Prepare your body

Eat as well as you can

Eating nourishing meals with lots of fruit, vegetables, healthy grains and legumes will help your body deal with the stress of a hospital stay. If you are underweight, try to eat more frequent, smaller meals at regular intervals to reach a healthy weight before you go to hospital.

Quit smoking

If you smoke, try to quit. Quitting smoking will improve your recovery and reduce the chance of complications and infections. The sooner you can quit, the better, but even if you stop smoking the day before surgery, you will experience positive outcomes.

Manage other health conditions

Make sure your doctor or surgeon knows about all health conditions you have, since they may impact your surgery and recovery. See your GP as early as possible before your surgery to make sure any other conditions are well-managed. If you have diabetes, make an extra effort to manage your blood glucose levels.

See your dentist

Poor oral health has been linked to infections. If you can, see your dentist for a check-up before you go to hospital so any issues can be treated. Brush your teeth really well (at least twice a day, especially after meals), and don’t forget to floss!

Feeling unwell?

Make sure any infections you have, such as a cold or a skin infection, are cleared up before you have surgery. If you feel like you may be getting sick just before you’re due to go to hospital, let your doctor or the hospital know, as your operation may need to be postponed until you’re better.