Plan & prepare
Your Surgery Countdown
Enter your surgery date and get a clear, printable timeline of what to sort and when — so nothing gets forgotten in the run-up.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I start preparing for surgery?
If you have several weeks, the most valuable early steps are stopping smoking (the single biggest win), getting fitter where you can, and sorting practical things like time off work and a ride home. The week before is for medication timing and shopping for easy recovery food, and the day before and morning of are about fasting, washing, and what to bring. This countdown lays it out by date.
What should I do the night before surgery?
Typically: have your antiseptic shower if you were given one, start fasting from the exact time your hospital told you, pack your bag, take only the medicines you were told to, charge your phone, and get an early night. Your hospital's specific instructions always come first.
Is this countdown a substitute for my hospital's instructions?
No. It's a helpful general framework to make sure nothing is forgotten, but your pre-op letter and team give the exact timings for your fasting, medicines and arrival — always follow those over any general guide.