Preparing for Surgery & Procedure
Once you and your Doctor decide that surgery will help you, please read all of the information available to you via the Harmonia Patient Communication System. The information will help you prepare for your surgery. A treatment plan will also be created for you, this needs to be followed to help you achieve the best results possible.
Preparing mentally and physically for surgery is an important step towards a successful result. Understanding the process and your role in it will help you recover more quickly and have fewer problems.
Working with Your Doctor
- Before surgery, your Doctor will give you a complete physical examination to make sure you don't have any conditions that could interfere with the surgery or its outcome. You will be informed by your Doctor about your surgical journey before you come to Istanbul via the Harmonia Patient Communication System. Routine tests, such as blood tests and X-rays, are usually performed the day before the surgery
- You must discuss any medication(s) you are taking with your Doctor, they will be able to tell you which ones you should stop taking before your surgery via the Harmonia Patient Communication System
- If you are taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications, you must stop taking these two weeks before surgery to minimize bleeding
- If you are overweight, losing weight before surgery will help decrease the stress. However, you should not diet during the month before your surgery
- If you smoke, you should stop two weeks before the operation to reduce your surgery risks and improve your recovery
- Please have any tooth, gum, bladder or bowel problems treated before surgery to reduce the risk of infection later on
- Eat a well-balanced diet. If you have a bad-balanced diet you should supplement your diet with a daily multivitamin which includes Iron
- You must report any infections to your Doctor/Surgeon. Surgery cannot be performed until all infections have cleared up and may cause additional accommodation before surgery
Preparing for Abroad
- For some operations you may need a helping hand. If you decide to travel alone for surgery, you will need somebody to help you during your post-op recovery in Istanbul. Please discuss this with your Doctor and inform Harmonia before arriving, Harmonia will then plan a bilingual nurse or an assistant for you who will assist you after your operation (see Harmonia Services)
Home Planning
- A resting programme will be created for you this is to be followed after your operation in Istanbul. At the end of the resting programme you will be examined by your Doctor/Surgeon who will confirm that you are safe to travel home and be discharged. Should there be any complications the Doctor/Surgeon will ask that you stay until they are able to discharge you. (ask for Terms & Conditions)
- When you arrive back home you will be able to continue with your day-to-day tasks by yourself. As long as they are not too strenuous, please do not do too much too quickly
Preparing for a Procedure
- You will receive all instructions from your Doctor via the Harmonia Patient Communication System before arriving in Istanbul, please ensure you read through all of the information provided and follow all of the advice given to you
If you are having Day Surgery, please remember the following;
- You will need someone with you, Harmonia can help should you not want a relative/friend to attend with you
- DO NOT drink or eat anything after your operation without the permission of your nurse
- The anaesthesia can quite often cause nausea or vomiting, this is a normal side effect
- Four hours after your operation you will receive light meals; you must avoid greasy food for the first 24 hours. Generally, you will be mobile the same day after your operation
- You may have pain after your operation, this is a natural result following surgery. You will be given pain killers when you start to get uncomfortable, your nurse will be to hand at all times
- Your operation sites maybe bruised and swollen, this is a natural result following surgery. These will resolve themselves in approximately 10 to 14 days but in some occasions they can take a year to be resolve completely