4 Steps to Prepare for Minor Surgeries

You don't always have to go to the hospital for a minor surgical procedure. Sometimes, a simple trip to your doctor is all you need to get stitches or to remove a wart.

But just because you're not getting major surgery doesn't mean you don't need to prepare for the minor procedure. Taking the proper steps ensures your procedure goes off without a hitch.

At Tu Clinica in Arlington, Texas, our team understands the importance of getting ready for minor surgical procedures. We’re experts in primary care and are happy to offer minor surgical procedures to make your life easier and allow you to get back to your busy life quickly.

What are minor surgeries?

Minor surgical procedures are much less involved than general surgery. They typically don't require general anesthesia, which cuts down on the risk of respiratory complications.

Because you don't need general anesthesia, you can have a minor surgical procedure in an outpatient surgery center or a doctor's office. After the minor surgery, most patients can typically go right home and return to their normal activities within 24 hours.

Here are some of the minor surgeries we offer at our Arlington, Texas, office:

• Stitches
• Removal of a foreign body
• Wart removal
• Nail removal
• Abscess drainage

We can also take out stitches and perform other minor medical surgeries in our office. We review a checklist before your appointment to ensure you're adequately prepared.

Tips to prepare for your procedure

After you schedule your minor surgery, there are a few steps you need to take before you come in for your procedure. We provide you with instructions before surgery, including taking the following steps:

Wear comfortable clothing

On the day of your procedure, we may ask you to change into a gown. It's best to wear comfortable clothing that's loose and easy to remove. It not only helps in the office for the procedure, but it's also better when you get home.

Check which medications you can take

We may want you to stop certain medications before you come in on the day of your procedure. Give us a complete list of your medications so we can tell you which ones you may take and which ones to stop to prevent complications during your procedure.

Arrange for someone to go with you

While you may not need anesthesia for minor surgery, you should still have someone come with you for support. You may also need a ride home, depending on the procedure and how you feel afterward.

Refrain from using cosmetics and lotions

You can shower on the day of your minor surgery, but don't put any lotions, perfumes, or other body products on the area we're working on. These products can increase your risk of complications.

Will I need anesthesia?

We offer several types of minor surgery that we perform in the office. You don't need general anesthesia for these procedures. 

But we do provide you with local anesthesia in the area we're working on. After you're comfortable, we clean the site to prevent germs and infection. We then inject an anesthetic agent into your skin to numb the area. It takes effect in just a few minutes.

The numbing effect lasts several hours, depending on the local anesthesia we use, but once it wears off, you can take over-the-counter pain medications for temporary relief.

To schedule your minor surgical procedure, call our Tu Clinica team today at 682-237-8725 to book an appointment or request a consultation on our website.