A woman speaks with a medical provider prior to surgery.

Preparing for Your Surgery

Preparing for Your Surgery at UVM Health

When you or someone you love needs surgery, you likely have many questions: What surgical procedure is best? How will it help me? What should I do to prepare for surgery?

At University of Vermont Health, we understand that undergoing surgery can be a stressful experience. Our surgeons take the time to get to know you and understand your unique health needs and goals when creating your personalized surgical treatment plan. We want your surgery — and your whole experience with us — to go as smoothly as possible.

Below is some helpful guidance to help you prepare. If you have any additional questions about how to prepare for surgery, please talk to your surgeon.

Before Scheduling Surgery

We make sure you have the information you need to make decisions about surgery. Before you schedule your surgery, you will:

Consult With Your Surgical Care Team

Your surgical consultation includes a conversation with your surgeon. This is your opportunity to learn about:

How surgery can help you
Types of procedures your surgeon may recommend for your specific needs
How you and your surgeon will work together to decide if a surgical procedure is right for you
Possible alternatives to surgery
Risks and benefits of surgical procedures
Support and resources you may need after surgery

During your consultation, your surgical care team asks about any medications you currently take. We may also ask about any previous surgeries you’ve had and whether you have other health conditions or allergies.

Learn About Pain Management

Depending on the surgery, there may be several pain management options available to you. Your surgical care team will ask if you’ve ever had general anesthesia (medication that makes you sleep and prevents pain) and will help you understand the process. If appropriate, your provider will also discuss the use of local anesthesia or spinal blocks to numb specific areas.

Your care team will also help you make a plan for managing postoperative pain. After surgery, you may be prescribed:

Narcotic pain medications (opioids)
Non-narcotic pain medications
Over-the-counter pain medications (such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen)

You will receive instructions about using pain medications safely after surgery and your surgeon may work with your primary care provider to help manage any postoperative pain. We will ask you if you have ever experienced substance use disorder and tailor your pain management appropriately.

Preparing for Surgery

Your surgeon’s office will give you instructions on how to schedule your surgery. Once you have a surgery date, you’ll have a pre-op phone call with a surgical nurse, who will ask you questions and tell you how to prepare. The nurse will instruct you to:

Arrange for Help After Surgery

Talk with your care team about what your recovery might be like. You must plan for someone to drive you home when you leave the surgery center. Depending on your specific needs, you may also need help with:

Caring for young children
Doing housework and shopping
Getting in and out of bed or chairs
Lifting objects above a certain weight

Follow Instructions About Eating and Drinking

Your surgical nurse will tell you when to stop eating and drinking before surgery. You may be able to have certain clear liquids until a couple of hours before certain procedures.

The nurse will also tell you if there are specific foods or beverages (like alcohol) that you must avoid in the days before surgery.

You may wonder why you can’t eat or drink before surgery. General anesthesia stops your reflexes, including those that prevent food or liquids from entering your lungs (aspiration). Aspiration causes breathing problems and can lead to serious complications, so it’s important to follow your provider’s instructions.

Stop Taking Certain Medications

Tell the nurse about any medications you take regularly. They will tell you which you should continue to take. They will also tell you when you should stop taking some medications.

On the day of surgery, your care team will ask about the last time you took each of your medications. Be sure to have this information with you when you come to the hospital.

Prepare Your Skin

It’s important to prepare your skin before surgery to reduce the risk of infection. Plan to shower and use antibacterial soap the night before and the morning of surgery. After your shower on the day of surgery, don’t apply: