More information on some of the most commonly performed procedures.
A clean bowel lets us find and remove small polyps safely.
Sedated camera test of the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum.
Guide for what medicines it is safe to stop
How to prepare for surgery
Repair recommended for pain, activity limits, enlargement or health risk.
Bulge at/near the navel.
Keyhole removal of the gallbladder.
Standard treatment for appendicitis.
Cancer removal with planned reshaping for contour and symmetry.
Breast removal, skin-sparing or nipple-sparing with reconstruction.
Removes firm gland and sculpts chest for a flat, natural contour.
Total or partial removal of the thyroid gland.
Removal of the parathyroid gland
Removal of cancerous and benign lesions
Removes firm gland and sculpts chest for a flat, natural contour.
Relieves nerve compression to improve wrist numbness/pain
A clean bowel lets us find and remove small polyps safely. Your plan uses split-dose prep and a low-fibre diet.
Allowed: white bread/rice/pasta, eggs, yoghurt, cheese, lean meats/fish, peeled potatoes, pumpkin, peeled zucchini, clear soups, plain biscuits.
Avoid: nuts, seeds, wholegrains, skins/pips, corn, beans/lentils, high-fibre cereals, raw salads.
Clear fluids (during fasting window): water, clear broth, apple juice (no pulp), lemonade, oral rehydration drinks. No red/purple/blue, no milk.
Day −3 to −1: 3 days low-fibre; hydrate well. Day −1: clear fluids only; Plenvu dose 1 in evening. Procedure day: Plenvu dose 2 5–6 h before arrival. Clear fluids allowed until 2 h before arrival.
Day −5 to −1: 5 days low-fibre. Day −2: bisacodyl tablets (if instructed). Day −1: clear fluids only; dose 1 in evening. Procedure day: dose 2 5–6 h before arrival; clear fluids until 2 h pre-arrival.
Day −2 to −1: 2 days low-fibre. Day −1: clear fluids only; dose 1 in evening. Procedure day: dose 2 5–6 h before arrival.
5 days low-fibre for those with prior poor prep/constipation. Day −2 to −1: 2 days low-fibre. Day −1: clear fluids only; dose 1 in evening. Procedure day: dose 2 5–6 h before arrival.
Day −5 to −1: 5 days low-fibre. Day −1: clear fluids; dose 1 afternoon, dose 2 late evening. Procedure day: dose 3 5–6 h before arrival.
Morning list: second dose very early morning (keep the 5–6 h gap).
Afternoon list: second dose early morning (same 5–6 h rule).
Blood thinners / diabetes meds: require a personalised plan—confirm 5–7 days before.
Iron tablets: stop 5 days before (they darken the bowel).
Most other meds: continue with small sips of water (you’ll be advised if different).
Clear fluids until 2 h pre-arrival.
Bring an escort; no driving/major decisions for 24 h after sedation.
Wind pains/cramps are common.
Seek help urgently for: severe abdominal pain, heavy/persistent bleeding, fever, faintness.
Sedated camera test of the oesophagus, stomach, duodenum for reflux, dysphagia, ulcers, coeliac disease, anaemia and Barrett’s surveillance.
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Fasting: no food for 6 h; small sips of clear fluids until 2 h pre-arrival.
Medications: take usual morning meds with sips of water unless you’ve been told otherwise. Blood thinners/diabetes meds require a plan.
Arrange an escort home (no driving or legal decisions for 24 h)
Sedation ± throat spray. Biopsies often taken; dilation or bleeding control if indicated.
Mild sore throat/bloating may occur.
Eat/drink as tolerated once fully awake (or soft diet if dilation was done).
Severe pain, fever, vomiting blood/black stools, difficulty breathing.
Do not change blood thinners/diabetes meds without written advice. Confirm your plan 5–7 days before.
Aspirin: usually continue (unless told otherwise).
Clopidogrel (Plavix): typically stop 5 days before if instructed.
Apixaban / Rivaroxaban: usually stop 3 days before.
Warfarin / others: individualised plan (INR checks ± bridging).
SGLT2 inhibitors (empagliflozin/dapagliflozin/
GLP-1 injections (Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Mounjaro®): usually continue; use liquids only for 24 h pre-procedure; standard fasting applies.
Metformin combinations (e.g., Janumet®): often omit on the day—you’ll get a personalised plan.
Insulin/other tablets: tailored to timing of surgery/prep.
Most are continued; you’ll be told if any morning dose should be held.
Bring a full list. Some (e.g., fish oil, herbal products) can affect bleeding or sedation.
How to prepare for surgery.
Fasting: follow your exact fasting window (solids 6 h; clear fluids to 2 h unless told otherwise).
Health changes: notify us if you develop fever, chest infection, COVID, skin infection near the surgical site.
Medications: follow your written stop/continue plan.
Logistics: remove jewellery; don’t wear nail polish/acrylics on the operative hand for hand surgery.
Bring: referral, Medicare/private details, medication list, allergies.
Escort: arrange pick-up; no driving for 24 h after GA/sedation.
Repair recommended for pain, activity limits, enlargement or risk of incarceration/strangulation (especially femoral hernia).
Follow fasting rules; medication plan as above.
Shower the morning of surgery; no shaving required.
TEP (laparoscopic): mesh placed in preperitoneal plane without entering the abdominal cavity.
Open mesh (e.g., Lichtenstein): tension-free reinforcement via a small groin incision.
Choice is individualised (bilateral, recurrence after open → often TEP; very large/strangulated → open).
Day-stay/overnight. Walk the same day.
Light work: ~1–2 weeks (TEP) or 2–4+ weeks (open).
Lifting plan provided at discharge.
Fever, increasing groin swelling/pain, wound redness or discharge, calf pain/shortness of breath.
Bulge at/near the navel. Repair advised for pain, activity limits, cosmetic concerns, or incarceration risk.
Follow fasting rules; medication plan as above.
Shower the morning of surgery; no shaving required.
Open sublay (preperitoneal/retrorectus) mesh: strong reinforcement between fascia and peritoneum/behind rectus.
Laparoscopic (IPOM or preperitoneal): selected recurrent/multi-defect cases or for faster early recovery.
Often day-stay/1 night.
Light work: ~1–2 weeks (lap) or ~2–4+ weeks (open).
Fever, increasing groin swelling/pain, wound redness or discharge, calf pain/shortness of breath.
Keyhole removal of the gallbladder for gallstones, biliary colic, cholecystitis, or after gallstone pancreatitis.
Follow fasting rules; medication plan as above.
Shower the morning of surgery; no shaving required.
3–4 small incisions under general anaesthesia; critical view of safety obtained.
IOC/IOUS used selectively to map ducts/look for stones.
Conversion to open may be needed for safety.
Often day-stay/1 night.
Light work: ~1–2 weeks (lap) or ~2–4+ weeks (open).
Fever, increasing groin swelling/pain, wound redness or discharge, calf pain/shortness of breath.
Removal of the Appendix. Standard treatment for appendicitis.
Follow fasting rules; medication plan as above.
Shower the morning of surgery; no shaving required.
Laparoscopic preferred where suitable; open in some urgent/complex cases.
Often day-stay/1 night.
Light work: ~1–2 weeks (lap) or ~2–4+ weeks (open).
Fever, increasing swelling/pain, wound redness or discharge, calf pain/shortness of breath.
Cancer removal with planned reshaping for contour and symmetry.
Follow fasting rules; medication plan as above.
Shower the morning of surgery; no shaving required.
Type 1 (small-volume reshaping) or Type 2 (therapeutic reduction/mastopexy).
Sentinel node biopsy if required.
Often day-stay/1 night.
Light work: ~1–2 weeks (lap) or ~2–4+ weeks (open).
Fever, increasing swelling/pain, wound redness or discharge, calf pain/shortness of breath.
Simple, skin-sparing or nipple-sparing (case-selected) with immediate or delayed reconstruction.
Follow fasting rules; medication plan as above.
Shower the morning of surgery; no shaving required.
Implants: pre-pectoral or sub-pectoral, with/without mesh; direct-to-implant or expander→implant.
Autologous: latissimus dorsi flap; fat grafting for contour.
Drain care if used; arm/shoulder exercises; pathology review and MDT-coordinated adjuvant therapy.
Often day-stay/1 night.
Light work: ~1–2 weeks (lap) or ~2–4+ weeks (open).
Fever, increasing swelling/pain, wound redness or discharge, calf pain/shortness of breath, drain issues.
Removes firm gland and sculpts chest for a flat, natural contour.
Follow fasting rules; medication plan as above.
Shower the morning of surgery; no shaving required.
Periareolar incision for gland excision + fine-cannula liposuction.
Compression vest protocol.
Light activity 3–5 days; desk work ~1 week; avoid chest training 4–6+ weeks.
Rapid swelling (haematoma), fever, nipple colour change, severe pain
Partial or complete removal of the thyroid gland. For cancer, large goitre with symptoms, or selected Graves’ disease; hemi for solitary/indeterminate nodules.
Follow fasting rules; medication plan as above.
Shower the morning of surgery; no shaving required.
Low neck incision; nerve identification/monitoring; parathyroid preservation.
Voice and calcium checks. Thyroxine after total; sometimes after hemi.
Desk work ~1–2 weeks.
Neck swelling/bleeding, voice changes, tingling (low calcium), fever.
Removal of the parathyroid gland. For primary hyperparathyroidism or multigland disease (familial/MEN).
Follow fasting rules; medication plan as above.
Shower the morning of surgery; no shaving required.
Targeted removal with intra-op PTH monitoring; or four-gland exploration (subtotal or total with autotransplant) when indicated.
Short stay; calcium/Vit D supplements as advised; follow-up bloods confirm cure.
Tingling/cramps (low calcium), neck swelling, fever.
For BCC/SCC/melanoma and benign lesions (cyst/lipoma).
Follow fasting rules; medication plan as above.
Shower the morning of surgery; no shaving required.
Simple excision with direct closure.
Local flaps, SSG or FTSG when needed for function/contour.
WLE and SLNB for melanoma (case-selected).
Dressing care and suture removal plan; scar care advice.
Bleeding, infection, wound separation, unusual pain/swelling.
For recurrent infection/pain near the tailbone.
Follow fasting rules; medication plan as above.
Shower the morning of surgery; no shaving required.
Off-midline closure (e.g., Karydakis); rhomboid flap for recurrent/complex disease.
Wound care, hair control, pressure avoidance, graded return to sitting.
Fever, redness, discharge, severe pain.
Relieves nerve compression to improve numbness/pain to wrist.
Follow fasting rules; medication plan as above.
Shower the morning of surgery; no shaving required.
Small palm incision under local/GA; division of transverse carpal ligament.
Early finger motion; keep dressing dry; gradual grip return; stitch removal per plan.
Worsening pain, severe swelling, numbness not improving, infection signs.
