Welcome to surgery

1. Before surgery

A surgery scheduler will call you within 1–3 days after the decision to operate has been made. Please complete the electronic preoperative questionnaire before the call, so that the scheduler can review your information in advance.

During the call, the date of surgery and any required preoperative examinations, such as laboratory tests, will be agreed.

Surgery can usually be scheduled quickly. You may also express your preferred timing for the procedure.

When the surgery is booked, you will be informed of the surgery date. The exact arrival time will be sent to you by text message on the day before surgery between 4:00 and 4:15 p.m.

The surgery can be booked even if your insurance company has not yet issued a payment guarantee. Information about an approved payment guarantee is sent directly to Terveystalo by your insurance company, and we always verify its receipt before surgery.

Insurance policies may include restrictions related to reimbursement, such as:

• Condition-specific or policy-specific cost limits
• Overnight stay coverage
• Deductibles

For more information about any such restrictions, please contact your insurance company.

Any cancellation of surgery must be made no later than 24 hours before the scheduled procedure, except in cases of sudden illness. For an uncancelled surgery booking, we charge 20% of the price of the surgery.

2. Types of anaesthesia and pain management

Anaesthesia may be general anaesthesia, regional or local anaesthesia, or a combination of these.

On the day of surgery, the anaesthesiologist will work with you to choose a safe and appropriate form of anaesthesia for the procedure. The anaesthesiologist will also plan your postoperative pain management.

The choice of anaesthesia depends on factors such as:

• The type of surgery
• Your general health
• Your age
• Any previous experiences with anaesthesia

Your own preferences will also be considered. Your condition will be closely monitored during surgery regardless of the anaesthetic method used.

3. Preparing for surgery

Before surgery, you must follow the fasting instructions you have been given. If you are taking prescribed medications, you may continue them as usual, unless you have been instructed otherwise.

If possible, stop taking natural products or supplements, such as preparations containing omega-3 fatty acids or cod liver oil, 2 weeks before surgery because of the risk of bleeding.

You should also avoid:

• Alcohol
• Other intoxicants
• Tobacco
• All nicotine products

Most surgical procedures are performed as day surgery, which means that you can usually go home on the same day.

Please note that you must have someone to accompany you on the way home. Another adult must also stay with you during the first night after surgery.

If needed, you may obtain assistive devices, such as crutches or knee braces, in advance from your wellbeing services county’s assistive device centre. You may also purchase them from Terveystalo on the day of surgery.

4. The day before surgery

On the day before surgery, you will receive a text message between 4:00 and 4:15 p.m. telling you what time you must arrive at the hospital on the day of the procedure.

Eating, drinking and medications

You must not eat or drink anything from midnight on the evening before surgery. This also applies to products that are sucked or chewed.

However, you may take your morning medications with as little water as possible no later than 2 hours before surgery.

If you are coming for a procedure performed under local anaesthesia, you may eat and drink lightly.

Preparing the skin in the surgical area

The skin in the surgical area must be intact and free of irritated spots or scratches.

• Do not remove hair from the surgical area before the procedure.
• Shower either the evening before surgery or on the morning of surgery.
• If you are coming for hand surgery, remove any acrylic nails, gel nails and nail polish.

Clothing

• Remove all jewellery and piercings before surgery.
• Wear comfortable, loose and clean clothing that will fit over even bulky dressings.
• Do not bring valuables, such as jewellery or a watch, with you on the day of surgery.
• Please come fragrance-free.

5. Arrival for surgery

Please bring the following with you on the day of surgery:

• A photo ID
• Your own necessary medications, such as asthma inhalers, an insulin pen and a CPAP device, if applicable
• Any X-ray or MRI images and reports related to the procedure, if they are not already available at Terveystalo
• Any assistive devices you have obtained in advance
• Personal hygiene items, if you will be staying overnight at Terveystalo after surgery

More detailed arrival and check-in instructions can be found in the Terveystalo app, in the online service and on Terveystalo’s website.

6. Monitoring treatment effectiveness

For some operations, we monitor treatment effectiveness through questionnaires.

If your surgery is included in this follow-up, you will receive a questionnaire before surgery and 2–3 times after surgery, including possibly up to one year after the operation.

We hope that you will respond to all questionnaires so that the effectiveness of your treatment can be monitored.

You can complete the questionnaires in the Terveystalo app and online service. You can also view your own responses and follow the development of your functional ability.

The questionnaire responses are visible only to the healthcare professionals involved in your care.

On the day of surgery

7. What happens on the day of surgery

When you arrive for surgery, please check in and have your photo ID with you. You will receive check-in instructions when the appointment is booked, or you can find them in the location details for your surgical unit on Terveystalo’s website.

A nurse will receive you. Before surgery, you may be given premedication if needed. This is intended, among other things, to help relieve postoperative pain and prevent nausea.

You will also meet the operating surgeon and the anaesthesiologist before the procedure.

Some surgeries also include a consultation with a physiotherapist, who will instruct you on:

• Postoperative rehabilitation exercises
• Mobility
• The use of assistive devices

After surgery, you will recover in the recovery room, where your condition will be monitored. When your condition allows, you will be offered a light snack.

You can be discharged on the day of surgery when the following criteria are met:

• Your general condition is good.
• You have been able to urinate.
• You are able to move around.
• You are able to eat and drink.
• You do not have significant nausea.
• Your pain is being effectively managed.
• You have someone to accompany you on the way home.
• Another adult will stay with you during the first night after surgery.

If necessary, follow-up appointments will also be arranged for you, for example with a physiotherapist or for a postoperative follow-up visit with the surgeon.

Please note that you may drive a car no earlier than 24 hours after surgery, or later if required by procedure-related restrictions.

8. Pain management

Pain is always an individual experience, and it is important to treat it appropriately. The anaesthesiologist will plan your postoperative pain management with you.

For this planning, we need information about:

• All medications you use
• Any allergies you have
• Any previous experiences with pain

It is important that you tell the staff about your pain, because effective pain relief promotes recovery. Pain management should be started early, as pain is easier to control when treated in time.

Initially, pain medication is given intravenously. When your condition allows, pain medication is continued orally.

Pain is most commonly treated with:

• Anti-inflammatory pain medication
• Paracetamol
• Strong centrally acting medicines
• Different forms of local or regional anaesthesia

Treatment can also be supported with non-pharmacological methods, such as positioning and cold therapy.

When you are discharged, you will receive written pain medication instructions prepared by the anaesthesiologist, along with any necessary electronic prescriptions.

After surgery

9. Wound care

When you are discharged, you will receive instructions on how to care for the surgical wound. You will also receive information on when any sutures or staples should be removed, usually 7–14 days after surgery.

The wound must be kept clean.

Sauna, swimming and bathing are allowed one day after sutures or staples have been removed and once the wound has closed.

10. Mobility

On the day of surgery, the operating surgeon will go through the instructions that apply to you personally, including any restrictions related to mobility.

Some surgeries include a consultation with a physiotherapist. The physiotherapist will instruct you on:

• Postoperative rehabilitation exercises
• Mobility guidelines
• The use of assistive devices

11. Sick leave and return to work

Discuss the need for sick leave after surgery with the operating surgeon. The surgeon will issue sick leave for up to 28 days.

The surgeon will also record the following information in the operative report:

• The expected recovery time
• Instructions for the rehabilitation phase
• Any restrictions relevant to the occupational health physician and the physiotherapist responsible for postoperative rehabilitation

After that, assessment of your work ability will be transferred to your own occupational health physician.

If your occupational healthcare is provided by Terveystalo

The surgery scheduler will arrange a phone or in-person appointment with an occupational health physician in connection with the surgery booking. During the appointment, a return-to-work plan will be prepared.

If your occupational healthcare is not provided by Terveystalo

You must book a phone or in-person appointment yourself with your own occupational health physician for a postoperative work ability assessment 14–28 days after surgery.

It is advisable to book this appointment before the day of surgery.

12. Suspected postoperative infection

Symptoms of infection include:

• Warmth around the surgical wound
• Swelling
• Redness
• Discharge from the surgical wound
• Fever

If you develop these symptoms, please contact a doctor or nurse.

If a wound infection related to your surgery is diagnosed somewhere other than Terveystalo, please ask the doctor or nurse to complete the postoperative infection notification form in the Terveystalo app.

The form can be found on the home page of the Terveystalo app under the heading “Questionnaires”.

This helps us receive information about wound infections diagnosed outside Terveystalo and register them as part of our continuous quality assurance.

Price of surgery and payment

13. Cost estimate

You will receive a cost estimate for the surgery when the operation is booked.

Please note that Kela reimbursement is only available for oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures and dental procedures.

14. I am paying for the surgery myself

Payment methods:

• Debit card, credit card or online payment: Please note the daily transaction limit set on your card.
• Advance invoice: You may agree on the use of an advance invoice when booking the surgery.
• Walley invoice: You can apply for a credit decision in connection with the purchase or payment. A photo ID is required.
• Financing through Santander or OP: You can apply for a credit decision in advance based on the estimated cost of the procedure.

15. I have insurance that may cover the surgery

We always verify the payment guarantee before surgery. We will contact you if the payment guarantee has not been received or if it is not granted.

If your payment guarantee has not been received or is not granted, you may also contact:

• Your insurance company
• The surgery scheduling unit of the facility where your procedure will be performed

If a payment guarantee has not been granted before the procedure, your insurance company may not reimburse the procedure afterwards. In that case, you should be prepared to pay for the procedure yourself.

If your insurance company has granted a payment guarantee for the surgery, the invoice will be sent directly to the insurance company.

Please note that reimbursement practices and coverage vary between insurance companies. For all matters related to insurance and reimbursement practices, please contact your insurance company directly.

16. Other payment methods

• Occupational healthcare covers the costs
• Payment commitment from an employer
• Service voucher from a public healthcare provider
• The wellbeing services county pays for the surgery

Checklist

Before surgery

• Complete the preoperative questionnaire.
• Stop using alcohol, nicotine and natural products or supplements 2 weeks before surgery.
• Follow the medication instructions you have been given.
• Arrange for someone to accompany you home.
• Arrange for another adult to stay with you overnight after surgery.

The day before surgery

• Check your arrival time in the text message.
• Review the other instructions you have received.
• Wash or shower, and do not use make-up or fragrances.
• Do not remove body hair at home.
• Remove jewellery and nail polish.

On the day of surgery

• Follow the fasting instructions you have been given.
• Follow the medication instructions provided by your surgical unit regarding your regular medications.
• Bring a photo ID.
• Wear comfortable, loose clothing.
• Bring your own medications and any necessary assistive devices.

After surgery

• Follow the pain management and wound care instructions you have been given.
• Contact your surgical unit if anything concerns you.
• Follow the operating surgeon’s instructions regarding mobility and return to work.
• If applicable, follow the physiotherapist’s instructions regarding mobility and return to work.