Preparing for plastic surgery starts weeks before your procedure date, not the night before. The steps you take in advance directly affect your safety under anesthesia, your risk of complications like infection and excessive bleeding, and how quickly you heal afterward. Most plastic surgeons will give you a personalized checklist, but the core preparation is remarkably consistent across procedures.
Get Medical Clearance Early
Your surgeon will likely require a visit to your primary care doctor for a checkup and a written clearance letter. Standard preoperative blood work typically includes a complete blood count, basic metabolic panel, coagulation studies, liver and kidney function tests, blood glucose, and a pregnancy test if applicable. If you have underlying conditions like sleep apnea, diabetes, or heart disease, you’ll also need clearance from the specialist managing that condition.
If you see a psychiatrist, expect your surgeon to request a clearance letter from them as well. This isn’t a judgment call on your mental health. It’s a standard safety step to confirm you’re in a stable place for an elective procedure and have realistic expectations about outcomes. Schedule these appointments at least two to three weeks before surgery so you aren’t scrambling for paperwork at the last minute.
Stop Medications, Supplements, and Herbs on Schedule
Many common over-the-counter products thin your blood or interfere with clotting, which raises your risk of excessive bleeding during and after surgery. The list is longer than most people expect. It includes aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Aleve), and prescription anti-inflammatory drugs, but also vitamin E, fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids), garlic supplements, and vitamin C in high doses.
Stanford Medicine recommends stopping all vitamins, herbs, and diet supplements seven days before surgery and waiting seven days after to resume them. Your surgeon may give you a slightly different timeline for prescription medications, especially blood thinners like warfarin or heparin, which require a careful tapering plan. Never stop a prescribed medication without your surgeon’s specific instructions, because some drugs are dangerous to quit abruptly.
Quit Nicotine Weeks in Advance
Nicotine constricts blood vessels and starves your tissues of oxygen, which is exactly what your body needs most during healing. This makes smokers significantly more likely to develop wound breakdown, skin death, and serious infections after surgery. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommends quitting three to six weeks before surgery and staying nicotine-free for three to six weeks after.
This applies to all nicotine sources: cigarettes, vapes, patches, gum, and chewing tobacco. Some surgeons will cancel or postpone your procedure if nicotine shows up in a preoperative test. If quitting feels overwhelming, talk to your doctor about short-term cessation support well ahead of your surgery date.
Stop Drinking Alcohol Two Weeks Before
Alcohol thins the blood, increases your risk of excessive bleeding, and acts as a diuretic that leaves you dehydrated. It can also interact unpredictably with anesthesia, potentially intensifying its effects or causing unexpected responses during the procedure. The general recommendation is to stop drinking at least two weeks before your scheduled surgery date and avoid it during early recovery as well.
Optimize Your Diet and Hydration
What you eat in the weeks leading up to surgery has a measurable effect on how well your body repairs itself afterward. Protein is the priority. It’s the raw material your body uses to rebuild tissue, repair muscle, and fight off infection. Aim to increase your protein intake through lean meats, fish, eggs, beans, and dairy in the two to three weeks before your procedure.
Vitamin C and zinc are particularly important because they drive collagen production, the protein that holds wounds together as they heal. Many plastic surgeons specifically recommend supplementing with both in the weeks before surgery (stopping them only in the final seven days, per the supplement guidelines above, unless your surgeon says otherwise). Vitamins A and D also support healing by lowering inflammation and helping prevent infection. Stay well hydrated in the days leading up to surgery, since your body needs adequate fluid levels to handle anesthesia safely and recover efficiently.
Follow Fasting Rules the Day Of
If you’re going under general anesthesia, your stomach needs to be empty to prevent a dangerous complication where stomach contents enter your lungs. The American Society of Anesthesiologists guidelines are specific:
- Clear liquids (water, black coffee, apple juice without pulp): stop 2 hours before your procedure.
- A light meal or milk: stop at least 6 hours before.
- Heavy, fatty, or fried foods: stop 8 or more hours before.
Most surgical teams simplify this to “nothing to eat or drink after midnight,” but if your surgery is later in the day, you may be able to have clear liquids in the morning. Follow whatever instructions your surgical team gives you. If you eat or drink outside the allowed window, your surgery will almost certainly be postponed.
Shower With Antiseptic Cleanser
Your surgeon may ask you to shower with a 4% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) solution the night before or morning of surgery. This is a strong antiseptic that continues killing bacteria on your skin even after you rinse it off, reducing your risk of surgical site infection. Wash your hair first with your normal shampoo, then apply the CHG solution to your body, avoiding your face and eyes.
The key detail most people miss: after rinsing off the CHG solution, do not apply any lotion, cream, deodorant, makeup, powder, perfume, or cologne. These products can interfere with the antiseptic’s protective effect. Put on clean clothes and leave your skin bare.
Set Up Your Recovery Space at Home
You won’t feel like organizing anything after surgery, so prepare your home beforehand. Stock your recovery area with the basics: gauze pads for covering incisions and absorbing drainage, Q-tips and a gentle antiseptic for cleaning around sutures, and any scar therapy products your surgeon recommends. If you’re having eyelid surgery, pick up lubricating eye drops in advance.
Arrange a comfortable spot where you can rest in an elevated position. Many people find a recliner or a wedge pillow easier than lying flat, especially after facial or breast procedures. Place everything you’ll need within arm’s reach: medications, water, phone charger, remote control, extra pillows. Pre-make or buy easy meals that are high in protein and require no cooking. Fill prescriptions before your surgery date so they’re ready when you get home.
Some surgeons recommend keeping recovery supplements on hand, particularly arnica for swelling and bruising, bromelain (a pineapple-derived enzyme) for inflammation, and vitamin C and zinc to support tissue repair once you’re cleared to resume them.
Arrange a Caregiver for the First 72 Hours
You will need someone with you for at least the first 48 to 72 hours after surgery. This isn’t optional. UCLA Health specifies that your caregiver should be prepared to wake you for medications, help you get to the bathroom, prepare your food, and be present in case of an emergency. General anesthesia affects your coordination, judgment, and alertness for longer than most people expect, and pain medication compounds those effects.
Choose someone you’re comfortable being vulnerable around, because early recovery involves help with basic tasks. Make sure they know your medication schedule, your surgeon’s emergency contact number, and what warning signs to watch for. If you don’t have a friend or family member available for the full 72 hours, ask your surgeon’s office about post-operative nursing care services, which many practices can arrange.
Practical Checklist for the Final Week
- 7 days out: Stop all vitamins, herbs, and supplements. Confirm your caregiver’s availability. Fill prescriptions.
- 5 to 3 days out: Grocery shop for recovery meals. Set up your recovery space. Do laundry so you have clean, loose, comfortable clothing ready.
- 1 day out: Shower with CHG antiseptic if instructed. Skip all skin products afterward. Lay out comfortable, button-front or zip-up clothing for surgery day (avoid anything you’ll need to pull over your head).
- Morning of: Follow your fasting instructions precisely. Take only the medications your surgeon specifically told you to take with a small sip of water. Leave jewelry, contact lenses, and valuables at home. Arrive with a clean face and no nail polish, since your surgical team monitors your skin color and oxygen levels through your nails.