Surgery Is Easier to Face When You Know Exactly What Is Coming
Most surgical anxiety comes from uncertainty — not from the surgery itself. This guide covers every stage of your experience at Lapeer Women’s Health from your first pre-operative appointment through your return to full activity. There are no surprises here — you know what to expect at every step before you arrive.
The specifics — how long the procedure takes, which facility it will be at, what the recovery looks like — depend on which surgery you are having. Dr. Andrei covers your procedure-specific details and confirms your facility assignment at your pre-operative consultation. This guide covers what is consistent across all minimally invasive gynecologic surgery at Lapeer Women’s Health.
Procedures may be performed at McLaren Lapeer Hospital, McLaren Flint Hospital, Henry Ford Rochester Hospital, or Lapeer County Surgery Center depending on your specific case. The process described below applies at all four facilities.
Before Surgery — Consultation, Preparation & Clearance
Every surgical pathway at Lapeer Women’s Health begins with a thorough pre-operative consultation.
Surgical Consultation
Dr. Andrei reviews your history, prior surgical reports if available, and current imaging. She explains the recommended procedure, why it is appropriate for your specific case, which facility will be used, and what recovery involves.
Pre-Operative Lab Work
Blood work is ordered and completed before your surgery date. Results are reviewed to confirm you are cleared for surgery and anesthesia. If you take medications, you will receive specific instructions about which to hold and which to continue.
Pre-Operative Instructions
Before surgery you receive specific written instructions: when to stop eating and drinking, which medications to take the morning of surgery, what to bring to the facility, and who to call with last-minute concerns.
Arriving at the Facility
You arrive at the surgical facility the morning of your procedure. You check in, change into a surgical gown, meet the anesthesia team, and have an IV placed. Dr. Andrei meets with you before you go to the operating room to confirm the plan.
Surgery Day — What Happens in the Operating Room
The operating room process is straightforward. Understanding it in advance removes much of the anxiety that comes from imagining something you have never experienced.
You are moved to the operating room. The surgical team prepares the room and you for surgery. The environment is calm and professional — at both hospital and outpatient surgery center settings.
General anesthesia is administered through your IV. You are asleep in under a minute. You will not feel anything, hear anything, or have any awareness during the procedure.
Dr. Andrei performs your procedure under general anesthesia. For laparoscopic and robotic cases, small incisions are made, a camera is inserted, and the procedure is performed under high-definition visualization.
After the procedure is complete, instruments are removed, incisions are closed with absorbable sutures or surgical glue, and small dressings are applied.
Recovery Room, Discharge & Home
After surgery you move to recovery and then home.
Recovery Room
After surgery you are moved to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). The nursing team monitors your vital signs, pain level, and how you are tolerating anesthesia wearing off. Most patients spend one to two hours in recovery before discharge or moving to a standard room.
Before You Go Home
Before discharge, the team confirms you are tolerating fluids, your pain is managed with oral medication, and you are stable. You receive written discharge instructions covering incision care, activity restrictions, medications, and specific signs to watch for. You need a responsible adult to drive you home.
The First Days at Home
Light walking is encouraged from the first day home. Rest when you need to. Take pain medication as directed rather than waiting for pain to become severe. Avoid strenuous activity, lifting, and intercourse until Dr. Andrei clears you.
Two-Week Follow-Up
Dr. Andrei sees you at approximately two weeks post-operatively to assess healing, review any pathology results if applicable, and confirm your recovery is on track.
What Is Normal vs. When to Call
Most post-operative experiences are uneventful. These are the signs that are normal and expected vs. the ones that warrant a call to the office.
- Mild to moderate incisional soreness for the first week
- Shoulder pain from residual abdominal gas — resolves in 1–2 days
- Fatigue and reduced stamina for the first few weeks
- Light vaginal spotting or watery discharge (for most GYN procedures)
- Bloating and constipation for the first few days
- Mild nausea as anesthesia clears
- Temperature above 101°F (38.3°C)
- Heavy vaginal bleeding (soaking more than one pad per hour)
- Increasing rather than decreasing pain after the first 48 hours
- Redness, swelling, or discharge from incision sites
- Difficulty urinating or inability to urinate
- Calf pain, leg swelling, or chest pain or shortness of breath
Questions Patients Ask Before Surgery
No Surprises.
Just a Clear Plan.
If you have a question about what surgery will be like — before, during, or after — ask it at your consultation with Dr. Andrei.
The information on this page is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment options vary significantly. Reading this content does not establish a physician-patient relationship with Dr. Ramona D. Andrei or Lapeer Women’s Health. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for advice specific to your situation. Content reviewed by Dr. Ramona D. Andrei, MD PhD FACOG.
Gynecologic care for women of every age
Lapeer Women’s Health — Rochester Hills
2710 S Rochester Rd, Suite 2
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
Serving patients in Lapeer, Rochester Hills, and surrounding communities throughout Southeast Michigan.
Gynecologic care for women of every age
Lapeer Women’s Health — Rochester Hills
2710 S Rochester Rd, Suite 2
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
Serving patients in Lapeer, Rochester Hills, and surrounding communities throughout Southeast Michigan.