Preparing for your procedure

Your instructions from our team always come first. If anything here differs from what you were told, follow what you were told, and call us if you’re unsure: (631) 310-0000.

Before your procedure date

• Insurance approval: if your plan requires prior authorization, allow 5 to 7 business days. Some insurers take up to 30 days.
• Blood thinners: do not stop them on your own. We’ll get clearance from your primary doctor or cardiologist and tell you exactly when to stop and restart.
• Weight-loss medications: tell us if you take phentermine or a GLP-1 drug such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Trulicity or Victoza. These affect how sedation is planned and may need to be held beforehand.

The day before

• You’ll get a call or text confirming your arrival time.
• Nothing to eat or drink after midnight.

The day of your procedure

• Take your usual morning medications with a small sip of water, especially blood pressure medication, unless we’ve told you otherwise.
• Arrive one hour before your procedure time. Plan to be with us 1 to 1½ hours in total.
• You must have an adult to drive you home. They don’t need to wait at the center.
• Bring your photo ID, insurance card, medication list and any recent imaging reports.

After your procedure

• For the rest of the day: no driving, operating machinery, alcohol, or important decisions.
• Showers are fine. Avoid baths, pools and hot tubs until the injection site has healed.
• Temporary numbness or weakness in an arm or leg is normal and should fade within a few hours.
• Soreness at the site is common. Ice for 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day, and take acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen if they’re safe for you. Pain can briefly increase for a day or two before improving.
• If you received a steroid, it may take a few days to work. Facial flushing, trouble sleeping, and higher blood sugar or blood pressure for a few days are common. If you have diabetes, check your sugar more often.
• Your follow-up visit is usually one to two weeks later.