Undergoing surgery? You’re not alone. As the population ages, so do the number of surgeries. In fact, an estimated 40 to 50 million surgeries are done every year in the United States, according to the statistics, with hip replacement, knee replacement and heart bypass surgeries among the most frequent procedures.

“Surgeries have become one of the most common, safest and more reliable treatments across medicine,” said Stavros G. Memtsoudis, MD, PhD, MBA, anesthesiologist at HSS. “We recognize that surgery can be an unsettling experience for some patients, so it’s important to be transparent from the very beginning about what to expect.”

Ultimately, preparing for major surgery involves several essential steps to ensure a safe and successful procedure and recovery. While it may be confusing and stressful to navigate at first, asking questions will help you get more familiarized with the process and know what to expect.

“There are no irrelevant questions about undergoing surgery because it’s a major decision,” said Dr. Memtsoudis . “Patients should be encouraged to ask questions at any time.”

Read the full article at health.usnews.com.