A practical guide to the days and weeks before your operation — what to do, what to stop, and what to bring.
Preparation for head and neck cancer surgery goes beyond just turning up on the day. What you do in the weeks before your operation can significantly affect your recovery, healing, and outcome. This guide covers the most important steps.
Smoking significantly impairs wound healing, increases infection risk, and worsens anaesthetic complications. Stopping as early as possible before surgery makes a measurable difference — even 1–2 weeks improves wound healing and reduces anaesthetic risk.
If radiation is planned after surgery, dental clearance is essential before radiation begins — not after. Any teeth that cannot be saved must be extracted before radiation, as extractions in irradiated bone carry a serious risk of osteoradionecrosis. Tell your surgeon if you have dental problems.
Many head and neck cancer patients are malnourished at diagnosis due to difficulty eating. If you are losing weight or eating poorly, tell your team — a dietician can optimise your nutritional status before surgery, which improves healing and recovery.
Aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin, and newer anticoagulants must be stopped before surgery — your surgeon and anaesthetist will advise exactly when. Do not stop any medication without specific guidance.
Follow your anaesthetist's fasting instructions exactly — typically nothing to eat after midnight, and no water after a specified time in the morning. A small sip of water with essential medications may be permitted — confirm this specifically with your team.
If you develop a cold, fever, or infection in the days before surgery — contact your surgical team immediately. Surgery may need to be postponed. Do not simply turn up on the day without telling them.
WhatsApp your concerns to our clinical coordinator — we respond within 4 hours.
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