Preparing for surgery can feel overwhelming. Many patients leave their appointment with only a few instructions—and a lot of unanswered questions.
Knowing exactly how to prepare for surgery can make your procedure safer, reduce stress, and help your recovery go more smoothly.
This guide provides a clear, step-by-step surgery preparation checklist, including what to do before surgery, the day of surgery, and how to prepare your home for recovery. You can also get a personalized sugery preparation checklist to prepare with confidence.
To understand what happens after your procedure, review your full surgery recovery timeline.
Before surgery, most patients should:
These steps help reduce complications and make surgery day smoother.
Before surgery, make sure you understand:
Ask your surgeon questions like:
Being informed can significantly reduce anxiety before surgery.
Most surgeries require a pre-op visit.
During this appointment, your care team may:
This visit ensures your surgery can be performed safely.
Many patients also wonder whether there are things they can do physically before surgery to support recovery. Learn more in How Do I Prepare My Body for Surgery?
Some medications must be stopped or adjusted before surgery.
Common examples include:
⚠️ Never stop medications unless your doctor tells you to.
Bring a complete medication list to your pre-op appointment.
If you're wondering what to focus on during the final week before surgery, learn more in What Should I Do the Week Before Surgery?
Most patients must stop eating and drinking before surgery. This is called fasting before anesthesia.
Typical instructions may include:
Fasting helps prevent serious complications during anesthesia.
One important part of preparing for surgery is understanding when to stop eating and drinking before your procedure.
For a step-by-step breakdown, see what to expect on surgery day.
Planning ahead makes surgery day much easier.
Arrange:
On the day of surgery:
Most patients cannot drive after anesthesia. Learn more about when you can drive after surgery.
Preparing your home ahead of time can make recovery much easier.
Helpful tips:
See more on how to prepare your home for recovery including what to buy before surgery.
Your surgeon may give specific instructions based on your procedure.
These may include:
Always follow your care team’s instructions carefully. If anything is unclear, call your surgeon’s office before surgery.
Feeling unsure about what to do next?
Get your personalized surgery checklist sent to your email.
Feeling nervous before surgery is completely normal.
Many patients find it helpful to:
Understanding recovery can reduce fear. Many patients feel more at ease after learning what pain after surgery is normal.
Contact your surgical team if you experience:
Your care team can advise whether it is safe to proceed.
Preparing for surgery involves more than just showing up.
Understanding your procedure, attending your pre-op visit, managing medications, and planning ahead can make your surgery safer and your recovery smoother.
If you’re ever unsure, your healthcare team is the best source of guidance.
The more you know ahead of time, the more confident you will feel. Get your personalized surgery checklist, recovery timeline, and step-by-step guidance to help you feel confident before and after surgery.
Get Your Surgery PlanThis article provides general educational information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always follow the instructions provided by your healthcare team.
Recovery Timeline
How to Prepare for Surgery
Surgery Day
Pain After Surgery
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Educational information only. Always follow your surgeon's instructions.