Preparing for Surgery
The weeks before, the day of, and the first days at home.
- 01Request a visitCall the office or use the booking link to choose a time.
- 02Bring your recordsImaging, prior reports and a medication list help make the first visit useful.
- 03Examination and discussionAn exam and a plain explanation of what is going on.
- 04Decide togetherThe options are laid out so you can choose the plan that fits.
Do I need to arrange a ride and someone to stay with me?
Yes. Plan for someone to drive you home after surgery and to be with you for at least the first day, since the anesthesia and any pain medication you're given will affect your ability to drive or be alone safely.
If your surgery follows an injury rather than a scheduled visit, this arrangement often has to come together quickly. Miachel Suk's trauma-focused training through the Hospital for Special Surgery Trauma Fellowship means his team is used to helping patients and families put this logistics piece in place on short notice, not just for planned procedures.
What should I bring, and what should I stop taking before surgery?
Bring a list of every medication, supplement, and over-the-counter product you take, along with your insurance card and a form of ID.
Your surgical team will confirm which medications to pause before surgery and when to resume them; do not stop or adjust anything on your own. The same goes for eating and drinking before the procedure: your team will give you a specific cutoff time based on your surgery and your health history, and that instruction should come from them, not from a general rule you read elsewhere.
What happens on the day of an orthopedic trauma surgery?
You'll check in, confirm your identity and the surgical site, and meet briefly with the surgical and anesthesia teams before heading to pre-operative preparation.
Because trauma surgery addresses an injury, the sequence of events can move faster than a planned, elective procedure, and some of the day's details may be confirmed closer to the time of surgery rather than weeks in advance. Dr. Suk's team will walk you through what to expect for your specific injury and procedure before you go back.
What is normal to feel in the days after surgery?
Some pain, swelling, and limited movement near the surgical site are expected in the days that follow, and your team will give you a pain management plan and activity guidance specific to your injury.
How quickly those symptoms ease varies from person to person and depends on the injury itself, your overall health, and how closely you follow your recovery instructions. Your surgical team will tell you what to expect for your situation rather than a single fixed timeline.
What symptoms mean I should call right away, and who do I call?
Call your surgical team immediately for a fever, redness or drainage spreading from the incision, sudden or worsening swelling, chest pain, shortness of breath, or numbness and loss of color in the area that was treated.
These can signal infection or a circulation problem that needs prompt attention, and they are not symptoms to wait out. Use the contact number your care team gave you at discharge, or reach the practice directly if you're unsure; do not wait for a scheduled follow-up visit if any of these occur.
How do I ask questions before my surgery?
Contact your surgical team's office directly; questions about your specific procedure, medications, or timeline are best answered by the people planning your surgery rather than general information online.
The practice in Danville, PA can be reached through the contact information on this site to schedule a pre-operative visit or address any concerns before your surgery date.
Before your surgery
Preparing for surgery looks different for every patient. The plan your surgical team builds with you depends on the injury you are being treated for and how it was scheduled.
Miachel Suk, Fellow of the American College of Legal Medicine, practices orthopedics in Danville, Pennsylvania, with a clinical focus on trauma: the branch of orthopedics concerned with fractures and injuries that follow accidents, falls, and other sudden events. He completed a trauma fellowship at Hospital for Special Surgery, residency training at Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and medical school at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.
Because trauma care is often scheduled on short notice rather than planned weeks ahead, some of the usual preparation steps below may be compressed or handled differently for your situation. Your surgical team will tell you which parts of this guide apply and on what timeline.
Dr. Suk is currently accepting new patients. The sections that follow cover what to arrange beforehand, what to bring, what the day of surgery looks like, what is normal afterward, and who to call if something does not seem right.
Ready to talk about your care?
Call the office or request an appointment. Not currently accepting new patients.