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Surgery (Preparing, Recovering & Staying Safe)

Planned surgery goes better with good preparation. Ask questions, consider a second opinion, tell your team about every medicine and supplement, follow the fasting rules, protect against infection and blood clots, use pain medicine safely, and know the warning signs that need a call to your surgeon or 911.

After surgery, call 911 for: sudden shortness of breath, chest pain that is worse when you breathe in or cough, coughing up blood, a very fast or irregular heartbeat, or fainting. These can be signs that a blood clot has traveled to the lungs (CDC). Do not drive yourself to the hospital (NHS).

Call your surgeon or care team right away for (CDC, NHS, CDC):

  • a fever, or new redness and pain around the wound;
  • cloudy fluid draining from the wound;
  • pain, swelling, warmth or discolored skin in one leg or arm — about half of people with a leg clot have no symptoms, so don’t wait for all of them;
  • bleeding — too much bleeding is a possible complication of surgery (MedlinePlus). MBHA suggests calling 911 if it will not stop or you feel faint.

Follow the discharge instructions your own surgeon gives you.

Why surgery needs a plan

People have surgery to relieve or prevent pain, improve how part of the body works, find a problem, or save a life. Some operations once needing large cuts can now be done through small ones (laparoscopic surgery). Complications can include infection, too much bleeding, a reaction to anesthesia or accidental injury, and there is almost always some pain (MedlinePlus). Some people have a higher risk because of other medical conditions (MedlinePlus).

Much of what helps is within your reach. This guide is for adults facing planned surgery and follows the journey in order: questions and second opinions; getting ready (smoking, diabetes, medicines and supplements, fitness); fasting and anesthesia; preventing infection and clots; pain control; recovery, therapy and mood; warning signs; and costs. Emergency surgery is different — there may be no time for second opinions, and the team decides what must be done first.

Related guides: Anesthesia, Blood Clots, Medication Safety, Drug Overdose, Smoking and Diabetes.

Side by side

Six approaches compared

For every condition we look at the same six approaches: what each involves, what it typically costs, and what a patient can realistically expect.

ApproachWhat it involves Estimated costWhat to expect
Conventional medicine (AMA) Your surgeon, anesthesia team and nurses decide whether surgery is right, check your health and medicines, give anesthesia and pain control, prevent infection and clots, and plan your recovery. Medicare says surgery costs are hard to know in advance; Part B generally pays 80% of the approved amount after the deductible, and inpatient care is Part A (2026 deductible $1,736). Uninsured anesthesia often runs about $500–$3,500 or more, per The Pricer. Most of your safety comes from this team and from following instructions exactly. Fatigue and some pain are normal; the warning signs above are not.
Chiropractic No role in preparing for most surgery or in the operating room. Some chiropractors see people with ongoing pain after spine surgery. About $55 to $100 per follow-up visit paying cash, per The Pricer. Medicare covers only spinal adjustments to correct a subluxation. We found little research on when it is safe to start after surgery. Don’t book an adjustment before your surgeon agrees.
Acupuncture Stimulating the P6 (PC6) wrist point, with needles or pressure, to help prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery; also studied for pain after surgery. About $90 to $185 per follow-up visit and up to $230 for a first private visit, per The Pricer. Medicare covers acupuncture only for chronic low back pain not associated with surgery. Cochrane reviews found it may reduce nausea and vomiting, though most of the evidence is rated low certainty. Use it with, not instead of, your team’s plan.
Herbal medicine Mainly a safety step: tell your surgeon and anesthesia team about every herb, vitamin and supplement. Garlic, ginkgo and ginseng raise bleeding concerns. Cost estimate being researched. NCCIH says some supplements may raise bleeding risk or change your response to anesthesia. Ask your team what to stop and when; never stop a prescribed medicine on your own.
Massage therapy Gentle massage after surgery, with your surgeon’s agreement, to ease pain and tension alongside your pain plan. One national chain: about $70 to $90 a month on a 12-month membership, per The Pricer. Reviews suggest massage may lower pain after surgery, but the studies were low quality. Keep pressure away from incisions; never rub a painful, swollen leg.
MBHA Wellness Coach Turns the plan into habits: quitting smoking, moving more, a medicine and supplement list, questions to ask, a home and helper plan, and support for mood. Cost estimate being researched. Supports, and never replaces, your medical team. Starting weeks ahead gives changes like quitting smoking time to work.

Approach 1 of 6

Conventional medicine (AMA)

Planned surgery involves a team: your surgeon, an anesthesia professional, nurses and, often, a physical therapist. The usual path:

  • Consultation. The first appointment is with the surgeon or a team member. The NHS notes it is not guaranteed you will be offered surgery; the decision follows tests and a careful assessment (NHS).
  • Pre-operative assessment. You are asked about your health, medical history and home circumstances, and some tests may be done to see whether anything needs treating first (NHS). For a general anesthetic this is usually a few weeks ahead (NHS). You should be told whether to stop eating and drinking and whether to stop any usual medicines (NHS).
  • Consent. Your surgeon should ask well in advance so you have time to read and ask questions, and you may withdraw consent before the operation (NHS).
  • Day of surgery. Several people will ask you the same questions; the NHS says this is routine and ensures information is checked at every stage (NHS). Afterward it is common to feel hazy or sick, or to have a sore throat, and staff check your blood pressure and temperature regularly (NHS).
  • Going home. Ask who to call with concerns, how to care for the wound, when stitches come out and when your follow-up is (NHS). Also ask about supplies and help at home, return to work and exercise, and other limits (MedlinePlus).

The sections below go deeper: Questions and second opinions, Getting ready, Fasting, anesthesia and the day of surgery, Preventing infection and blood clots, Pain control and opioid safety, Wound care, therapy and getting back to activity, Your mental health and What surgery can cost.

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Approach 2 of 6

Chiropractic

Chiropractic care is not part of getting ready for most operations and has no role in the operating room or in treating a surgical wound. Its place is mainly for back, neck or other musculoskeletal pain, before you decide on an operation or long after you have healed.

Timing: ask your surgeon first

We found little research on when spinal manipulation is safe to start after surgery. A systematic review of 103 patients (71 reports) who received spinal manipulation for persistent pain after lumbar surgery found it was most often a gentler, non-thrust technique, and that chiropractors were more likely than other providers to use a manual thrust. The authors suggested providers tend to be cautious, but the review describes what clinicians did — it does not show that any timing or technique is safe (Trager et al., 2023).

NCCIH says mild soreness is common after spinal manipulation and usually goes away within 24 hours; serious problems, including neck-artery tears that can lead to stroke, are very rare but may be more likely in people with underlying health problems, so tell the practitioner about your conditions and medicines (NCCIH). MBHA suggests also mentioning your operation, any hardware and any blood thinner, avoiding adjustments near a healing wound, and getting your surgeon’s approval first. Considering spine surgery? See our Back Pain guide.

What it costs

The Pricer lists about $55 to $100 for a self-pay follow-up visit and $90 to $200 for a first appointment (The Pricer). Medicare covers only spinal adjustments to correct a subluxation, not other services or tests a chiropractor orders (Medicare.gov).

Find a chiropractor in our directory

Approach 3 of 6

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been studied for two common problems after surgery: nausea and vomiting, and pain.

Nausea and vomiting

  • 2015 Cochrane review (59 trials, 7,667 people): compared with sham treatment, stimulating the P6 (PC6) wrist point reduced nausea, vomiting and the need for rescue anti-nausea medicine, though the authors rated the evidence low quality. Compared with anti-nausea drugs, P6 showed no difference, with moderate-quality evidence (Lee et al., 2015).
  • 2025 Cochrane update (77 trials, 9,847 people): needle and no-needle methods (such as wristbands) may both reduce nausea and vomiting versus sham, and combining P6 with anti-nausea medicine may help most. Most findings were low certainty; side effects were minor, such as skin irritation or redness (Lee et al., 2025).

Pain, safety and coverage

NCCIH reports a 2016 evaluation of 11 studies (682 participants) in which people treated with acupuncture or related techniques one day after surgery had less pain and used less opioid medicine (NCCIH). Relatively few complications have been reported, mostly from nonsterile needles or improper treatment, and the FDA requires needles to be sterile and single-use (NCCIH). Tell your surgical team before using acupuncture or a wristband. Medicare covers acupuncture only for chronic low back pain, and not for pain associated with surgery (Medicare.gov).

What it costs

The Pricer lists about $90 to $185 for a private follow-up visit, up to about $230 for a first private visit, and community acupuncture around $50 to $90 (The Pricer). Wristbands: cost estimate being researched.

Find an acupuncturist in our directory

Approach 4 of 6

Herbal medicine

For surgery, herbs and supplements are mainly a safety topic. NCCIH says certain supplements may increase the risk of bleeding or affect your response to anesthesia, and advises telling your providers about all of them, as far in advance as possible (NCCIH). The FDA does not approve supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are sold (FDA).

Tell your team about everything

A 2024 review reports that 50–70% of surgical patients do not tell their physicians about herbal medicines and most do not stop them before surgery; it adds that the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists recommend stopping herbal medications 1–2 weeks before elective surgery (Elvir Lazo et al., 2024). In a study of 526 surgical patients, 44% used supplements, 16.5% used something that could interact with anesthesia, and use was documented in the files of only 11% of users (Levy et al., 2017).

The ones most often named

The JAMA authors said doctors should ask about herbal use before surgery and be ready to manage problems from both use and discontinuation (Ang-Lee et al., 2001), so the timing of any change belongs to your team.

Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own, and do not start a new supplement without asking. MedlinePlus tells people having surgery to let their doctor or dentist know they take aspirin (MedlinePlus) or semaglutide (MedlinePlus). Bring your bottles or a written list to your pre-op visit and ask which to take, pause and restart. We don’t list doses. See our Medication Safety guide.

What it costs

Cost estimate being researched.

Approach 5 of 6

Massage therapy

Massage will not prepare you for surgery or treat a wound, but gentle massage is sometimes used afterward to ease pain and tension, alongside — not instead of — your pain plan.

What the research says

  • A 2017 review of 10 randomized trials (1,157 people) found a single massage session improved pain after surgery, with a clear effect for breastbone incisions; anxiety results varied a lot. The authors cautioned that the studies were of low quality (Kukimoto et al., 2017).
  • Another 2017 review of 12 trials found that after chest surgery, people given massage on top of pain medicine reported roughly 0.8 points less pain on a 0–10 scale than with sham massage or standard care alone (Boitor et al., 2017).

Safety near an incision or a swollen leg

NCCIH says massage risk appears low, but rare serious problems such as a blood clot, nerve injury or bone fracture have been reported, some after vigorous deep-tissue massage or in older adults (NCCIH). After surgery MBHA suggests: ask your surgeon first; tell the therapist about your operation and any blood thinner; keep pressure and oils away from incisions, dressings, drains and IV sites; and never massage a leg that is swollen, painful, warm or discolored — those are possible clot signs (CDC), so call your surgeon the same day.

What it costs

One national chain’s membership runs about $70 to $90 a month on a 12-month term (The Pricer). Medicare’s chiropractic page lists massage therapy among services it does not cover (Medicare.gov).

Find a massage therapist in our directory

Approach 6 of 6

MBHA Wellness Coach

An MBHA Wellness Coach does not give medical advice, but can help you carry out your care team’s instructions and build habits that help you heal.

  • Make a master list of every prescription, over-the-counter product, vitamin and herb, and know your earlier test results; the NHS asks patients to bring this to the pre-operative assessment (NHS).
  • Work on long-term conditions. The NHS suggests managing diabetes, blood pressure or anemia as well as possible, staying active, stopping smoking and treating dental problems before a general anesthetic (NHS).
  • Line up help. You will not usually be able to drive yourself home (NHS), and the NHS suggests an adult available for at least 24 hours after a general anesthetic or epidural (NHS). Give family and friends plenty of notice (NHS).
  • Prepare home. Ask what supplies, equipment and help you will need (MedlinePlus).
  • Build habits: a quit-smoking plan, a safe walking routine your doctor has approved (see Getting ready), and better sleep and stress care (see our Sleep Problems and Anxiety guides).
  • Track recovery: a daily log of pain, walking, wound checks and medicines makes follow-up calls easier.

What it costs

Cost estimate being researched.

Another approach

Questions and second opinions

Before you agree to an operation, you can ask why it is recommended, what the alternatives are and what happens if you wait.

Questions to ask the surgeon

The NHS suggests asking (NHS):

  • What are the types of treatment for my condition, with benefits, side effects and risks?
  • Why this operation? Are non-surgical treatments possible? What happens if nothing is done?
  • Who will operate, with what qualifications and experience? What does the operation involve, how long will it take, and what anesthetic will I need?
  • How will we know it was a success? Will I have stitches or scarring? How long in hospital, how long to recover, and how much time off work?

The NHS also suggests asking for written information to take home (NHS). Afterward, ask how it went and how long until you are back to normal (NHS). Bring a friend to take notes, and your medicine list.

Getting a second opinion

A second opinion is another doctor’s view of your problem and how to treat it. Medicare Part B covers a second opinion for medically necessary, non-emergency surgery, and a third if the first two differ; after the deductible you pay 20% of the approved amount (Medicare.gov). Check your own plan if you do not have Original Medicare. A second opinion does not mean distrusting your surgeon; it can confirm the plan or show other options. We found little research on how often it changes the plan, so we quote no figure.

Another approach

Getting ready: smoking, diabetes, medicines and fitness

Stopping smoking

CDC says patients who smoke get more surgical-site infections and asks them to talk to their provider about quitting (CDC). Two reviews looked at timing:

  • Six randomized trials: quitting before surgery cut postoperative complications by 41% in relative terms, with a larger effect in trials of at least 4 weeks (Mills et al., 2011).
  • Twenty-five studies: quitting at least 4 weeks before surgery lowered breathing complications, and at least 3–4 weeks lowered wound-healing complications; quitting for less than 4 weeks did not appear to raise breathing complications (Wong et al., 2012).

Sooner is better, but a short quit is no reason to keep smoking. MedlinePlus says counseling plus quit-smoking medicine has been shown to be the best method, and that e-cigarettes have not been proven to help (MedlinePlus). See our Smoking guide.

Diabetes and other long-term conditions

CDC lists diabetes among conditions that can affect surgery (CDC). In a review of 22 mostly observational spine-surgery studies, an HbA1c above 8.0% was linked to more complications (relative risk 1.85) (Tao et al., 2023). If you take insulin you must still avoid eating and drinking before surgery, so tell the team (NHS). Don’t change diabetes medicines without instructions. See our Diabetes and Sleep Apnea guides, and mention heart, lung and kidney problems at the pre-op visit.

Medicines and supplements

Give your team a complete, honest list; see Herbal remedies above. The NHS says you will be told whether to keep taking your usual medicines (NHS). Never stop a prescribed medicine on your own — ask.

Prehabilitation: getting stronger first

“Prehab” means exercise, nutrition or other preparation before an operation. The evidence is mixed:

  • A 2023 review of 48 orthopedic trials (3,570 people) found moderate-certainty evidence that prehab improved function and strength before knee replacement, and quality of life and strength before hip replacement, and high-certainty evidence for less back pain before lumbar surgery, though bias and varied designs limited the findings (Punnoose et al., 2023).
  • An umbrella review of 55 reviews found low-certainty evidence that prehab may improve outcomes, and moderate-certainty evidence of better functional recovery in cancer surgery (McIsaac et al., 2022).

The NHS advises staying as active as you can, including exercise that raises your heart rate (NHS). Ask your surgeon or a physical therapist what is safe for you.

Another approach

Fasting, anesthesia and the day of surgery

Fasting

If told to fast, the NHS says to avoid all food and drink, including light snacks and sweets, so your stomach is empty and you do not vomit under anesthesia; you may be able to drink water, but check (NHS). It is usually a few hours before a general anesthetic (NHS). Your team’s timing comes first; if unsure about a medicine or sip of water, call the day before.

Anesthesia basics

MedlinePlus describes local anesthesia (numbs a small area; you are awake), regional (numbs a larger area), general (a deep sleep) and monitored sedation; your health, history and procedure help decide (MedlinePlus). It calls anesthesia generally safe, with possible risks including heart rhythm and breathing problems, allergic reaction, temporary confusion (which can last several days in some people over 60) and, rarely, awareness during the procedure (MedlinePlus). The NHS lists common side effects, such as drowsiness, a sore throat, shivering and nausea, that usually pass within hours; complications are rare (NHS). Tell the team about past reactions and any worries, including fear of needles (NHS). See our Anesthesia guide.

Hygiene and what to bring

You will usually remove piercings, make-up and nail polish, and some hospitals ask you to shower first (NHS). Tell your surgeon if you get a cough, cold or high temperature in the days before, because they will advise whether surgery can go ahead (NHS). Bring your medicines and list, glasses or contacts, and your appointment letter (NHS).

After the anesthetic

For at least 24 hours the NHS advises having someone stay with you, and not driving or riding a bike, cooking or using machinery, caring for others alone, smoking, drinking alcohol or making important decisions (NHS).

Another approach

Preventing infection and blood clots

Surgical-site infection

A surgical-site infection is an infection where the surgery took place, in skin, tissue, organs or implanted material. It is usually treated with antibiotics, though some people need another operation (CDC). CDC asks patients to:

  • Before: tell your provider about other conditions, quit smoking, and avoid razor shaving near the site, which can irritate skin and make infection easier (CDC).
  • In hospital: speak up if someone tries to shave you with a razor, ask staff to clean their hands if you do not see them do so, and keep visitors from touching the wound or dressings (CDC).
  • At home: clean your hands before and after wound care, understand the instructions and whom to call, and call right away for redness and pain, cloudy drainage or fever (CDC).

Blood clots

The NHS lists having had surgery and not moving around much among times when DVT is more likely, and says a clot can happen weeks later (NHS). MedlinePlus lists certain surgeries as a risk factor (MedlinePlus).

  • Move early. Lying in bed too long can let blood pool in the legs; the NHS suggests leg exercises such as flexing knees or ankles (NHS). CDC advises moving around as soon as possible after surgery (CDC).
  • Medicine and stockings. Some people get a blood-thinning injection or compression stockings (NHS). A 2024 review found no added benefit from stockings in surgical inpatients already receiving blood-thinning medicine, and a risk of skin problems (Turner et al., 2024). Ask what your plan is.
  • Know the signs. DVT may cause swelling, pain or tenderness, warmth and redness in a leg or arm, though about half of people have no symptoms; pulmonary embolism may cause trouble breathing, chest pain, a fast heartbeat, coughing up blood or fainting (CDC). See our Blood Clots guide.

Another approach

Pain control and opioid safety

You will always have some pain after surgery. The NHS says to tell your nurse as soon as it starts, since medicine can take about 20 minutes to work and early treatment stops pain getting worse (NHS). Ask about your pain plan before surgery.

  • Non-opioid options first. CDC’s 2022 guideline says nonopioid therapies are at least as effective as opioids for many acute pain types, and that opioids are often needed after surgery but not in every patient (CDC guideline).
  • If opioids are prescribed, CDC says to prescribe no more than needed, set goals with your clinician, ask about alternatives and review all your medicines (CDC guideline, CDC).
  • Know the risks. Anyone can become addicted, and sedation, constipation and confusion can occur even as directed; mixing with alcohol, benzodiazepines or other sedatives is especially dangerous, and risk is higher with sleep apnea, kidney or liver failure, or age 65 and older (CDC).
  • Persistent use happens. In a US claims study of 36,177 adults who had not used opioids in the prior year and filled a prescription around surgery, about 6% became persistent users, versus 0.4% of a comparison group without surgery; tobacco use, substance use disorders, mood disorders, anxiety and pre-existing pain conditions raised the chance (Brummett et al., 2017). Tell your team if these apply.
  • Store and dispose safely. CDC advises secure, preferably locked storage, a plan for disposing of leftovers, and naloxone and overdose education for patients and household members (CDC guideline). The FDA says the best way to dispose of most unused medicines is a take-back location or prepaid mail-back envelope (FDA).

See our Drug Overdose and Medication Safety guides. If pain is not controlled, say so; don’t take extra medicine on your own.

Another approach

Wound care, therapy and getting back to activity

Wound care

  • Follow dressing instructions. With stitches, keep them clean and dry and watch for more swelling, pain or skin color changes (NHS).
  • You can usually shower 48 hours after surgery unless told otherwise, but keep the wound out of baths and pools until healed or your doctor says it is safe (NHS).
  • Wash your hands before and after touching it (CDC). Medicare Part B covers medically necessary treatment of a surgical wound, with 20% coinsurance after the deductible (Medicare.gov). For a wound that won’t heal, see our Bed Sores guide.

Recovering and moving

Don’t be surprised if you are very tired. The NHS says to do only what you feel able, but move around as soon as possible to encourage blood flow and healing, eat well, and ask which exercises to do (NHS). Some hospitals use “enhanced recovery” programs after major surgery, built on getting up, walking, eating and drinking early (NHS). Research is more cautious: a 2023 review after stomach and bowel surgery found early mobilization seemed to speed bowel recovery but, in randomized trials, did not significantly reduce complications or hospital stay, and no specific protocol was supported (Willner et al., 2023). Follow your team’s advice.

Physical therapy

You may see a physiotherapist before leaving hospital who explains your exercises (NHS). Medicare Part B helps pay for medically necessary outpatient physical therapy once your provider certifies it; you pay 20% after the deductible, with no yearly limit (Medicare.gov). Skilled nursing facility care, including therapy, is covered by Part A only after a qualifying inpatient stay of at least 3 days in a row (Medicare.gov). Ask the hospital early about the discharge plan.

Getting back to normal

Ask your surgeon, and write down: when you can return to work, when you can exercise again and what other limits apply (MedlinePlus). We found no single rule for when to drive, lift or play sports; it depends on the operation. For background, see our Hips, Knees and Gallbladder guides.

Another approach

Your mental health around surgery

Feeling nervous before surgery, or low afterward, is common, and it matters for recovery:

What may help

  • Tell your team. The NHS invites you to share concerns (NHS). MBHA suggests mentioning any depression, anxiety or past trauma, and asking before changing any prescribed mental health medicine.
  • Mindfulness. A 2024 meta-analysis of 8 trials (685 patients) found mindfulness-based programs before elective surgery lowered anxiety beforehand and pain afterward, with no difference in depression or quality of life (Tung et al., 2024).
  • Support. A trusted person, a plan for the first days and realistic expectations about recovery time reduce surprises.

If you feel hopeless or think about harming yourself, call or text 988; counselors are available 24/7 and conversations are free and confidential (988 Lifeline). See our Depression and Anxiety guides.

Another approach

What surgery can cost

Medicare says exact surgery costs are hard to know in advance, because you will not know what services you need until you meet your provider (Medicare.gov).

If you have Medicare

  • Ask first. Ask the doctor and facility what you will pay for the surgery and aftercare, and whether you are an inpatient or outpatient, since costs differ (Medicare.gov).
  • Surgery center or hospital outpatient. At an ambulatory surgical center, after the Part B deductible you pay 20% of the approved amount to the center and the doctors; Medicare.gov points to a procedure price lookup for average costs (Medicare.gov). At a hospital outpatient department you usually pay 20% to the doctor plus a copayment to the hospital for each service (Medicare.gov).
  • Inpatient. In 2026, after the Part A deductible of $1,736 you pay $0 a day for days 1–60 of a benefit period and $434 a day for days 61–90; Part B generally covers 80% of doctors’ services in hospital (Medicare.gov).
  • Anesthesia is covered under Part A for inpatients and Part B for outpatient and surgical-center care; after the Part B deductible you pay 20% (Medicare.gov).

If you pay yourself

The Pricer estimates regional or general anesthesia often costs about $500 to $3,500 or more without insurance, while local anesthetic may cost under $500 or be included in the procedure charge; these are not quotes. Uninsured or self-pay patients can usually request a good faith estimate before scheduled care (The Pricer). Surgeon, facility and recovery costs: cost estimate being researched.

Ask for the full picture. The surgeon, anesthesia group, hospital or surgery center, lab and radiologist can each bill separately, and a surgery quote is not automatically an all-inclusive anesthesia quote (The Pricer).

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This page is for education only and is not medical advice. Costs are typical U.S. ranges and estimates; yours will depend on your provider, location and insurance. Talk with your doctor before starting, stopping or combining any treatment. In an emergency, call 911. See our disclaimer.

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