Preparing for your surgery
Blepharoplasty
Before your surgery, you will have a pre-operative assessment with a nurse where more information will be given to you.
You might need to have more tests, including an ECG or blood tests, if your surgery involves general anaesthetic or sedation.
Changes to your medicines
Please let us know if you are taking any regular medicines (including anything you buy from a pharmacy or shop, and any herbal or homeopathic medicines).
We will also need to know if you have any allergies to any medicines.
Blood-thinning medicines
You should let us know if you are taking any blood-thinning medicines, such as antiplatelet medicines (for example aspirin or clopidogrel), or anticoagulant medicines (for example warfarin or rivaroxaban). You might need to stop them temporarily before your surgery.
If you have diabetes
You should tell us if you have diabetes as you might need to change the dose (amount) of your diabetes medicines, before the procedure.
More information on stopping any medicines will be given to you when you come for your pre-assessment appointment.
Fasting instructions
You might need to fast (stop eating or drinking) before your surgery.
This will depend on the anaesthetic you have.
If you are having the surgery under local anaesthetic, you can eat as normal before the treatment, but you should only have a light meal.
If you are having the surgery under general anaesthetic or sedation, do not eat or drink anything (except non-fizzy water) for 6 hours before your procedure. This means that you cannot suck on sweets or chew gum. You are allowed to drink water up to 2 hours before your appointment.
If you continue to eat or drink after this, your surgery will be cancelled.
These fasting instructions will be explained at the pre-assessment appointment.
On the day of your surgery
Please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing on the day of surgery.
You should arrange for a responsible adult to help you get home. They might also need to stay with you for at least 1 day after the treatment.
Resource number: 4441/VER3
Last reviewed: December 2023
Next review: December 2026
