Preparing for Surgery

You have a big day ahead — let’s make sure you’re fully prepared!

✅ Check Your Surgery Date

You should have received your surgery date during your office visit. If you:

Have questions about the date,
Need to reschedule,
Or haven’t received a date yet,

Please give us a call at 503-874-0574. We’re here to help.

*Surgery Check-in Time: Falls Canyon Surgical staff will call you 1-3 business days before your surgery to confirm your exact arrival and check in time for your surgery day.

📝 Getting Ready for Surgery

📘 Preparation Instructions:

You were provided detailed prep instructions either as a printed handout or via email. These instructions are tailored to the specific preparation type your provider recommended.
Please read them carefully — proper preparation is essential to ensure a safe and effective surgery.
If you’ve misplaced your instructions or need another copy, downloadable documents are available at the bottom of this page.

📋 Pre-Procedure Requirements:

Depending on your medical history, you may need lab work or an EKG before your surgery. Please complete these within one month before surgery, but not within the final two weeks leading up to the procedure. This allows your doctor sufficient time to review the results and, if needed, request a repeat exam or additional testing.
Labs and EKGs can be done at the Legacy Silverton Hospital or at the Legacy Woodburn Clinic.

📅 Starting 14 Days Before Your Procedure:

Do NOT take herbals supplements and Vitamin E supplements for 14 days before surgery (or as close to 14 days as possible). These supplements might increase bleeding/bruising or interact with anesthesia medications.
Melatonin can be continued before surgery, including the night before surgery. If you need pain medication, use acetaminophen/Tylenol as directed.

📅 Starting 7 Days Before Your Procedure:

Do NOT take any of these for the 7 days before your surgery, unless your doctor tells you to: Aspirin, Ibuprofen or any NSAIDS, Iron (These drugs may cause extra bleeding and bruising). If you are on a diet drug containing Phentermine (Acxion, Adipex-P, Duromine, Elvernir, Fastin, Lomaira, Metermine, Panbesy, Razin, Redusa, Sentis, Suprenza, Terfamex & Qsymia).
If you take Ozempic, Trulicity, Mounjaro or Jardice you will need to stop at least 7 days prior to your surgery.
If you are taking Dextroamphetamine–Amphetamine & Multivitamins need to be held 3 days prior to surgery.

📅 Starting 5 Days before your Procedure:

Stop taking the following medications: Plavix, Coumadin, and any other blood thinners unless otherwise instructed by your physician.
- If you have any questions, please call our office to make sure you’re well prepared for your procedure.

Diabetic Patients:
- Insulin: Take half your regular dose of insulin the day before your surgery. Do not take your insulin on the morning of your surgery.
- Metformin: Do not take the day before and do not take the morning of your surgery.

📅Day BEFORE Your Procedure:

On the day BEFORE your surgery, drink plenty of fluids.
Do NOT eat or drink after midnight the night before surgery. This includes water, coffee, candy, mints, and gum.
If you are sick or running a fever, notify our office immediately at 503-874-0574.
Please leave valuables such as watches, jewelry, credit cards and cash at home
Remove all nail polish on fingers and toes.
Skin Prep: to reduce the risk of post op surgical infection, shower with Hibiclens. Follow instructions given.
Change your bed sheets before you shower and wear clean clothes.
If you are doing a bowel prep for colon surgery, it is okay to use OTC ointment or cream in case of skin breakout from prep.

🏥 DAY OF SURGERY:

DO NOT eat or drink anything. This includes water, coffee, tea or liquids of any kind.
Take your blood pressure and/or heart medications with a small sip of water. If you are on any ACE inhibitors (ie. Lisinopril, or any heart medication ending in “pril”), do not take those prior to surgery.
Do NOT have any candy, gum or chewing tobacco.
Do NOT smoke, drink alcohol or use recreational drugs for 24 hours before surgery.
Brush your teeth the night before and the morning of your procedure.
Shower again, using Hibiclens.
Do NOT apply any make up, hairspray or other grooming products to your skin or hair.
Do NOT shave surgical area. Make sure you have dry hair upon your arrival at the hospital.
Dress in loose fitting, comfortable clothing, and shoes.
Be sure to arrive at the hospital on time. If you realize you are going to be late, inform Surgical Services immediately at 503-873-1725.

Enter the Main (Front) Entrance to the hospital. You will see Registration, after you register, you will go to the waiting area. It is on the left passing the Café.

🛏️ Post-Surgery:

Following surgery, you will be taken to Short Stay, depending on what procedure you are having. Once there, a post op nurse will care for you during your recovery.
- If you are here for outpatient surgery you should be able to leave the same day unless there are complications during surgery. You will not be released until the nurses and doctors feel you are ready for discharge.
- If you are having major surgery you may stay at the hospital 2-3 days or longer
You MUST have someone here to drive you home from the hospital.
You will not be able to drive or return to work for 24 hours after your procedure.
Take all medications as instructed.
If you are on antibiotics, continue to take them until they are gone, even if you feel well.
If you don’t have a post-op appointment scheduled, please call the office to have one scheduled.

🏡 Recovery After Hospital Discharge:

Important: if you have or feel any of the following, please call our office at 503-874-0574.

You have a fever over 100.5° F (38° C)
You notice increased redness, swelling, foul smelling drainage or pain around the incision site.
Your incision opens. Lightly press a clean cloth to the incision to control bleeding.
Call our office if you are experiencing severe pain or nausea even after taking your prescribed or OTC pain medications.
You have side effects from your medication such as nausea, a rash or itching pain.

Follow the discharge instructions given to you at the time you are discharged from the hospital. Often times our providers will provide you with additional instructions for you to follow depending on the type of surgery you had.