What happens in the operating theatre

Before you go in, the surgeon draws the plan on your skin with a violet marker while you sit or stand, because skin falls differently when you lie down. Ask to see the marks in a mirror.

In the anaesthetic room the anaesthetist checks your name, the procedure and the side once more. The theatre team does the same before the first cut; it is a routine safety check, not a sign of doubt.

You wake in the recovery room with a nurse beside you. Most people feel sleepy, a little cold and thirsty; the nurse stays until you are ready to go back to the ward or home.