Nutrition before surgery is very important. A diet rich in nutrients, especially protein, helps prepares your body for quick healing. It is essential that you do not restrict calories, or diet, prior to your surgery unless your surgeon specifically recommends that you do so.
Exercise before surgery will help insure that your body is as fit as possible before your procedure. If you are already exercising, keep up the good work. If you are not, start slowly introducing exercise into your daily activities. Exercise does not need to be strenuous to be beneficial, in fact, a fifteen minute walk is far better than not exercising at all.
If you are a smoker, now is the time to quit. Not only will you be healthier in the long run, but your surgical outcome will be improved. Smokers are at significantly higher risk for requiring the ventilator for longer periods of time and have been proven to heal more slowly with greater scarring.
