This sounds silly, but really, DO IT: Before going under the knife for anything, take a Sharpie and mark on (or near if you can't mark on) the correct body part with an arrow and label saying "here." Make the other one with a big "X" with a label saying "NOT THIS ONE." Try to avoid the area where the actual incisions will be made. Like I said, it sounds silly, and the staff might raz you for it, but feeling silly and getting razzed are FAR better than waking up with the wrong arm/leg/eye/kidney/etc. operated upon or gone!
"Make the other one" = "Mark the other one" PIMF
When I had my hip replacement a few years ago, they gave me a marker and had me put an X on the one to be replaced.
They did that with my mother when she had eye surgery. Wrote YES above one eye and NO above the other.
I recommend that anyone about to undergo surgery have a family member with them to make sure that things are done right.
I also think family members going in the room with you is a good idea. Even an arrogant doctor is gonna watch his step if he knows someone who cares is watching.
I am an operating room nurse myself. We do not like the use of the letter "X" under any circumstance. It can be confusing because it is ambiguous. Does it indicate "not this side" or does it indicate "X marks the spot?" Not everyone will mark "NOT THIS ONE" or it will be illegible.
It would be preferable to mark "YES" on the correct side and "NO" on the incorrect side.
I have seen all kinds of markings done by the patients, including check marks, X's, O's, equal signs with a slash through it, and various scribbles.
Also, if one marks himself prior to his surgery, he needs to tell the OR staff that he has done so and what that mark indicates. Imagine having confirmed the surgical site with the patient and then after he is asleep finding a big "X" or whatever on the surgical site and not knowing the patient's intention. I have seen patients awakened and their surgery postponed because of the doubt these markings have made.
Probably the best method that I seen is that in the pre-op area the patient or a family member confirms the side with either the surgeon or the OR nurse and the side is initialled by the surgeon/OR nurse and the patient/family member. This way there is an operating room staff witness and we understand what the markings indicate.
Like I said, it sounds silly, and the staff might raz you for it
Any patient who is razzed or otherwise demeaned by the staff over marking the surgical site, should ask to speak with the supervisor and report this person(s). Wrong side surgery is no joke. The vast majority of us take it extremely seriously.