What Should You Not Drink a Week Before Surgery?

Certain drinks should not be consumed the week before surgery for optimal recovery post-operation.

Are you wondering what you should and shouldn’t drink before your surgery?

As a specialized plastic surgery dietitian, I know it can be confusing and overwhelming to know how to best prep for your upcoming surgery. My job is to provide you with the accurate and evidence-based information you need to go into your surgery feeling empowered and prepared.

In today’s article, I will be going over what drinks you should NOT drink a week before surgery. I will also include a brief section on why surgery prep is important and should be taken seriously. You can never be too prepared for pre-op!

Looking for additional guidance before and after surgery?  Check out our website here. 

Why is surgery preparation important?

Surgery preparation is everything that you do before your operation to prepare yourself for surgery. Surgical procedures can take a toll on your body and there is a large amount of room for complications.

You can limit your risk for mishaps by properly prepping for your procedure and going into it in your best health.

An often overlooked aspect of pre-op is nutrition: both the foods you are eating and the drinks you are drinking. Certain foods and drinks can benefit you before your surgery.

On the flip side, there are also foods and drinks you will want to avoid or limit a week before your procedure starts.

Looking for more information about what to eat before surgery? Make sure to check out my article on the benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet before surgery!

Can I Have Caffeine Before Surgery?

Caffeine is a staple in many people’s diets. However, I recommend to stop drinking caffeine a week before surgery and there are a few reasons why.

First off, caffeine withdrawals can lead to severe pain/headaches. Since you aren’t drinking caffeine during and right after surgery, you do not want to be going through your withdrawals over that period. Some limited studies state the caffeine withdrawal period can be so painful that it will impede healing!

Second, caffeine can lead to dehydration and poor sleep quality. These two things can negatively affect your body and you want to go into your surgery the healthiest you can be.

3 Drinks Highest in Caffeine:

• Coffee
• Black Tea
• Espresso

3 Drinks Lower in Caffeine:

• White Tea
• Flavored Sparkling Water
• Herbal Tea (peppermint)

Action Tip #1: Pick up a few non-caffeinated drink options besides water to have on hand for the weeks before and after your surgery. Fruit-infused sparkling waters are a great option.

Weight-Loss/Detox Drinks Before Surgery

Weight loss and detox drinks are a very popular fad, but should you be drinking these before surgery? As a specialized surgery dietitian, my answer is no! And here’s why.

Detox and weight loss drinks are typically used in replacement of foods and meals. If you are drinking these as most of your calories, you are likely to be nutrient deficient. Going into your surgery deficient in nutrients is not ideal whatsoever and can slow your recovery period.

Examples of drinks to avoid include:

• “Skinny” teas
• Juice cleanses
• Herbal detoxes
• Fat burners
• Weight loss shakes

Another thing to be concerned about is many of these drinks contain herbal extracts. These herbal extracts may interfere with the anesthesia you are getting during your surgery.

Can I Drink Alcohol Before Surgery?

Alcohol can be a huge contributor to inflammation. Excess inflammation in your body will lead to poor and slow recovery after surgery. Which you do not want! You want your post-op to go as smoothly as possible.

Stop any alcohol consumption when your surgeon tells you to or at least one week prior to surgery.

Action tip #2: Opt for fun mocktails that contain anti-inflammatory ingredients, for an extra boost. try this recipe here.

What Should You Not Drink a Week Before Surgery: Final Thoughts

Put your best foot forward going into surgery by paying attention to what you are eating and drinking beforehand.

Remember these action points:

• Caffeine, alcohol, and weight loss/detox drinks should be avoided before surgery
• Caffeine can cause severe withdrawals, dehydration, and poor sleep quality
• Inflammation from alcohol consumption could slow recovery
• Weight loss/detox drinks can lead to nutrient deficiencies
• Herbal extracts may interact with anesthesia
• Stock up on non-caffeinated drinks and bonus points for anti-inflammatory ingredients

Head over to the other posts on my blog to binge on more surgery nutrition content!

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