5 Tips to Help You Prepare for Surgery

You need to undergo a surgical procedure to improve your health, and you’d like to make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible. While some people might think that the heavy lifting lies with the surgeon, your role is also important, especially in how you prepare.

The surgery experts at Rockwall Surgical Specialists have one overriding goal, and that is to ensure the best possible outcome. Whether you’re having us remove your gallbladder or we’re performing hernia surgery, the steps you take to prepare beforehand matter.

To that end, we present five tips that will help with your surgery and your recovery.

1. Follow our pre-surgical instructions

When you decide to have us perform a surgery, we supply you with detailed instructions that you should follow to the letter. This list includes things like getting a pre-operative check-up, not smoking, and avoiding medications that can thin your blood.

Rest assured, our instructions are thorough and we tailor them to your unique needs. If you’re on medications or other treatments that may affect your surgery, we work with your health care provider to make sure that your surgery goes well and that your health is well looked after.

2. Preparations at home

It’s always a good idea to prepare your home in advance so life after surgery is a little easier. Preparing and freezing meals is always helpful, as is arranging for someone else to do the chores for a week or two. Enlist family and friends in advance to provide you with some support during your early recovery.

3. Get moving

Any steps to boost your health before your surgery are well worth taking. If you can, try and get in some exercise that will improve your cardiovascular health — even a walking routine can help. By improving your cardiovascular system before your surgery, your blood is better able to deliver healing resources afterward.

4. Relieve stress

We know the idea of surgery can be stressful, but we encourage you to find ways in which you can relax beforehand. Stress leads to a higher heart rate and increased muscle tension, which are conditions we want to minimize before your surgery.

Whether you do deep-breathing exercises, practice mediation, or read a book, finding ways to relax will help before, during, and after your surgery.

5. Day-of-surgery steps

On the day of your surgery, we recommend that you take a good shower, as you may not be able to do so for a few days afterward. Please avoid putting on any lotions or makeup before surgery, and leave your good jewelry at home.

Pack — or wear — some comfortable clothes that aren’t too tight, which will be useful when you’re discharged.

We give you pre-surgery eating and drinking instructions, so be sure to follow those, as well.

If you have more questions about preparing for your surgery, please don’t hesitate to contact us. For all of your surgical needs, trust the team at Rockwall Surgical Specialists, with locations in Rowlett, Rockwall, Greenville, Terrell, and Forney, Texas.