The short version
- Stop blood thinners including aspirin, ibuprofen, and other NSAIDs 5 days before surgery. [1]
- GLP-1 medications have to stop 2 weeks before surgery. [1]
- Hold metformin the day before surgery. [1]
- Nothing to eat or chew for 8 hours before you arrive. Clear liquids are allowed up to 2 hours before. [1]
- Shower with antibacterial soap the night before and the morning of. [1]
- Arrange a responsible adult to drive you home, and someone to stay with you 24 hours. [1]
Your own discharge papers come first
Everything on this page is taken from the standard printed instructions this office gives patients. If the papers you were handed at discharge say something different, follow those. They were written for your operation. When the two disagree, call the office at 817-759-7065 and let us settle it.
Pre-operative instructions
The fasting, medication, and hygiene rules on one printable page. Put it on the refrigerator.
The two weeks before
| What to do | |
|---|---|
| 2 weeks before | Stop GLP-1 medications. [1] Start increasing your water and protein. [1] |
| 1 to 2 weeks before | The hospital will contact you to schedule a pre-operative appointment for labs, imaging, and an EKG. [1] |
| 5 days before | Stop blood thinners: aspirin, ibuprofen, and other NSAIDs. [1] |
| 24 hours before | No alcohol. [1] |
| The day before | Hold metformin. [1] Avoid gas-producing foods if you are having laparoscopic surgery. [1] The surgery scheduler will call to confirm your arrival time. [1] |
| 12 hours before | No smoking. [1] |
| 8 hours before arrival | Nothing to eat or chew. [1] |
| 2 hours before | Clear liquids stop. [1] |
Eating and drinking
Do not eat or chew anything for 8 hours before you arrive at the hospital. You may have clear liquids up to 2 hours before your procedure. You may brush your teeth the morning of your procedure as normal. [1]
Chewing gum counts as chewing. So do mints and hard candy. This is the instruction most often broken by accident.
Do not drink alcohol in the 24 hours before surgery, and do not smoke in the 12 hours before. [1] If you are having laparoscopic surgery, avoid gas-producing foods the day before, because it can add to the gas pain afterward. [1]
Water and protein, before and after
It is important to increase your water and your protein intake both before and after surgery, up to 2 weeks after. [1] Protein is the raw material your body rebuilds tissue from. This one instruction is easy to skip and it genuinely affects how well you heal.
Your medications
- Essential medications such as blood pressure and thyroid medicine: continue them, with a small sip of water on the day of surgery. [1]
- Blood thinners including aspirin, ibuprofen, and other NSAIDs: stop 5 days before surgery. [1]
- Metformin: hold the day before surgery. [1]
- GLP-1 medications: stop 2 weeks before surgery. [1]
Do not stop a prescribed blood thinner on your own
If you take a blood thinner because of a clot, a stent, a mechanical heart valve, or an irregular heart rhythm, stopping it is a decision for the doctor who prescribed it, working with the surgical team. Call the office before you change anything. This is the one instruction on this page you should never act on alone.
Skin and hygiene
- Shower the night before and the morning of surgery using antibacterial soap such as Hibiclens or Dial. [1]
- Do not apply lotions, powders, perfumes, or deodorants the day of your surgery. [1]
- Remove contact lenses, jewelry, makeup, nail polish, and piercings before surgery. [1]
What to bring
- Photo ID and insurance card. [1]
- A list of all your medications and allergies, brought to your pre-operative appointment. [1]
- Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to go home in. [1]
- Leave all valuables at home. [1]
Your ride and your helper
Arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home after surgery, and arrange for someone to stay with you for at least 24 hours afterward. [1] A rideshare does not satisfy this. Anesthesia affects judgment and memory for longer than it feels like it does, and the surgery may be cancelled if there is no one to take you home.
The phone calls you will get
Two calls are coming, and both matter.
About 1 to 2 weeks before surgery, the hospital will contact you to schedule a pre-operative appointment for labs, imaging, and an EKG. If you cannot attend a pre-operative appointment before surgery, let the surgery scheduler know as soon as possible. To change the day or time of that appointment, contact the hospital directly. [1]
The day before surgery, the surgery scheduler will call to confirm your arrival time. Make sure the phone number on your paperwork is one where we can leave a detailed voicemail about any changes. Your arrival time can change at any time. [1] The scheduling line is 817-759-7019.
Pre-operative instructions
The full printed instructions, including the fasting, medication, and hygiene rules.
Sources
- Vasques DR. Pre Operative Instructions. The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Fort Worth, TX. Patient handout supplied by the practice. pdfs/before-surgery-instructions.pdf
Reviewed by DeEtte R. Vasques, DO, MBA · September 2026