Information for Patients

Prepare for your minor surgery by doing the following:


  • Take all medications like normal (even your blood thinners).


  • Have breakfast or lunch before your appointment. Do not fast.


  • Do not wear make-up if your procedure is on your face or neck.


  • Take a shower the morning of your procedure and scrub the area with soap and water. If your surgery is on your hand, pay particular attention to your fingernails, make sure they are trimmed and use a toothpick with soap and water to clean any dirt or grime from underneath them.

How to prepare for major surgery

Major surgery is surgery done under general anesthesia. This means you will be put to sleep and monitored by an anesthesiologist.

Prepare for your major surgery by doing the following:

  • Stop any medications as instructed by the pre-operative clinic or anesthesiologist.

  • Ensure you are appropriately fasting. We understand that it is frustrating and uncomfortable to do, but it is the safest way to give you a general anesthesia. Your surgery will be cancelled if you haven’t fasted. Your fasting instructions will be given by our office.

  • Take a shower the morning of your procedure and scrub the area with soap and water. If your surgery is on your hand, pay particular attention to your fingernails, make sure they are trimmed and use a toothpick with soap and water to clean any dirt or grime from underneath them.

How to prepare for minor surgery

Minor surgery is surgery done under local anesthesia. This means that you are awake for the procedure, but the area is numbed with local anesthetic.

School notes, work notes, insurance forms

We support our patients to return to school or work as safely and early as possible with appropriate modifications, if available. Send us an e-mail (jones@drbarkho.ca) and tell us exactly what you need (attach any forms if necessary). There is a monetary charge for all notes as follows:

  1. Simple written school or work notes - $30.00 + HST per page

  2. Work forms which do not require chart review - $30.00 + HST per page

  3. Work or insurance forms that require a chart review - $100.00 +HST per 15-minute increments of chart review.