Once your surgery has been scheduled, it is natural to want to understand exactly what will happen. This page provides a clear overview of what to expect from admission to discharge — so you can arrive at Eastwood Private Hospital feeling calm, prepared, and informed.
Admission and Preparation
You will be asked to arrive at Eastwood Private Hospital at your nominated admission time — usually a few hours before your scheduled surgery. The nursing team will guide you through the pre-operative preparation: changing into a surgical gown, completing pre-op checks, and placing an IV line.
Your anaesthetist will visit you before surgery to discuss your anaesthetic options — general anaesthesia (you are fully asleep) or spinal anaesthesia (numb from the waist down, with sedation if preferred). Both are safe and effective — your anaesthetist will recommend the most appropriate option for you.
In Theatre and the Recovery Room
Your procedure typically takes 60–90 minutes. Total time in the operating theatre, including preparation and closing, is somewhat longer. Dr Liew will visit you post-operatively to update you on how the procedure went.
After surgery, you will be cared for in the recovery room until you are stable, comfortable, and appropriately alert. Pain relief is commenced immediately. The physiotherapist will visit on the day of surgery to assist you to sit up and, for most patients, to take your first steps.
"Knowing what to expect makes all the difference. We want you to arrive calm and confident."
— Dr Chien-Wen Liew
Watch Dr Chien-Wen Liew discuss this topic.
Frequently Asked Questions
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