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Questions to Ask Before Surgery (Cheat-Sheet)
Tick the topics you care about and we will build a tidy, printable list of well-phrased questions to take to your surgeon or anaesthetist. You deserve clear answers.
Adds a friendly heading to your sheet. Leave blank if you prefer.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most important questions to ask before surgery?
The essentials are: what type of anaesthetic will I have and what are its risks, how will my pain be controlled afterwards, how long do I need to fast, which of my regular medicines should I stop or continue, how long is recovery and when can I drive, and who will take me home. This tool lets you pick the topics that matter to you and prints them as a ready-to-use list.
When should I ask these questions?
Bring your list to your pre-operative assessment or your appointment with the surgeon or anaesthetist, ideally a few days to a couple of weeks before surgery. That gives the team time to adjust medicines or plans if needed. It is completely fine to ask again on the day if anything is still unclear.
Is it rude to ask my surgeon about their experience?
No. Asking how often a team performs your procedure and what their results are is a reasonable, common question, and good clinicians expect it. Phrasing it warmly, such as 'How often do you do this operation?', keeps the conversation comfortable for everyone.
What if I have a cold or feel unwell before the operation?
Tell the surgical team as soon as possible. A cold, fever, cough or new infection can sometimes mean surgery is postponed for safety, especially with a general anaesthetic. Asking in advance how they handle this means you will know what to do if you wake up feeling off on the day.
Does this tool store my answers?
No. Everything runs in your browser and nothing you tick or type is saved or sent anywhere. When you print or close the page, your selections are gone.