Preparing for Surgery: A Practical Checklist

Why a preparing for surgery checklist helps

A preparing for surgery checklist turns a large, slightly daunting event into a series of small, manageable tasks. It also protects your safety: many of the most important steps, such as medication review, smoking cessation and honest health disclosure, directly influence bleeding, anesthesia and healing. The checklist below is general education. Your surgeon and your own doctor will give instructions specific to you, and theirs always take priority.

Getting your mind ready

Preparation is not only physical. Feeling some anxiety before surgery is normal, and it tends to ease when uncertainty is replaced by information. Take time to understand what the first week will look like: how swollen you will be, how your eyes may feel, and when the most visible changes start to fade. Photos of typical early recovery can be surprising if you have not seen them before, so it helps to know that the first days rarely resemble the final result.

It also helps to think about who will know about your surgery. Some people tell family and friends openly; others prefer privacy and plan their time off accordingly. Neither is right or wrong, but deciding in advance reduces stress during recovery. If you tend to feel low when you are unwell or isolated, arrange check-ins with someone you trust, especially if you are recovering away from home.

Finally, write down your goals in a sentence or two. Clear, personal goals help your surgeon design a result that suits you, and they give you something steady to return to in the early weeks when swelling can make it hard to judge progress.

Four to six weeks before

• Complete your consultation and plan. Make sure you understand the procedure, the expected recovery and the risks. The guide on questions to ask at your consultation can help.
• Share your full medical history. Include chronic conditions, previous surgeries (especially earlier eye or nose operations), allergies, bleeding tendencies, and any past reactions to anesthesia.
• List every medication and supplement. Prescription, over-the-counter, herbal and vitamin products all count. The medications and supplements guide explains why.
• Stop smoking and vaping nicotine. Nicotine narrows small blood vessels and slows healing. Many surgeons ask patients to stop several weeks before and after surgery.
• Arrange time off. Plan for the visible phase of swelling and bruising as well as the first days.
• If traveling, book flights with enough time after surgery for suture removal and review. The how long to stay in Korea guide gives typical ranges.

Two weeks before

• Follow medication instructions. Pause only what your surgeon and prescribing doctor have agreed you should pause. Never stop prescribed medication on your own.
• Limit alcohol. Alcohol can increase bleeding and swelling and interact with medications.
• Complete any pre-operative tests requested, such as blood tests or an ECG, and bring the results.
• Look after your skin. Avoid sunburn, new skincare products and treatments near the surgical area unless approved.
• Treat active problems. A cold, eye infection, cold sore or skin flare-up near the area should be reported; surgery may need to be rescheduled.

Preparing your recovery space

Whether you recover at home or in a hotel in Seoul, set up your space in advance:

• Extra pillows or a wedge to keep your head elevated while resting and sleeping.
• Cold compresses or gel packs, as your surgeon advises, with clean cloths to wrap them.
• Soft, easy-to-prepare foods, and plenty of water.
• Button-front or zip tops so nothing pulls over your face.
• Your glasses, if you normally wear contact lenses, since lenses are often avoided for a period after eye surgery.
• Prescribed medications and any recommended ointments within easy reach.
• Entertainment that does not strain your eyes too much, such as podcasts or audiobooks.

For international patients, the what to pack guide lists practical items for a Seoul stay.

If you live alone, consider asking someone to stay with you for the first night or two, or at least to check in by phone. Simple tasks such as cooking, reading labels on medication or climbing stairs can feel surprisingly awkward with swollen eyelids.

The day before surgery

• Confirm your arrival time and the clinic address: 5F Mihye Building, 590 Gangnam-daero, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
• Follow fasting instructions exactly. If sedation or general anesthesia is planned, you will be told when to stop eating and drinking. An empty stomach reduces the risk of aspiration, which is when stomach contents enter the lungs.
• Wash your face and hair the evening before or that morning; you may not be able to wash normally for some days afterward.
• Remove nail polish, jewelry and piercings, and leave valuables at home.
• Arrange an escort. After sedation or general anesthesia, you should not travel alone or drive.
• Sleep as well as you can. A little nervousness is normal.

On the day of surgery

• Arrive without makeup, skincare, contact lenses or false lashes.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothes that open at the front.
• Bring your ID or passport, medication list and any test results.
• Take approved morning medications with a small sip of water only if told to.
• Ask any remaining questions. Consent should feel informed and unhurried.

At Will Be, the surgeon who consulted with you, Dr. Kim Jun-young, representative surgeon, reviews the surgical design with you on the day and performs the operation himself. You can read about the clinic's approach to safety and anesthesia before you arrive.

After surgery: first-day essentials

• Rest with your head elevated.
• Use cold compresses as instructed during the first days.
• Take medications exactly as prescribed.
• Avoid bending, lifting and strenuous activity.
• Know how to contact the clinic, including via KakaoTalk, if you notice anything unexpected.

The guide to reducing swelling and bruising covers the days that follow in more detail.