As with any major surgery, good health is required. A health history will be taken and you’ll be asked to have a routine physical exam prior to surgery. You may be required to have a mammogram (breast x-ray).
If a large amount of breast tissue will be removed, your surgeon may advise you to have a unit of blood drawn ahead of time so that your own blood can be used if a transfusion should be needed.
Here are a few general guidelines:
- Don’t take aspirin or any drugs containing aspirin for at least two weeks before surgery. Aspirin can interfere with normal blood clotting.
- Don’t eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery. Your stomach needs to be completely empty when undergoing anesthesia or sedation.
- Avoid drinking alcohol a few days prior to surgery.
- If you smoke, stop smoking before your procedure and for some time afterward. Smoking reduces the rate of healing and increases the risk of bad scarring.
- The morning of surgery you may brush your teeth, but don’t swallow any water.
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