With a general aesthetic, you will be given medication to put you to sleep for your surgery. A regional aesthetic means an area of your body is frozen. Sedation is usually given along with regional anaesthesia.
If you are having a general or regional anaesthetic:
- Do not eat any food or drink any liquids including water after midnight, unless otherwise directed. Do not eat candy or chew gum after midnight
- You may take your medications as instructed by your doctor with sips of water unless you are given other directions
After a general anaesthetic, regional anaesthetic, or Intravenous (IV) sedation:
- You must have a responsible adult drive you home
- You should have a responsible adult stay with you for the first 24 hours who can look after you
For the first 24 hours after your surgery:
- Do not drive a car or operate heavy machinery for 24 hrs
- Do not drink alcohol for 24 hours or while taking pain medication
- Do not sign any legal documents or important papers for 24 hours
- You are not to be the primary caregiver to dependants for 24 hours