Dr Chan will ensure you have a good understanding of your diagnosis prior to any surgery. He will discuss the aims and associated risks of your surgery as well as the post-operative rehabilitation process. Please feel free to ask questions if any of this remains unclear.

If you have other health issues, you may need to be seen at a pre-anaesthetic clinic, just to make sure that everything is optimised prior to your anaesthetic. Some medications that affect blood clotting may need to be ceased or changed prior to your operation. Make sure that Dr Chan and the Anaesthetist are aware if you are taking any of these. Please note that Fish Oil is such a medication.

You will need to be fasted prior to your operation: 4 hours for clear fluids, 6 hours for solid food and other fluids.

Lakeview Private Hospital and Macquarie University Hospital will give you a phone call the afternoon prior to surgery to confirm your operation.

If you are having surgery at Westmead Hospital or Auburn Hospital, you will need to call the hospital yourself to confirm you are coming.

The hospital will advise you of what time to arrive. It is normal to be nervous prior to an operation. This will be compounded if you are running late, so please allow plenty of time for travel.

Finally, don’t forget to arrange for somebody to escort you home after the operation.