Planning Your Surgery

Having any surgery should be a well considered decision. Being properly informed of the process, and planning ahead really do contribute to having a great surgical experience. Here we address important topics relating to Planning Your Surgery, from your initial Consultation to your Post Operative Appointment. Please refer to the link above to jump to a particular topic that interests you, or look through all topics below.

Your First Consultation

The first step in planning your surgery is the consultation. For those local to or with easy access to Manhattan, the consultation involves a meeting with Dr. Shafer to discuss your concerns, interests and questions. Dr. Shafer will also review your medical and surgical history to formulate a plan that best achieve your goals and objectives.

To schedule a consultation at Dr. Shafer’s, please reach his midtown office by phone or email. Dr. Shafer’s staff will be happy to schedule a time that is convenient for you.

email ([email protected])
Telephone: 212.888.7770

For our out-of-town and international patients, video consultations via iChat (Mac) or Skype is an effective and popular alternative to help save you any additional time and expense associated with travel. Additionally, for the appropriate patients, extended post-operative visits can be conducted virtually. Dr. Shafer’s staff will be pleased to schedule a virtual consult at your convenience if this is a good option for you. For those without iChat or Skype accounts, you can easily set one up without cost. See links below to download:

Skype
iChat

*As a courtesy to other patients and to Dr. Shafer, please notify Dr. Shafer’s office immediately if you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment.

Your Pre-Consultation Paperwork

When you arrive for your consultation with Dr. Shafer, we will ask you to fill out a basic demographics form and a medical history form. This information will help Dr. Shafer evaluate your health status and determine if further appointments or consultations are required before planning a surgery.

Demographic Form

Your Procedural Estimate

After your consultation with Dr. Shafer, his staff will provide you with an individualized estimate for your procedure or surgical plan. Please note there are no hidden fees. Dr. Shafer’s office will work very closely with you to make sure you understand your financial commitment to help you evaluate options and ensure your best surgical experience.

All procedures performed in Dr. Shafer’s office have a set procedure fee. All procedures performed in-hospital have and additional Hospital fee and an Anesthesia fee, which are paid directly to the hospital and vary depending on the anticipated length of the procedure. Dr. Shafer’s office will provide you with an estimate of these to help with your evaluation of all options.

Do note any implants used for the procedure (breast, chin etc) require an additional fee. While most hospitals double or triple the cost of implants and medical devices, Dr. Shafer orders your implants directly from the manufacturer and passes those savings directly to his patients.

There is no additional fee for your pre- and post-operative photographs when taken by Dr. Shafer. If you are recovering at a hotel or utilize private duty nursing, costs are paid directly to the hotel and the nurse, respectively.

Your Payment Options

Dr. Shafer’s office accepts payment by cash, and credit card. For those interested in financing plans, we accept CareCredit® which is a leading patient payment program. CareCredit® card works much like a regular credit card, but is designed specifically to finance your health and beauty needs. For more information, please refer to the CareCredit® website.

Your Before & After Photographs

Dr. Shafer will personally take your pre- and post-operative photographs in his office which assist in both pre and post evaluations. The pre-operative(before) photos are generally taken on the day of your consultation or your pre-operative visit. Dr. Shafer will review the photographs with you prior to your surgery to discuss the procedural plan. The post-operative(after) photos will be discussed during your follow up visit to discuss procedural outcomes. Please note that Dr. Shafer was the outmost respect for your privacy, and will never show or publish without expressed permission from you.

Receiving Medical Clearance

Prior to any surgical procedure every patient needs to have medical clearance from his or her primary care physician or family practitioner. As you are considering an elective procedure, we need to ensure that you are medically fit to undergo surgery. Dr. Shafer will order the required pre-admission tests based on your individual situation and results must be provided at least one week prior to surgery. Copies of all pre-admission testing documents must be faxed to Dr. Shafer’s office. Fax # (212) 888-7707.

Every patient will provide the following standard tests:

CBC – Complete Blood Count
BMP – Basic Metabolic Panel
PT/INR, PTT – Clotting Time

The following tests are required for certain patients only:

MAMMOGRAM: for patients over 30 years old who are undergoing any breast procedure.
EKG: for all patients over 50 years old and patients with heart conditions.
CXR(chest x-ray): for all patients with chronic pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure or recent respiratory symptoms.
HCG (pregnancy test): for all women of childbearing age.
STRESS TEST*: for all patients with any EKG abnormality, which is new, or which indicates possible underlying cardiac abnormality. Also, for all patients with exercise intolerance.

*Please Note – In many circumstances, a STRESS TEST is important to ensure that your heart is healthy enough for you to undergo surgery. It is not acceptable for you or your physician to decide that it is okay to proceed with the surgery with the intention of undergoing a stress test or to work up unresolved issues after the surgery.

Scheduling Your Procedure

Once you have decided to have a procedure, the next step is to schedule a date for the surgery. Please call Dr. Shafer’s office at 212.888.7770. Dr. Shafer or his staff will plan & confirm a date with you, and arrange for your pre-operative visit as well.

Your Pre-Operative Meeting

After your medical clearance is complete, Dr. Shafer will meet with you again to review the lab test findings and discuss any further questions you have about your upcoming surgery. You will also review your pre-operative(before) pictures and discuss the operative plan.

Patients often bring a list of questions that they thought of after their initial consultation or after more extensive research on their procedure. Dr. Shafer will be happy to go through all of your questions to ensure that you are 100% comfortable with your decision to have surgery. After you feel completely informed about your procedure, including the risks, benefits, expected results and possible complications, you and Dr. Shafer will both sign an informed consent form for the surgery.

During this visit, you will also be given prescriptions for all of the medications that you will need after surgery. Dr. Shafer’s staff will go over all of the instructions and give you printed copies to take home with you.

If you are not local to Manhattan, final arrangements will also be confirmed for your hotel and private-duty nursing services.

Common Post-Operative Prescriptions

In order to ensure a smooth recovery, Dr. Shafer may provide you with some prescription medications for you to take after surgery. It is good planning and necessary for you to fill these prescriptions prior to your surgery. If you are staying overnight at the hotel, you will need to bring the prescription medications with you on the morning of surgery. If you are planning on returning home the same day of surgery, there is no need to bring the medications. Below is a list of common medications for your reference. Specific instructions are included with your post-operative instruction pack.

Antibiotics: Ciprofloxacin, Keflex.
Antiviral: Valtrex.
Anti-nausea: Zofran, Phenergan.
Muscle Relaxer: Valium.
Eye Care: Tobradex.
Skin Care: Bacitracin Ointment, Aquaphor, Clinique Medical System.
Pain Control: Percocet, Vicodin.

Scheduling Private Duty Nursing

Most of the procedures performed by Dr. Shafer are on an out-patient basis. Following the surgery, you will be monitored very closely by Dr. Shafer and the nurses in-hospital. Patients living within close proximity to the hospital typically choose to recover in their own home with a private-duty nurse. However, most patients stay at the Affinia Gardens Hotel across the street from the hospital and continue their post-operative care with private-duty nursing for the first 24 to 48 hours. The Private-Duty nurses specialize in post-operative cosmetic surgery care. Many of them are current or former operative or recovery room nurses who have worked closely with Dr. Shafer during his operations. The nurses work independently from Dr. Shafer’s office.

In the weeks leading up to your surgery, the private-duty nursing service will contact you to arrange care. They are a valuable additional resource in discussing pre- and post-operative questions.

On the day of your surgery, the private-duty nurse will meet you in the ambulatory recovery room. She will then accompany you over to the hotel or stay with you in the hospital. The experience of the nurses and the individualized and focused care you will receive is invaluable in your recovery process.

Scheduling A Post-Operative Stay

Most procedures are preformed on an out-patient basis, allowing you to return home the very same day. However, some more involved surgeries do require an overnight stay in close proximity to the hospital. Most patients elect to stay at the Affinia Gardens across the street from the hospital, with the comfort of private-duty nursing.

During your pre-operative visit we will help coordinate the hotel and private-duty nurses for you. However, if you would like to arrange your own accommodations or view the hotel, we have provided the link for you here:

Affinia Gardens Hotel
215 East 64th Street
New York, NY 10065
212-355-1230

Day Of Surgery

Your surgery will be scheduled at:
Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital
210 East 64th Street, New York, NY 10065.
The Ambulatory Surgery Unit’s phone number is 212-605-3759.

The hospital will reach you in advance to and request your arrival on the First Floor at Registration at a specific time. The hospital staff will check you in and take you to the ambulatory unit for preparation. The Ambulatory Unit is where you will change into a hospital gown and put your belongings into a secured locker. Here you will also meet the nurses who will review your chart and ensure that you are well prepared for surgery.

When it is time for your surgery, you will be taken to the Pre-Operative Area on the 2nd floor. Here you will meet with the Anesthesiologist, who will start your I.V. You will then meet with Dr. Shafer to review the operative plan and discuss any lingering questions. Dr. Shafer and the nurse will then accompany you to the Operating Room and prepare you for surgery. The Anesthesiologist will start the anesthesia, and the next thing you will remember is that the surgery is over.

You will then be taken to the Recovery Room for approximately 1 to 2 hours for monitoring as you continue waking up from the anesthesia. When you are fully awake, you will return to the Ambulatory Unit on the First Floor to finish your recovery. You will not be discharged until you are able to walk, go to the bathroom, and tolerate some food/drink. Dr. Shafer will meet with your family and check on you before you leave. Your family can sit with you in the Ambulatory Unit after the nurses have completed their assessment.

Things To Remember:

Do Not Eat or Drink After Midnight, the night before surgery.
Do Not Eat Breakfast or have anything to eat or drink on the day of surgery.
It is okay to take your normal medications in the morning with a small sip of water.
If you have any problems or concerns, please contact Dr. Shafer’s office.