💬 Frequently Asked Questions Series: Pre-Surgery Fasting - (You’re not taking your diabetes medication, right?) + Precautions When Taking Wegovy and Mounjaro!

“Before surgery fasting, should I take a small sip of water and my blood pressure medication?”

Hello,

I’m Director Lim Sung-yoon of Just Plastic Surgery.

Today, I’ve put together some of the questions patients ask very often about pre-surgery fasting and medication use.

⏰ Why is pre-surgery fasting necessary?

The reason we recommend fasting for at least 4 hours before surgery is to prevent the risk of aspiration caused by vomiting during surgery or procedures.

Under sedation, if vomiting occurs, food can enter the airway, which can cause breathing problems, so it is safest to arrive with your stomach completely empty.

💧 Is not even a sip of water allowed?

In principle, it is best not to drink water at all. However, as an exception, if you need to take blood pressure medication, it is okay to take it with a very small amount of water.

💡 Please take only as much as you can swallow with a sip of water (about 30 mL or less).

The reason is that blood pressure must be well controlled to help prevent blood pressure from rising or dropping during surgery. In other words, it is better to take your blood pressure medication safely before coming in.

What should I do about diabetes medication?

As a rule, diabetes medication should not be taken before coming in.

If you take diabetes medication while fasting, your blood sugar may drop too much and symptoms of hypoglycemia may occur. Since you cannot eat during surgery, low blood sugar can be dangerous.

✅ Therefore, only diabetes medication should not be taken before coming in.

If you are taking Wegovy (Wegovy) or Mounjaro (Mounjaro)?

Source - Donga Ilbo

Recently, many people have been coming in after using Wegovy or Mounjaro injections for weight loss purposes or to improve insulin resistance.

These medications delay gastric emptying, so food stays in the stomach longer. Therefore, a standard 4-hour fast may not completely empty the stomach.

⚠️ If you are taking Wegovy or Mounjaro, please come in after fasting for at least 6 hours for safety.

In such cases, the risk of vomiting or aspiration during surgery may be slightly higher, so it is better to allow extra time for fasting.

In closing

Pre-surgery fasting is the most basic promise for the patient’s safety. Even if it is a little inconvenient, you must follow it so that the surgery can proceed safely.

If you are unsure whether you should take your own medication, please contact the hospital the day before surgery, and we will provide individual guidance.

Just will be with you for a safe and comfortable surgery. Thank you. 🙏