After your procedure, you will be moved to our fully-equipped recovery room where the anesthesiologist and our recovery room nurses will observe you closely until you are ready to go home.
The time a patient stays in the recovery room will vary depending on the procedure performed and the physician’s instructions, but typically most patients are discharged within one to two hours after their procedure.
Your surgeon will provide post-operative instructions about diet, rest, exercise, and medications. The center will provide you with a written summary of these instructions before you are discharged. We suggest that you pamper yourself for the first 24 hours following your procedure.
If you had anesthesia and/or pain medications, arrange for an adult to remain with you at home for at least 24 hours. Since it is normal to feel drowsy after receiving an anesthetic, we also recommend that you postpone these activities for 24 hours after discharge:
- Driving and operating equipment
- Signing important papers
- Making significant decisions
- Drinking alcoholic beverages
If you have any unexpected problems, please call your doctor. A nurse from the Center will attempt to call you the next working day to check your progress and discuss any questions you may have.
Upon discharge, all children must be transported from the facility according to the Texas Seatbelt Laws. If you need information regarding child passenger safety and safety belt use please visit the Texas Department of Public Safety website for more information.
The following Best Practices are provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety and can be found at the above link.
Child Passenger Safety Best Practice Recommendations
| Phase | Seat Type | Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear-Facing Seats | Infants: Birth - 35 pounds. Rear-facing infant or rear-facing convertible safety seat as long as possible,up to the rear-facing height or weight limit of the seat. Properly install rear-facing in the back seat. |
| 2 | Forward-facing Seats | When children outgrow the rear-facing safety seat, they should ride in a forward-facing safety seat as long as possible, up to the upper height or weight limit (40 - 80 pounds) of the harnesses. Usually 4+ years old. Properly installed forward-facing in the back seat. NEVER turn forward-facing before 1 year old AND 20-22 pounds. |
| 3 | Booster Seats | After age 4 and 40+ pounds, children can ride in a booster seat with the adult lap and shoulder belt until the adult safety belt will fit them properly (usually when the child is 4'9" tall). |
| 4 | Adult Safety Belt | Once children outgrow their booster seat (usually at 4'9", 100 pounds) they can use the adult safety belt if it fits them properly. Lap portion low over the hips/tops of thighs and shoulder belt crosses the center of the shoulder and center of the chest. |
Children are better protected the longer they can stay in each phase. Keep children in each seat up to the maximum age/weight/height limits before moving to the next phase.