Ask around before you make your appointment.
I don't remember any of the prep being all that difficult. At the beginning, the Dr. explained that he would be giving me a local anesthetic (shots) before starting the procedure. After lots of clicking, tugging, pinching, pain and what felt like quite a bit of time, I asked if he had gotten one side done yet. His response was, "No, but I am almost done applying the local". This was my lowest point.
I later described my experience to a neighbor (Drug Rep), she was very sympathetic, and wished that I had asked her for a recommendation about who to have perform the procedure.
My biggest recommendation is to get recommendations from other folks that have had the procedure. There is no reason to go to some of the butchers out there, or to be made to feel like one of many cattle getting processed in the stock yard.