Before Surgery

I take a GLP-1 medication:

(Examples: Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Mounjaro®, Zepbound®, Trulicity®, Rybelsus®)

If you take a GLP 1 medication for diabetes or weight loss, you MUST follow the CLEAR LIQUID DIET the day prior to surgery instructions— even if your appointment reminder says you may eat the day before. Click HERE for more information.

I do not take a GLP-1 Medication:

You may eat up until midnight the day before surgery unless told otherwise. Avoid heavy, fatty or fried foods.

On the day of surgery, you may continue drinking clear liquids up until 2 hours before your scheduled hospital arrival. If you received specific stopping instructions from your surgeon or anesthesia team, please comply with those guidelines as you prepare for your procedure.

Allowed clear liquids

• Water
• Apple juice or white grape juice
• Plain tea or black coffee (no milk or cream)
• Clear sports drinks

• Prior to surgery, the following items will need to be removed. Contacts, body/facial piercings, jewelry including earrings, hearing aids and dentures.
• Please create a plan for safekeeping. Storage cases will be provided if needed and kept with your clothing bad in a secured location until you arrive to your surgical floor.
• It is recommended that a responsible adult assist you after your surgery.
• Encourage patients to arrange for a responsible person to remain with them at home and reinforce to the patient, not to drive through the evening and night following their procedure.
• Please remove and leave contact lenses at home if possible. If this is not an option, please bring solution and a storage case.
• You may NOT drive yourself home after anesthesia. A responsible adult must accompany you in taking a car, cab, bus, train or van.
• If you use a CPAP machine for sleep apnea, please bring it with you on the day of your procedure.
• Bring your insurance card and ID with you to the hospital.
• Follow any special diet instructions given by your surgeon.

• You may brush your teeth, but do not swallow.
• Remove nail polish and/or artificial nails on the operative side if having surgery on your hands, feet or legs.
• Bring a case for eyeglasses.
• Wear loose fitting clothes. If you are having surgery above the waist, a button-down shirt will be easier to put on after surgery.
• Take a shower with soap and water and pay attention to cleaning the surgical area. Do not shave the surgical area with a razor. Dry yourself with a clean towel and put on clean clothes.
• Call your surgeon before surgery if you do not feel well or develop any signs of illness, cold, fever, sore throat, chest pain or difficulty breathing.

• Please bring a list of all of your medications with doses and time of day taken (this list includes over the counter medications, herbal supplements, aspirin, inhalers, creams, patches, etc).
• Do not take any herbal medications or vitamins for 7 days before your procedure.
• Do not take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) for 7 days before surgery. These include but are not limited to: Ibuprofen/Motrin, Advil, Daypro,Naprosyn or Feldene.
• If you are having pain or discomfort it is okay to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) unless you have been instructed otherwise.
• If you are taking blood thinners/anticoagulants (including aspirin), it is extremely important that you talk to your surgeon to see if you should continue these medications or not before surgery

Your surgeon’s office may have provided you with an approximate time of surgery. However, please know that we will send you your official arrival time for surgery via text and/or voice call.

You will receive a call and/or a text after 3 pm the day before surgery, telling you what time you should arrive. If your surgery is scheduled for a Monday, you will receive your call or message the Friday before.