Living well

Looking after yourself before and after surgery

Making healthy changes before and after surgery can help you:

  • prepare your mind and body
  • lower your risk of problems
  • heal faster
  • improve your long‑term health
Alcohol

Drinking too much alcohol can:

  • slow down your recovery
  • increase your risk of infections
  • cause long‑term harm to your body

Cutting down helps to lower your risks.

Try to drink 14 units or less each week.

You can:

Smoking and vaping

Smoking can:

  • Make it harder for you to have an anaesthetic

  • Increase the risk of heart and lung problems

  • Make wounds heal more slowly after surgery

Stopping smoking early is best.

You will start to feel health benefits very quickly after you stop.

Vaping

  • We still do not know all the long‑term effects of vaping.

  • Vaping may be less harmful than smoking cigarettes, but it is not risk‑free.

  • For surgery, vaping can affect your body in similar ways to smoking.

  • Both smoking and vaping can:

    • Reduce blood flow

    • Reduce oxygen getting to your tissues

    • Slow down wound healing

    • Increase the chance of infection and other problems after surgery

What we recommend

  • Stop smoking and vaping before your operation.

  • The sooner you stop, the better your body can recover and heal.

Get Support

If you would like help to stop, please speak to:

  • Your GP

  • Your pre‑operative team

You can also get support from:

Nicotine replacement therapies (like patches, gum or inhalators) and stop‑smoking services can help you quit successfully.

 

Try to get enough sleep

Good sleep helps your body heal.

It also supports your physical health, mental wellbeing, and long‑term recovery.

You can watch an NHS video with simple tips to help you sleep better:

Your mental wellbeing

Getting ready for surgery isn’t just about your body – your mind matters too.

How you feel emotionally can affect:

  • How well you recover
  • How long you stay in hospital
  • Your overall wellbeing

Taking care of your mental health before surgery can help you feel calmer and support a smoother recovery.

Here are some simple things that can help you feel better before surgery:

  • Take time for yourself – be gentle and kind to yourself
  • Keep active – even short walks can help
  • Eat healthy foods
  • Try to limit alcohol
  • Talk with family and friends – staying connected can reduce stress
  • Get outside – fresh air can boost your mood
  • Try relaxation – breathing exercises, meditation, or visualisation

Listen to this relaxation exercise. A physiotherapist guides you to relax your body and mind:

 

Get your Mind Plan

You can take the 5‑minute NHS Every Mind Matters quiz.

This quiz gives you a free, personalised plan to help support your mental health.

 

Talking therapies

Talking therapies help you talk about your feelings with a trained therapist. They listen, support you, and help you find ways to cope with worries, stress, or low mood. You can self-refer using the links below:

NHS Talking Therapies – Cheshire and Merseyside

 

← Back