Your surgery · Step 01
Before your surgery.
What to do in the days before your procedure: eating and drinking, medications, and your ride home.
Where your surgeon's instructions differ from what is written here, follow your surgeon and call us at 713.804.1959 so we can confirm.
Your pre-op call
A member of our team will call you before your procedure to review your health history, your medications, your instructions, and your ride home. That call takes about 20 minutes. Have your medication bottles with you.
Eating and drinking
| Item | Stop at |
|---|---|
| Solid food, milk, fried or fatty foods | 8 hours before arrival |
| Light meal (toast, crackers) | 6 hours before arrival |
| Clear liquids: water, black coffee or tea with no milk, clear juice with no pulp, sports drinks | 2 hours before arrival |
| Chewing gum, hard candy, mints, tobacco, alcohol | Avoid on the day of surgery |
Clear means you can see through it. No milk, no cream, no pulp, no alcohol. If you eat or drink outside these windows, call us. We may need to reschedule for your safety, and we would much rather move your date than take a risk.
Your medications
Bring a written list of everything you take, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbal supplements, and anything you inject. Do not stop or change any prescription on your own. Your surgeon and your prescribing doctor decide together.
Medicines that need a specific plan
Each of these needs individual instructions confirmed by our Medical Director before your date:
- Blood thinners and antiplatelets
- Diabetes medications, including insulin
- GLP-1 medications (semaglutide, tirzepatide, and similar). These delay stomach emptying and require specific pre-op instructions
- Blood pressure medications
- Diuretics
- MAOIs and certain psychiatric medications
- NSAIDs and aspirin
- Hormone therapy
- Immunosuppressants
- Inhalers and CPAP
- Medical marijuana and cannabis products
- Recreational substances. We ask without judgment, because they change anesthesia safety
Getting ready at home
- Shower with soap the night before or the morning of your procedure
- No lotions, powders, perfumes, deodorant, makeup, or nail polish
- Remove jewelry and piercings, including rings. Hands and feet can swell
- Leave valuables at home
- No shaving the surgical area
What to bring
- Photo ID
- Insurance cards
- A list of your medications
- Your inhaler, CPAP, or glucose meter if you use one
- Glasses instead of contacts
- Your case or bag for hearing aids and dentures
- A loose, comfortable outfit and flat shoes
- Your advance directive if you have one
What to leave home
- Jewelry
- Cash and cards beyond what you need
- Valuables
- Contact lenses
If you get sick before your surgery
Call us if you develop a fever, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, a new rash, or a skin infection near the surgical site. Being sick can make anesthesia less safe. Calling us is never a bother.
Tell us in advance if you
- Need an interpreter
- Need a wheelchair or other accommodation
- Have a latex allergy
- Have had a bad reaction to anesthesia
- Are or might be pregnant
- Are a caregiver for someone who needs arrangements
