Fasting before surgery - when should I have my last meal before surgery?

The usual advice is to avoid food for 6 hours prior to your procedure, and have clear fluids only (e.g. water, coffee without milk) up until 2 hours before your operation, when you should avoid any food or liquids all together. Pre-op nutritional drinks are available, and these have been shown to reduce post-operative sickness and vomiting, and help you to recovery more quickly after surgery.

Thank you for your question. It's critical to adhere to fasting recommendations before surgery. It is often advised to avoid solid meals and non-clear liquids, such as coffee with milk, at least eight hours before surgery if you are going to be asleep under general anesthesia, under twilight, or under monitored anesthesia care. This implies that you should have your final meal by 3:45 am if your entrance time is 11:45 am. Most surgeons recommend patients fast starting at midnight the night before even if your case is starting later in the day just in case your case gets moved up. You can have mild solids the night before surgery, such as toast, oatmeal, juice, or coffee with milk or cream, but steer clear of heavy, high-fat meals like meat and fried dishes. If your surgery will be done awake under local anesthesia then you can have a light meal and liquids the morning of surgery. Remember that these are general recommendations; your surgeon may have more detailed instructions for your situation. You must follow the recommendations provided by your medical staff.

Thank you for your question. It's critical to adhere to fasting recommendations before surgery. It is often advised to avoid solid meals and non-clear liquids, such as coffee with milk, at least eight hours before surgery if you are going to be asleep under general anesthesia, under twilight, or under monitored anesthesia care. This implies that you should have your final meal by 3:45 am if your entrance time is 11:45 am. Most surgeons recommend patients fast starting at midnight the night before even if your case is starting later in the day just in case your case gets moved up. You can have mild solids the night before surgery, such as toast, oatmeal, juice, or coffee with milk or cream, but steer clear of heavy, high-fat meals like meat and fried dishes. If your surgery will be done awake under local anesthesia then you can have a light meal and liquids the morning of surgery. Remember that these are general recommendations; your surgeon may have more detailed instructions for your situation. You must follow the recommendations provided by your medical staff.

Hi there,
Call the office of the doctor who is operating on you, protocols can vary from place to place. You can ask if they have an enhanced recovery protocol after surgery as well.
In general- You should not eat anything past midnight and only drink clear liquids. On the day of surgery do not drink any coffee or milk- this will actually probably cause anesthesia to cancel your surgery that day.
All the best

Dear Ecomarge21,
every plastic surgeon has his own preoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hello, thank you for your question. We advise our patients to have nothing to eat after midnight before surgery. They are allowed to have water, black coffee only or gatorade 3 hours prior to surgery. So for your question, can you have coffee with milk? The answer to that is No. Just eat a healthy balanced meal before midnight the day prior to surgery.

The reason for “NPO after midnight” is to allow your stomach to empty prior to anesthesia putting you to sleep, as if there is food in your stomach, it can get aspirated into your lungs. The anesthesiologists like there to be about 6-8 hours since your last meal to be safe. You may eat anything up until midnight, and there is no ideal food.

Dear Ecomarge21, Please listen to your surgeon and his/her team, make sure to ask them everything and follow the advices. Make sure you go on consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Hope this helps and best of lucks. Dr. Luis Mejia

Nothing to eat or drink after midnight is the policy I follow. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Most facilities, whether a surgery center, hospital, or office based operating room, will have their own protocol to guide you regarding eating and drinking before surgery. You should get instructions from them.