If you’re preparing for surgery, there are several things you’ll need to know ahead of time. Here is our surgery checklist:
Surgery checklist: Do’s
- DO let your doctor know ahead of time about any and all medications and supplements you’re on. You may need to temporarily pause taking some of them. To start with our surgery checklist, make sure to mention everything you are taking; even some herbal supplements may interfere and should be put on hold. If you are stopping any prescription medications, you need to discuss it with your primary care provider first.
- DO reach out for help. Have a designated person who will be around to not only drive you home from surgery but be there in case you need help around the house. This is especially important after bigger, more involved cosmetic surgeries. If in doubt about how much help you’ll need, ask your doctor what you can expect the recovery period to be like.
- DO prepare for the recovery period ahead of time. You’ll need to relax to recuperate, so have some activities, convenient foods, and comfortable clothing available at home ahead of time. The more while preparing for surgery, the less you’ll have to do while recovering from it.
- DO stay hydrated and get plenty of rest in the week or so leading up to your procedure. Also, eat a healthy, high protein diet. All of these things make the recovery period more likely to go by smoothly.
- DO follow all rules given to you by your doctor. Last but not least, any special rules your doctor gives you need to be followed carefully to ensure your surgery and the recovery period afterward go smoothly.
Before surgery: Don’ts
- DON’T smoke or drink alcohol. Your doctor will give you a timeframe during which you should refrain from smoking or drinking alcoholic beverages. Both can interfere with surgical procedures.
- DON’T overdo it on the salt in your diet in the week or so while preparing for surgery.
- DON’T eat or drink after midnight (or the time given to you by your doctor, if different) the night before your surgery. This is especially important if you’ll be going under general anesthesia for the procedure.
As always, ask your doctor about any questions you have about the surgery checklist to ensure you’re going into it fully informed, and check out our blogs to read more information about our procedures
