Before the countdown starts
A few things belong well before the final week, and it helps to check they are done.
- Pre-op tests and clearance: completed at home and sent to the surgical team, with any concerns already answered.
- Travel health: CDC's Yellow Book suggests a travel medicine consultation 4 to 6 weeks before travel, and discussing the trip with your primary care clinician well in advance (CDC Yellow Book, 2026).
- Medication plan: written instructions on which medicines to stop, when, and when to restart, agreed between your prescriber and the surgical team.
- Follow-up at home: a clinician who has agreed to see you after you return.
If any of these is missing, contact your surgical team now. A short delay before you fly is far easier to manage than a postponement after you land.
The countdown below assumes you fly out a few days before your operation. Shift the days to fit your own dates.
The countdown
Seven days out: confirm every booking in writing
Re-confirm flights, accommodation for the full recovery period, airport transfers and your pre-op appointment time. Check that your passport is valid and meets entry rules for your destination. Confirm your companion's travel too. Save every confirmation in one folder on your phone, and keep a printed copy.
Six days out: check your medicines
Count your regular medicines and make sure you have enough for the whole trip plus a few spare days, as CDC advises. Keep them in original packaging in your carry-on. Check your medication plan against the calendar. MedlinePlus lists NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, along with several blood thinners, among the medicines often stopped about two weeks before an operation (MedlinePlus, reviewed 2026). If you haven't had clear instructions on yours, ask today. Never stop a prescribed blood thinner on your own.
Five days out: assemble the document kit
Put together your medical summary, medicine and allergy list, recent test results, the consent and procedure documents you were sent, your insurance details, and emergency contacts at home and abroad. Have copies on paper and on your phone. Our guide to the records worth sending ahead of surgery lists what is most useful.
Four days out: sort out money and communication
Tell your bank you'll be traveling, check card limits for any payment due on arrival, and confirm the exact balance and how you'll pay it. Make sure your phone will work abroad, and save the clinic's after-hours number, your coordinator's number and the address of the hospital in your contacts.
Three days out: buy recovery supplies and pack
Ask the clinic which compression garments, dressings or other supplies they provide and which you should bring. Then pack using the table below. See surgical drains, compression garments and post-op supplies for detail.
Two days out: do a health check, and be honest about it
Do you have a cough, cold, fever, cold sore or any other new illness? MedlinePlus advises contacting your surgeon right away about illness in the days before surgery, because it may need to be rescheduled. Message the team today rather than hoping it clears up. Telling them before you fly gives everyone more options.
The day before you fly: final checks and rest
Check in online, confirm your transfer pickup, and charge your devices. Follow any pre-op skin instructions the clinic gave you. Don't shave near the surgical site, because CDC notes that razor irritation can make infection more likely (CDC, 2024). Eat normally unless told otherwise, drink water, and get to bed early.
What to pack
| Category | Items |
|---|---|
| Documents | Passport, printed bookings, medical summary, medicine list, test results, insurance details, emergency contacts |
| Medicines | All regular medicines in original packaging, plus spare days' worth, kept in your carry-on |
| Recovery clothing | Loose front-opening tops, easy-on trousers or dresses, slip-on shoes, anything the clinic asked you to bring |
| Recovery supplies | Only what the clinic told you to bring, such as specific garments, dressings or a pillow |
| Practical items | Phone charger and adapter, a long charging cable for bedside use, a small notebook for symptoms and instructions |
| Comfort | Lip balm, eye mask, earplugs, downloaded entertainment for recovery days |
Things to avoid this week
- Starting any new supplement, herbal product or medicine without checking with the surgical team
- Smoking or vaping. CDC notes that patients who smoke get more surgical site infections.
- Shaving or waxing the area to be operated on
- Hiding symptoms of illness to protect the trip
- Adding procedures or changing the plan at the last minute
If something isn't in place
The point of the countdown is to find gaps while you can still fix them. Here is how to handle the common ones:
- A booking falls through. Rebook accommodation close to the hospital and tell your coordinator the new address. Don't settle for somewhere far away or hard to reach just because it's available.
- A document or test result is missing. Ask your doctor's office for it today, and tell the surgical team what is coming and when. Some results can be sent after you land, but check that first.
- Your medication instructions are unclear. Don't guess. Contact both your prescriber and the surgical team, and get the answer in writing.
- Your companion can't come. Tell the clinic straight away. Being alone after surgery may change whether the plan is safe as booked.
Looking after yourself this week
The final week is often the most stressful part of the whole trip. Try to sleep well and keep eating normally. Avoid starting a new diet or exercise program right before surgery unless your team asked you to. MedlinePlus advises telling your surgeon about your alcohol use, especially if you drink more than one or two drinks a day (MedlinePlus, reviewed 2026). Be honest about this too, because it can matter for anesthesia and recovery. If anxiety is building, write your questions down and send them to the team now. Getting answers before you travel is more calming than lying awake wondering.
Travel day and arrival
Travel day is about arriving rested and on time for your pre-op visit. Move around on the flight, drink water, and keep your document kit and medicines with you. After you land, message your coordinator, check into your accommodation and, if there is time, do a dry run of the route to the clinic or hospital. Our hour-by-hour guide to surgery day takes over from the morning of your operation.
A note for companions
If someone is coming with you, they need the same countdown. That means their own confirmed travel, a copy of your document kit, the clinic's after-hours number, and a clear idea of what you will need from them in the first days after surgery. Go through the plan together before you leave.
The Takeaway
Use the final week to confirm, protect and rest. If you feel unwell or something isn't in place, tell your surgical team before you fly. Changing plans then costs far less than after you land.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I get sick the week before surgery abroad?
Contact your surgeon right away, before you travel if you can. MedlinePlus advises reporting colds, flu, fever, cold sores, COVID-19 or other illness in the days before surgery, because the operation may need to be rescheduled.
Should I stop taking my medicines before I fly?
Only as your doctors instruct. Some medicines that affect bleeding are commonly stopped about two weeks before surgery, but blood thinners and other prescriptions need a plan agreed between your prescriber and the surgical team.
Can I shave the surgical area before I go?
No. CDC advises against shaving near the surgical site, because razor irritation can make infection more likely. If hair needs to be removed, the surgical team will handle it.
Is it too late to start a travel health consultation in the final week?
CDC suggests a travel medicine consultation 4 to 6 weeks before travel. If you haven't had one, a late appointment is still better than none, and your primary care clinician may be able to advise quickly.
What documents matter most to carry by hand?
Your passport, medical summary, medicine and allergy list, recent test results, insurance details and emergency contacts. Keep both paper and phone copies with you, not in checked luggage.