Do not eat or drink anything after midnight – not even water if you can help it. If abstaining from eating and drinking is something that may cause you problems, talk to your surgeon and follow their advice. Avoid drinking alcohol for at least 12 hours before your surgery.
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery. This includes water, coffee, gum, or mints. If you do, it may be necessary to cancel your surgery. Do not smoke or use chewing tobacco after midnight the night before your surgery.
Do not eat or drink anything for at least eight hours before your scheduled surgery. Do not chew gum or use any tobacco products. Leave jewelry and other valuables at home. Take out removable teeth prior to transfer to the operating room and do not wear glasses or contact lenses in the OR.
The amount of time you have to go without food or drink (fast) before you have your operation will depend on the type of operation you're having. However, it is usually at least 6 hours for food, and 2 hours for fluids.
Can I brush my teeth the morning of surgery? Yes. You may brush your teeth and swish with a small amount of water to rinse.
This is done as a precautionary measure. If there is excess water in your system during a surgery, it can lead to pulmonary aspiration. This means if your stomach consists of any water, it will enter your lungs and potentially block the airways and cause major infections such as pneumonia.
Answer: Rest Days
There is no reason to stop your normal exercise routine prior to surgery. I would not try anything new the day before for risk of muscle strain, but a normal exercise routine is completely fine.
You can't wear deodorant during surgery because it can leave a residue on your skin that's difficult to remove. This residue might make it challenging for the surgeon to cut through the incision site or accurately assess your skin circulation during surgery.
It is important that you get a good night's sleep before your surgery. If you find you are nervous or anxious the night before, you can take an over-the-counter sleep aid. If you are already on a nerve medication, e.g., diazepam, please contact your primary care doctor for instructions.
The best meals before surgery will include a balance of lean protein, unprocessed carbohydrates, vegetables, and healthy (mainly plant-based) fats. Lean protein sources could include eggs, chicken, and fish. You can add a range of healthy carbohydrates like bananas, buckwheat, quinoa, sweet potatoes, and more.
Use of certain medications. Heart or lung problems. Daily alcohol use. Lower anesthesia doses than are necessary used during procedure.
Apply the soap to your entire body from the jaw down, using a clean washcloth or your hands. Do not use CHG near your eyes, ears, nose or mouth. Wash thoroughly for five minutes, paying special attention to the area where your surgery will be performed. Do not scrub your skin too hard.
If you're having general anesthesia, an anesthesiologist will give you medications that make you lose consciousness. After the surgery is complete, he or she will reverse the medication so that you regain consciousness — but you won't be wide awake right away.
Your surgeon will instruct you to avoid food and water for up to 12 hours before surgery. Fasting before surgery helps prevent complications. This includes nausea and aspiration. Aspiration is when you inhale food or fluids that were in your stomach.
Get Plenty of Rest
With any major surgery, it's important to stay in bed as much as possible for at least 24–48 hours after the procedure. Some surgeries may require even more patient bed rest. Sleep if you feel tired and be sure to move slower than your usual pace.
Time of Day Matters
When considering the time of day to schedule your surgery, it's often recommended that anytime between 9 AM and noon work best. Bright and early allows every party to feel ready, and it's best to get it done sooner rather than later. This way, you'll have all day to recover.
Eat and drink well in the lead up to your surgery, and give up smoking. Make sure you have enough of the medicines you take regularly for your hospital stay and recovery time at home. If you need to order more of your medicines or use a dosette box, ask for these from your GP a week before your surgery.
Bathe or shower the day of surgery. Do not wear makeup, lotion, powder, deodorant or nail polish. It is important to remove your nail polish so that the doctors and nurses can see your true color during the surgery and in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit.
Relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, meditation or muscle relaxation can be helpful. These techniques can be learned in classes or with the help of pre-recorded audio training courses. Massages, acupuncture, homeopathy, aromatherapy or hypnosis are sometimes offered before surgery too.
Long format surgery may take 6-12 hours, is it safe to be “under” for this long? Sometimes it is recommended to undertake several plastic surgery procedures during one session. This is known as a long format surgery, which may take anywhere from 6-12 hours in duration.
Traditionally, postoperative oral hydration after general anesthesia (non-gastrointestinal surgery) has been withheld for about 4-6 hours for safety, in order to avoid vomiting, nausea because of residual anesthetics and incomplete emergence [2,3].
Anesthetic drugs can stay in your system for up to 24 hours. If you've had sedation or regional or general anesthesia, you shouldn't return to work or drive until the drugs have left your body. After local anesthesia, you should be able to resume normal activities, as long as your healthcare provider says it's okay.