Patient Journey

Every patient's path is different, but the process of becoming a patient of Dr. Lakhiani follows a clear set of steps. This guide walks you through each one — so you know what to expect, what to prepare, and what comes next. We are here to support you at every stage.

Step 1: Request an Appointment

Submit your information through our website or call (732) 200-2531. You do not need a referral, though having one from your physician can be helpful.

Step 2: Call Center Intake

A member of our call center team will reach out to you to complete an initial screening and intake. This conversation helps us understand your condition, your history, and what you are hoping to achieve. It also helps us direct you to the right provider as efficiently as possible.

Step 3: Gather Your Records

Before your first clinical appointment, it is important to collect any relevant medical documents, including:

• Prior surgical reports
• Imaging studies (MRI, CT, EMG/nerve conduction studies)
• Relevant medical records and specialist notes
• A list of current medications

Our clinical team will work with you to ensure these documents are received and reviewed before your visit — so that your time with the doctor is spent on evaluation and decision-making, not paperwork.

Step 4: Pre-Evaluation Telehealth (Select Patients)

For certain complex nerve or reconstructive conditions, you will have a telehealth appointment with our Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) before seeing Dr. Lakhiani. This step serves two important purposes:

It allows us to appropriately guide patients toward or away from surgery early in the process. For example, if a patient has new-onset foot drop that may be caused by spinal stenosis and has not yet seen a spine surgeon, we can identify this during the pre-evaluation and get them pointed in the right direction — rather than having them wait weeks or months for an in-person visit only to be redirected.

It also ensures that when you see Dr. Lakhiani, the evaluation is focused and productive.

Not every patient requires this step — your care team will let you know if it applies to you.

Step 5: Your Visit with Dr. Lakhiani

In-State Patients

You will see Dr. Lakhiani at one of our offices in Red Bank or Neptune, New Jersey. He will perform a thorough examination, review your records and imaging, and discuss your diagnosis and treatment options in detail.

Out-of-State Patients

If you are traveling from out of state, Dr. Lakhiani may schedule a telehealth consultation before your trip to New Jersey. This allows him to review your case and confirm that there is a high likelihood he can help — so that your travel is worthwhile. He will still need to examine you in person before any surgical decision is made.

Step 6: Surgery & Recovery

For Out-of-State Patients

A typical out-of-state visit looks like this:

• Day before surgery: In-person evaluation at the office with Dr. Lakhiani
• Surgery day: Procedure performed at the hospital or surgery center
• Post-op: Overnight hospital stay (for most procedures)
• Day after surgery: Follow-up visit with our Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) to check on your recovery
• Later in the week: Follow-up visit with Dr. Lakhiani before you are cleared to travel home
• Around post-operative day 5: Most patients are cleared to travel home

In some cases, Dr. Lakhiani may determine that additional testing is needed before proceeding, or that surgery should be rescheduled — your safety and the right outcome always come first.

For In-State Patients

Recovery depends on the procedure:

• Most nerve surgeries (decompressions, neurectomies) are same-day outpatient procedures — you go home the same day
• More complex procedures (free flaps, facial reanimation, reconstruction) may require a hospital or surgery center stay of one or more nights

Step 7: Follow-Up & Ongoing Care

Dr. Lakhiani and his team will schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your healing and recovery. For nerve surgery patients, recovery is gradual — nerves heal slowly, and improvement may take weeks to months. Your team will be with you throughout the process.