Surgery preparation starts before the operating room. Explore practical guidance for nutrition, supplements, physical conditioning, medications, and recovery planning—so you can approach your procedure informed and prepared.
Preoperative optimization brings together the fundamentals that can help you arrive at surgery in the best condition your medical team recommends.
Build a strong nutritional foundation with balanced meals, adequate protein, and appropriate hydration.
Know what belongs in your routine—and what needs to be discussed or paused before surgery.
Maintain appropriate movement and physical readiness based on your procedure and medical guidance.
Prepare your home, transportation, support system, and recovery essentials before surgery day.
Your body needs energy and nutrients to support the demands of surgery and healing. Prioritize a balanced eating pattern and discuss any nutritional concerns with your surgical team, particularly if you have dietary restrictions or difficulty maintaining adequate intake.
Include protein-rich foods throughout your day according to your dietary needs.
Build meals around nutrient-dense foods rather than relying on heavily processed convenience foods.
Maintain appropriate fluid intake and follow any fasting instructions provided by your medical team before surgery.
Supplements are not automatically safe around surgery. Your surgeon and anesthesia team should know about every vitamin, herbal product, supplement, and medication you take because some products may affect bleeding, anesthesia, or other aspects of your care.
Vitamins, herbs, supplements, prescriptions, and over-the-counter medications.
Ask which products should continue, change, or be temporarily stopped.
Never make last-minute medication or supplement changes without medical guidance.
Appropriate physical activity before planned surgery can help improve overall fitness and prepare you for recovery. The right routine depends on your health, procedure, and current fitness level, so follow guidance from your surgeon, physician, or physical therapist.
Walking and other appropriate activity can help maintain baseline fitness.
Procedure-specific conditioning may help prepare the muscle groups you'll rely on during recovery.
Don't turn preparation into overtraining. Build consistency rather than pushing through pain or exhaustion.
Your pre-operative assessment is an important opportunity to review your health history, medications, allergies, supplements, and any conditions that may affect your care. Your medical team will provide individualized instructions about medications, eating, drinking, and testing.
✓ Current medication list
✓ Vitamins and supplements
✓ Allergies
✓ Previous surgeries
✓ Relevant medical conditions
✓ Recent test results, when requested
✓ Surgeon and anesthesia instructions
✓ Emergency/contact information
A little planning before surgery can make the first days at home easier. Think about what you’ll need within reach, how you’ll get around safely, where you’ll rest, and who can help with everyday tasks.
Once your procedure is complete, your priorities change. Learn how to protect your incision, manage swelling, move safely, and make recovery more comfortable with physician-informed guidance and carefully selected recovery essentials.
