6 weeks out
Lock in the basics
- Stop all nicotine — cigarettes, vapes, pouches, patches and gum. Nicotine narrows blood vessels and is a leading cause of wound-healing problems and skin death after tummy tucks and lifts. Most surgeons require 4–6 weeks nicotine-free and some test for it.
- Get baseline bloodwork (CBC, metabolic panel) and any clearance your surgeon requires — EKG, primary-care letter, pregnancy test.
- Give your surgeon a complete list of prescriptions, supplements, weight-loss injections (GLP-1s such as semaglutide or tirzepatide) and any history of blood clots.
- Book your recovery plan and surgery-day ride.
4 weeks out
Fix what the labs show
- If your hemoglobin is low, ask your surgeon or doctor about iron — oral iron takes weeks to work. See below.
- Ask whether to pause birth control or hormone therapy (they raise clot risk) — and plan backup contraception if so.
- Order your compression garments in the sizes your surgeon specifies, plus foam boards and a BBL pillow if relevant. See the packing list.
2 weeks out
Medications & supplements
- Ask your surgeon which to stop. Common ones surgeons pause for 1–2 weeks: aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, fish oil, vitamin E, garlic, ginkgo, turmeric and some herbal teas — all can increase bleeding.
- GLP-1 injections are often paused about a week before anesthesia because they slow stomach emptying. Your surgeon or anesthesiologist decides.
- Never stop a prescribed blood thinner, heart or psychiatric medication without the prescribing doctor's OK.
- Get post-op prescriptions filled early or arrange delivery to where you'll recover.
The final week
Set up your recovery space
- Confirm the recovery house / nurse / caregiver in writing, with the address.
- Prep the room: waterproof bed pads, everything within arm's reach, a clear path to the bathroom.
- Hydrate well and eat protein — your body needs it to heal.
- Out-of-town? Plan to arrive 2–3 days early for pre-op visits.
Night before & morning of
Follow fasting instructions exactly
- Follow the fasting ("NPO") instructions you were given — eating or drinking when you shouldn't is a common reason for cancellation.
- Shower with the antiseptic wash if prescribed (often chlorhexidine / Hibiclens). No lotion, makeup, jewelry, nail extensions or piercings.
- Wear loose, zip- or button-front clothing and slip-on shoes.
- Bring ID, your medication list, garments, and your driver's phone number. You cannot drive or take a rideshare alone after anesthesia.
Hemoglobin & iron
Body contouring — especially large-volume liposuction, BBL and mommy makeovers — causes real blood loss. Many surgeons won't operate below a set hemoglobin (often around 11–12 g/dL; your surgeon sets the number). Patients in online communities frequently report surgeries cancelled the morning of because of a low result.
- Ask for your number in writing at the first lab draw.
- If it's borderline, ask your doctor about iron supplementation or IV iron early — not the week before.
- Be wary of any practice that tells you a low hemoglobin "doesn't matter."
- More detail: labs, hemoglobin and medical clearance.
Coming up next