What to Expect

Dr. Greg Engel

Surgical Scheduling

Our Surgery Scheduler will help you with everything related to your upcoming surgery. She will provide you with pre-surgery information and answer any questions that you may have regarding your upcoming surgery. We offer a variety of surgery times at our two surgery locations, Overlake Hospital Medical Center and Overlake Surgery Center. Your surgery may be scheduled only after you have seen the doctor and he has written up the surgery orders. You may reach the Surgery Scheduler at 425-462-9800 ext. 109 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Before your Surgery

Our Pre-Surgery information folder given to you when a surgery date is chosen is designed to ensure that your surgery is as comfortable and safe as possible. It is very important that you read the materials carefully and comply with all the instructions and time-sensitive matters. Failure to follow the instructions may result in the need to cancel and reschedule to avoid complications during surgery.

The Weeks Prior to Surgery:

1.Stop taking Aspirin or any medication containing Ibuprofen 10 days prior to surgery. Also stop all other blood-thinning medications as discussed with your surgeon, such as Coumadin and Prednisone and notify the doctor who prescribed it. TYLENOL IS ALLOWED.
2.If you normally take a blood-thinning medication, the clinic staff will arrange for you to have a special blood test 1-3 days before your surgery to check your clotting time.

The Day Before Surgery:

1.Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before surgery. This includes chewing gum and hard candy. The Surgery Center will instruct you on which medications you may take the morning of surgery, along with a sip of water.
2.We will call the Friday prior to your surgery to give you your check-in/surgery time. Please make sure we have a phone number where we can reach you or leave a message on this day. If you have not been notified by 3:00 p.m. on the Friday prior to your surgery date, please call the Surgery Scheduler at 425-462-9800 ext. 109.
3.Notify your surgeon immediately if you develop a cold, infection, or illness prior to your surgery.
4.Make sure you have arranged for transportation home. You will not be able to drive yourself home. Arrange to have a responsible person available to you after surgery to help you with your care.
5.Do not smoke after midnight. Smoking can irritate your lungs.

The Day of Surgery:

1.Park in the West parking garage if your surgery is scheduled at Overlake Hospital and in the North parking garage if you will be having surgery at Overlake Surgery Center in the Medical Tower.
2.Check-in at the Admitting Desk in the Main Lobby at the time given to you. Being late to check-in may delay your surgery and cancellation may be necessary.
3.Please leave all your jewelry and valuables at home.
4.If you wear contact lenses or glasses, please bring a case for them. You will be asked to remove them before surgery.
5.Your postoperative discharge instructions will be reviewed with you by a nurse prior to your discharge.
6.Recovery times vary after your procedure and the nursing staff will assist you with this process.

After the Surgery:

1.You will need to arrange for a ride home and you must be discharged to the care of a responsible adult, as our patients are instructed not to drive for 24 hours following surgery due to the lingering effects of the anesthetic.
2.We will typically call you the day after your surgery to check on you and answer any questions you may have.

Serving the Bellevue, Kirkland and Redmond Areas