How To Prepare Yourself For An Operation

How To Prepare Yourself For An Operation

Nobody wants to think about having operations because it’s often a traumatic experience. That said, knowing how to prepare your body properly is essential. In most instances, the surgeon will meet with you before the procedure and offer advice. We’ve included the standard preparations you need to make one this page. With a bit of luck, the information will help to ensure you don’t cause any issues. Failing to follow this advice could mean the surgeon decides to postpone the operation. So, you need to be careful.

Stop eating twenty-four hours before

For various medical reasons, you are not supposed to eat for at least twenty-four hours before a major operation. That is because the surgeons might enter parts of your digestive system. Obviously, that is not too much of an issue for people undergoing cosmetic procedures. However, the last thing they need is food and waste making their work more difficult. Also, it’s possible that your body will respond to drugs in different ways after consuming certain foods. You can keep yourself safe by simply eating a large meal one day before and then fasting for the duration. In most instances, the hospital staff will provide you with something to eat when you wake up.

Only drink water from twenty-four hours before

It’s also vital that you stop consuming caffeine and other drugs found in modern drinks. Again, it could stop the drugs from working properly, and it could also clog your system. Surgeons are going to knock you out using a general anesthetic. Caffeine is a stimulant, and so it works against their efforts. So long as you only drink water, the liquid should help to cleanse your system. That will mean your body is in a better state when the surgeon begins the operation. People who can’t drink water for whatever reason should stick with cordial. Do not drink Coca-Cola or other fizzy products because they will cause problems. The same goes for tea and coffee.

Ask the surgeon if you need to shave

In most circumstances, surgeons will tell you not the shave before an operation. That is the case, even if they plan to work on a hairy area of your body. That is because you might make a small cut in your skin that could become infected during the operation. So, surgeons tend to use their own 3m surgical clipper when you arrive at the hospital. They prefer to shave you themselves because they can see if there are any cuts or scrapes. Even so, it’s worth asking ahead of time because some professionals might want you to shave to save time.

Following that simple guide should ensure you are always prepared before going into surgery. It’s a daunting experience and not something you want to go through every day. However, medical operations could save your life when you are ill or have certain infections. Never let the fear of going under the knife stop you from living a long and healthy life. Doctors and surgeons would not recommend the procedure were it not for your best interests. Remember, that, and try to calm your nerves one the big day.

Image courtesy of Flickr.

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