- Prior to surgery, the doctor will assess each patient’s health and refer to specific internists to further assess and prepare them for surgery.
- Patients should eat healthy food to help the body recover quicker and reduce the chance of infection. Drink at least 6 – 8 glasses of water per day.
- Exercise per doctor’s recommendation to strengthen muscles and in increase endurance and flexibility for better recovery.
- Stop smoking cigarettes at least 3 – 6 weeks prior to surgery. Smoking increases the risk during surgery and will make the patient’s heart work much harder as well as lengthen wound healing.
- Stop taking anti-coagulants at least 7 days before surgery or per doctor’s discretion.
- Stop taking vitamins or certain food supplements. Please discuss with your doctor to determine whether they can be taken or not.
- Practice relaxation techniques to reduce stress by practicing medication, read a book to calm you down, etc.