise. When you can return depends on your operation and your job. Dr Lourensz will give you specific advice. It can take six weeks or more, depending on the operation.
- Follow-up. A follow-up appointment is usually arranged for about four weeks after surgery. Your GP receives a letter after your operation.
When to Call Us
Call the rooms on 03 8584 2399, or the hospital after hours, if you have:
- a temperature over 38°C or chills
- pain that is getting worse rather than better
- redness, swelling or discharge from a wound
- vomiting, or being unable to keep fluids down
- calf pain or swelling
If you have chest pain, trouble breathing or are seriously unwell, call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department.