It depends on your level of risk. My aorta dissected in 2015 at 50 years old. I was in the hospital cardiac ICU for about three weeks with two weeks in a coma. Your chance of surviving skyrockets if they do a scheduled, non-emergent, surgery. Most people who have a sudden AA dissection don't survive it. John Ritter, Alan Thicke, Lucille Ball. Knowing what I now know, I would elect to have the surgery if its an option. That way, you can prepare all of your estate documents, organize things for your spouse, arrange work leave, etc. Basically, it's the difference between scheduled a tire replacement when you see the bulge, versus having it blow out at 75-mph on a busy freeway. I'll take the former. Having survived the latter, I can tell you I would never risk it again (not that I'm going to get the chance). The dissection pain itself was so excruciating that I cannot describe really. It was like someone was tearing the skin off my back. Moreover, it happened on a San Diego business trip 1,600 miles from Minneapolis. It caused great trauma to my wife and family. It was expensive and I barely survived. I had blood clots, memory loss, damage to my vocal chords from emergency intubation, and a $1.4 million hospital bill (all but $13K paid by my medical insurance).

So, if I had it to do all over again I would elect to have the scheduled surgery in my hometown, on my schedule, after I had completely prepared my wife, kids, and clients for what was to come. Talk with your doctor.