You need to avoid aspirin, Ibuprofen, Neurofen and other similar painkillers 1 week before surgery. Paracetamol is the safest painkiller to take, if necessary, before surgery. You will also be asked to cut back on smoking and preferably stop smoking completely 4 weeks before surgery. This will help to minimise delayed wound healing and any post-operative complicationsfrom the general anaesthetic. It is also preferable to stop the contraceptive pill and HRT four weeks before surgery.