Before Intravenous Anesthesia Sedation

  • You must strictly follow your doctors’ orders for dietary restrictions to ensure your safety and comfort.  You may not have anything to eat or drink (including water) for six (6) hours prior to your surgical appointment. This restriction includes water, gum, candy, mints, etc.
  • No smoking at least one week prior and two weeks post surgery. Ideally, cut down or stop smoking as soon as possible prior to the day of surgery.
  • A responsible adult (18 years or older), capable of driving, must accompany you to your surgical appointment, and remain in the office during your procedure.  They must then drive you home and be able to stay with you for at least two hours and until you are capable of caring for yourself. 
  • Please wear loose, comfortable fitting clothing (such as short sleeve shirt, low-heeled shoes, sweatshirt).  Your ankles should be accessible for monitoring clips. 
  • Do not wear contact lenses, but rather your glasses, on the day of your surgery, or remove your contact lenses prior to surgery. Jewelry, including nose, tongue and lip rings, and dentures must also be removed at the time of surgery.
  • Do not wear lipstick or excessive makeup, and avoid wearing nail polish or nail extensions on the day of surgery.
  • If you have an illness such as a cold, sore throat, stomach or bowel upset, please notify the office. You need to be free from cough, cold, congestion, or upper respiratory tract infection, on the day of your surgery.  If you have any of these symptoms on the day of your surgery your doctor will evaluate the safety of your planned anesthesia and surgery.  It may be necessary to reschedule your appointment in this situation.
  • If you take routine oral medications, please check with Dr. Bowen prior to your surgical date for instructions. You may take your normally prescribed medications up to two (2) hours prior to your appointment with a small sip of water.
  • Please plan for a total time of one or more hours for the office visit, to allow for the procedure and post-operative recovery.
  • During your recovery, and while using prescribed pain medications, you should not drink alcohol, drive or operate complicated machinery, or make important decisions, such as signing documents, etc.