It is necessary to be well-prepared for surgery as well as for the recovery period that comes after. Preparation may come in stages. If you smoke, you will need to quit several weeks before having surgery. It is also very beneficial to focus your diet on healthy, whole foods that provide a balance of lean protein, healthy fats, and an abundance of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals. Cleaning up your diet before surgery fuels your body with the nutrients it needs for recovery. During the week before arm lift surgery, it is necessary to avoid all medications and supplements that thin the blood. Our pre-op instructions may have a thorough list of products to avoid, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and vitamin E. This pre-surgery week also needs to start focusing on recovery. You will have needed to arrange sufficient time off based on the type of work that you do. This can range from two weeks to six weeks or more. You also need to fill your post-op prescriptions so your pain-relieving medication is readily available on the day of surgery. In addition to arranging time off work, you also need to prepare a plan at home that includes help with cooking, childcare, and other necessary tasks. We highly recommend that patients have someone stay with them for at least two days following arm lift surgery.