Getting prepared for surgery is an EXCELLENT question that most surgeons fail to discuss in detail. FAIL TO PREPARE, PREPARE TO FAIL!!! The recommendations are for the following reasons: 1. to decrease your surgical risk (such as a blood clot in your legs, infection, bleeding, toxicity of lidocaine) 2. Improve the speed and efficacy of healing 3. improve the surgical outcome Decreasing surgical risk: Stopping aspirin, fish oil and NSAIDS, like motrin and alleve, and no alcohol for 48 hours minimizes your risk of bleeding. If the procedure is performed under general anesthesia, perhaps stopping estrogen or birth control two to 4 weeks prior to surgery, prescribing a low molecule weight heparin (i.e. Lovenox) as well as compression stockings in the operating room lower the risk of clots Showering with an antibacterial soap the night and morning of surgery has been shown to decrease the infection rate. Additionally, the most important dose of the antibiotic is the one immediately (within one hour) before surgery. Lidocaine is given in the wetting solution to assist in separating the fat and also producing both intraoperative and post-operative pain relief. Lidocaine is not fully metabolized until 24 hours after surgery. However, there are a class of medications that make the enzyme (Cytochrome P450) that degrades lidocaine to not work as effectively. The surgeon should consider stopping 2-4 weeks before surgery or lowering the dose of lidocaine to avoid toxicity of: 1. benzodiazepines like xanax and valium 2. antidepressants like Zoloft 3. macrolide antibiotics like zithromax or levaquin 4. anti-fungals 5. retrovirals To improve your healing and decrease the risk of you gaining weight after surgery and increasing your muscle mass and lowering your bodies fat content, hormone testing and bioidentical hormone supplementation is recommended. Thyroid, testosterone and growth hormone may assist in all these goals. Performing some noninvasive devices both before and after surgery will improve the aesthetic rest, produce a smoother result, decrease swelling, tighten skin and and alleviate some areas of excess fat using either ultrasound (Quantashape, Vasershape) or radio frequency (Venus Legacy, etc) or massage (manual or Endermologie). Exercise before and after (would hold off for the first 10-14 days after surgery) increases your muscle mass and improves your bodies composition. However, since you are undergoing liposuction, you can spurge a bit with the desserts. Good nutrition will assist in the healing process. Standard liposuction can yield aesthetically pleasing results, however, I prefer high-definition liposculpture and fat transfer to some body areas as needed and simultaneous invasive cellulite treatment to give you a slender athletic look, both in men and women. Good luck with your procedure and look your best!!