Your written discharge plan comes first. These instructions must be tailored to your treatment and medical history. For combined procedures, ask the team for one coordinated plan; do not choose between conflicting instructions yourself.
What to expect.
Your surgical team and the clinicians who prescribe your medicines should agree on a written medication plan.
Your care plan.
- Provide a complete list of prescriptions, over-the-counter products, vitamins, supplements, injections, and allergies before surgery.
- Do not stop or restart prescribed aspirin, anticoagulants, diabetes medicines, insulin, steroids, or other essential medicines on your own. Ask for exact last-dose and restart instructions.
- Tell the anesthesia team about GLP-1 medicines and any nausea, vomiting, bloating, or delayed stomach emptying. The plan is individualized; do not follow an old blanket hold interval without confirmation.
- After surgery, check whether your prescription pain medicine already contains acetaminophen before adding another product. Ask your clinician or pharmacist to review combinations.
- Use antibiotics or antivirals only if prescribed, exactly as directed. Ask before adding anti-inflammatory medicines, sleep aids, or supplements.
Activity & recovery.
- Do not drive or drink alcohol while impaired by pain medicines or sedatives.
When to call.
Chest pain, trouble breathing, collapse, stroke symptoms, or sudden loss of vision need immediate emergency care. Do not wait for an office reply or use an online form.
Contact your care team promptly
- Call 911 for trouble breathing, severe allergic swelling, or inability to awaken normally.
- Contact the prescriber for a medication reaction, persistent vomiting, or uncertainty about a dose.
- Report fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, spreading redness, pus, worsening pain, persistent vomiting, or inability to keep fluids down. Call sooner if you feel seriously unwell, even without a fever.
- New one-sided calf pain or swelling needs urgent medical assessment. If you also have chest pain or shortness of breath, call 911.
Call 615.730.7500. After hours, follow the urgent-contact directions on your discharge paperwork. If you cannot reach the team and symptoms are urgent, seek immediate medical care.
Stay connected.
Keep your scheduled follow-up and ask the team when to send an update or return sooner. Confirm any dressing, stitch, or drain removal with the office. Return to exercise, work, travel, and skin-care products should follow your individual clearance plan.
Before leaving your appointment, make sure you know your next visit date, medication plan, and after-hours contact instructions.
Sources & References
External references open in a new tab. Your care guide will stay open here.
- ASPS: breast augmentation recovery
- American College of Surgeons: medication and surgery
- American Society of Anesthesiologists: diabetes and weight-loss medicines
- American Society of Anesthesiologists: surgery preparation
These references provide general information. Follow your care team’s procedure-specific instructions and personal discharge plan.