Preparing for Surgery
After receiving your confirmation and ensuring that your insurance has been verified, Posada Surgery Center staff will call you before your date of surgery to review your financial responsibility for the procedure and answer any questions you may have. If you have not received a call by 3:00 p.m. the business day before your surgery or if you have additional questions, please call us at 805-591-3344 during business hours.
Please take care to follow these pre-surgery guidelines, as they prevent delays or cancellations. Failure to follow the guidelines on food and drink, alcohol, or smoking could result in the doctor opting to delay your surgery.
Food and drink
If you are arriving before 1pm
Do not eat food or drink after midnight the night before your surgery.
If you are arriving after 1pm
You may have clear, non-alcoholic liquids before 7:00am, then nothing after that. Clear liquids include water, apple juice without pulp, carbonated beverages, clear tea, and black coffee. Liquids that are not clear include juices with pulp, opaque juices (such as orange juice) and milk.
Other points to consider
Alcohol
Do not drink alcohol for at least 12 hours before your arrival.
Smoking
No smoking after midnight the night before your surgery.
Makeup, Nail Polish, Jewelry (including body jewelry)
Please remove all these items before surgery.
Clothing
Wear loose, casual, comfortable clothing to fit over dressings.
Valuables
Please leave valuables at home, including jewelry.
Notify your surgeon if:
- You have an elevated temperature, cough, cold, vomiting, or diarrhea between your last visit to the surgeon and the day of your surgery.
- You suspect you may be pregnant.
- You are taking: diet pills, aspirin, ibuprofen, blood thinners, or certain herbal medicines. You may need to stop taking these 1-2 weeks before your surgery. You can discuss this with your surgeon.
What you will need the day of your surgery:
- Information To Bring: Insurance cards, photo ID, Medicare or Medical Assistance information.
- Driver: You must plan to have someone drive you home. Do not plan to use taxis or other public transportation.
- Escort: A friend, relative, or dedicated caregiver MUST stay with you for 24 hours after your procedure.
- Legal Guardian: A legal guardian must be at the facility at all times for children and dependent adults undergoing a procedure at Posada Surgery Center.
- Childcare: If you normally care for children at home, please plan for someone else to care for them for at least the first 24 hours following your surgery.
- Interpreter: If the patient cannot read or speak English, please bring an interpreter.