How to Prepare for Surgery

GETTING READY FOR TRAVELING ABROAD FOR SURGERY

So you are wondering how to prepare for your medical travel experience?

Thousands of patients every day are seeking medical treatment abroad, with more affordable costs and global high quality care. Accessible cost does NOT mean a lower quality. Blue Medical Services has partnered with renowned hospitals & physicians in order to offer the highest quality at amazing and affordable costs.

Blue Medical Services helps people find the best option for their medical needs. International medical travel is not has hard as you might think! It’s just a matter of getting in touch with one of our health managers that will assist you through the journey, who will take you through the steps you need to prepare.

Here are some PRO TIPS to prepare to travel to Cancun for Surgery

RESEARCH ABOUT YOUR TREATMENT

• Know what you are looking for! With thousands of options, it is easy to get lost in a sea of information.
• Have any questions? Feel free to contact one of our Blue Medical Health Managers (Patient Coordinators) for personal assistance.

YOUR HEALTH BEFORE SURGERY

• When traveling abroad, make sure you have your vaccines and boosters up-to-date.
• When you have set your travel dates, your Patient Coordinator will provide information on your itinerary and what you will need before surgery.
• If you have a medical condition, make sure to let your Patient Coordinator and Surgeon know before hand. You will be advised to talk to your treating physician before planning for surgery.

CHOOSE A DATE FOR SURGERY, PLAN YOUR STAY, PLAN FOR RECOVERY

• Check your calendar to plan for your trip, make sure you are able to stay the required time for your procedure.
• Some procedures only require a 2-3 day trip, others may required up to 15 or 20 days stay in Cancun.
• Time needed to stay will be up to the surgeon’s recommendations. Remember this is for your own safety.
• Make sure your personal travel documents are valid and have not expired. This includes VISA, PASSPORT and Personal ID document.
• Choose the right hotel. It is advised to stay near by the medical office and clinic. Your Patient Coordinator will let you know what hotels are recommended for your best experience and commodity.
• Bring comfortable clothing.

WHAT YOU NEED KNOW BEFORE SURGERY

• Stop smoking 1 month before your scheduled procedure
• Stop taking alcohol 1 week before the procedure
• Avoid using aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, garlic and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding at least 3 weeks before the procedure *if you are medically required to do so, it is very important you let your medical coordinator know about this
• No exercise 3 days before the surgery
• Avoid eating very greasy food 2 days before your surgery
• No skin tanning 2 weeks before the procedure to avoid skin damage.
• Get a suitcase with wheels!!!! Most of the times you won’t be allowed to carry anything heavy for a couple of weeks.

MAKE SURE YOU DON’T FORGET TO DOUBLE CHECK:

• That your surgery date is booked and that you have paid the deposit.
• Airline tickets
• Hotel is booked for the amount of days that you are required to stay
• Your Visa, Passport & Personal ID Document
• Money: cash & card. Talk to your banks before traveling abroad
• Medical records, in case needed
• Current medications that you are taking
• Eye glasses / Sun glasses
• Hats
• Sunscreen
• Have a PHYSICAL contact information card with important contact numbers of family, friends, physician, your coordinator and hotel. (We have had patients losing their cellphones at the airport).
• Cell phone and charger
• Travel neck pillow
• Wet wipes ( you won’t be able to shower the first couple of days after surgery, this will come in handy!)

WHAT KIND OF PRE OP TO EXPECT BEFORE SURGERY

• Filling your medical information PDF
• Blood Work
• General Urine Analysis
• Ultrasound *
• Cardiologist Evaluation *
• EKG *
• X- rays *
• Appointment with Surgeon, physical evaluation, final details, and payment
• * Depending on what procedure you will be schedule for, in some cases this requirements may apply.

DAY BEFORE YOUR SURGERY

• Early Morning: you will be required to do your blood work and any other medical check up before your medical appointments.
• Cardiologist Evaluation: patients over 40 yrs old, or with any medical issues, will be required to go in with the cardiologist to have an EKG and a cardiological evaluation.
• Appointment with your surgeon – During this time your surgeon will go over with you about the procedure, answer every question you may have, take photos and talk about final details regarding the surgery. You will be required to make the final payment that day.
• Afterwords: Relax, avoid alcohol, have a nice dinner, sleep well
• You will need to fast at least 8 hours before your surgery. NO FOOD NOR WATER after 11:00 PM the night before the surgery. Always double check with your Patient Coordinator to be aware of the dates and times.

THE DAY OF YOUR SURGERY

• Have a shower early morning, do not apply any body cream, deodorant, perfume or make up
• You must arrive at the hospital at the time you have been scheduled for, usually it will be at 7:30 AM.
• Bring your personal ID, phone and charger, loose-fitting comfortable clothing, low shoes or tennis shoes and money in case needed.
• You are not to be using any of the following:
  • Contact lens
  • Fake eyelashes
  • Hair extensions
  • Any metal on your body, including piercings
  • Any nail decoration (acrylic, nail polish etc)
  • Tampons
  • Perfumes, body cream, make up
  • Let your doctors know if you are wearing any prosthetics or removable dentures

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR STAY AT THE HOSPITAL

• You will require to register at the front desk with your personal ID.
• A nurse will come to take you to your private room.
• You will be given a gown to change into.
• You will be weighted and vital signs will be recorded
• Antithrombotic bandages will be placed in your legs
• An IV access will be placed on you
• You will meet the anesthesiologist, who will ask some questions regarding your health and prior medical events
• Your surgeon will come in to go over the procedure again, answering any final questions, do markings on your body and take final photos.
• Finally you will go into the operating room
• When surgery is finished you will be in a recovery room until you are completely awaken from anesthesia, afterwords you will be taken back to your room.
• You will be given some liquids, and if tolerated some soft food after.
• During your stay, you will have the IV for hydration, as well as medication treatment.

POST-SURGERY CARE

Surgery is over, now its your turn to take care of the results.

• It is very important that you are willing to collaborate with your surgeon, who will be monitoring your progress. Following your surgeon’s instructions is the most important part at this moment.
• Your are required to stay a minimum amount of days after surgery, this can go between 2 to 20 days, depending on the procedure. The information will be provided during your personal consultation with your surgeon and patient coordinator.
• The surgical recovery varies depending on the procedure that you’ve chosen.
• It is important to understand that even if you are not in pain, feel well and enthusiastic, you need to let your body heal. Surgeons use high quality medications to make your recovery as smooth and painless as possible, but that still means you have to rest.
• Remember that for the next 4-6 weeks you can’t be doing any exercising, heavy lifting or any strenuous activities.
• You will need to avoid sun exposure for the next 4 weeks after your surgery.
• You surgeon will let you know when it will be ok for you to shower.
• You will need to avoid baths, saunas, steam rooms, swimming pools, ocean, jacuzzis for 4 weeks.
• Make sure to take all your medication as it has been prescribed by your surgeon.
• Do not touch your wounds, or remove your compression garment until your surgeon has tell you to do so.
• No sexual activity for 4 to 6 weeks – this will vary depending on the surgery that you have done.
• Some procedures require to use a compression garment for the following 4 to 6 weeks.
• Rest and sleep well.
• Drink water and eat healthy food with good quality proteins. Avoid high sodium foods, they will make you retain liquids.
• PRO TIP: papaya fruit helps with constipation after surgery.
• You will be required to attend to all of your post surgery follow-up appointments with your plastic surgeon.

DRAINS & HOW THEY WORK

There are 4 main components of the drain.

The first are the tubes that connect to your body and go directly into the plastic container.

Then we have a clip that sits on the tube. When open, it allows fluid leaving the body to pass through the tube and into the container.

We have the plastic container itself, which is where the fluid is stored.

And finally we have the double caps that keep the container closed at the