- Los Angeles hospitals expect a responsible adult to take you home. UCLA Health's head and neck surgery preparation guide says patients may not drive themselves home.
- Most outpatients go home one to four hours after the procedure, and the anesthesiologists' society advises having someone with you for the first 24 hours.
- Fill prescriptions early if your surgeon allows it, and set up the room the day before.
- If walking will be limited for weeks, a California temporary disabled parking placard is valid for up to 180 days, with your provider's signature on form REG 195.
- A printable checklist below covers the week before, the day before, leaving the hospital and the first 24 hours, plus when to call the surgeon and when to call 911.
- The week before Driver and first-night helper confirmed. Equipment, meals, insurance approval and care for children or pets lined up.
- The day before Recovery spot ready, rugs and cords cleared, night lights in, supplies within reach of the bed.
- Before you leave the hospital Medicines, dressings, food, activity, follow-up visits and who to call, understood and in writing.
- The first 24 hours An adult stays with you. Rest, no driving, and the surgeon's number by the bed.
In this article
- The coming home after surgery checklist
- Who has to drive you home after surgery in Los Angeles?
- Can you take a rideshare home after anesthesia?
- What should be ready at home before you leave for the hospital?
- What bathroom and mobility equipment should be in place?
- What supplies should you have at home?
- How do you handle meals and groceries?
- Who covers children, pets, the house, insurance and work?
- Should prescriptions be filled before surgery day?
- Who stays with you the first night?
- Before you leave the hospital, what should you understand?
- What paperwork and phone numbers should be in the car?
- When should you call the surgeon, and when should you call 911?
- How do you plan the drive itself in Los Angeles?
- Do you need a disabled parking placard for follow-up visits?
- Where does a nurse fit on surgery day?
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources
The coming home after surgery checklist
Work through it in order, and check items off as they are done. Your surgeon's instructions come first wherever they differ.
The week before
- An adult to drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours, confirmed by name (UCLA Health, American Society of Anesthesiologists).
- Prescriptions: ask whether they can go to your pharmacy before surgery day.
- Insurance: call your plan, confirm the surgery is approved, and note any precertification number (Woman's Hospital).
- Care arranged for children, parents, pets or anyone else who depends on you (Woman's Hospital).
- Work: your supervisor knows how long you expect to be away, and you have checked the medical leave policy (Woman's Hospital).
- Equipment your care team recommends, such as a shower chair, raised toilet seat or grab bars, delivered and set up (MedlinePlus).
- Meals cooked and frozen; groceries and your usual medications stocked (Woman's Hospital, MedlinePlus).
- If walking will be limited for weeks, DMV form REG 195 signed at the pre-operative visit.
The day before
- Bed set up on the entry floor if you can, with a bathroom or commode on the same floor (MedlinePlus).
- Throw rugs and cords out of walkways, and night lights in dark hallways and rooms (MedlinePlus).
- House cleaned and laundry done (Woman's Hospital).
- Ice packs in the freezer (Arthritis Foundation), plus water, a phone charger and a written medication schedule by the bed.
- Pickup time and the exact pickup point confirmed with your driver.
Before you leave the hospital
- Discharge instructions in writing, read by you and by the person helping you (MedlinePlus, American College of Surgeons).
- You understand your medicines, dressings, food, activity limits, follow-up visits and who to call. See the full list below.
- You know which pharmacy has your prescriptions and who is picking them up.
- The date, time and address of the first follow-up visit are written down.
The first 24 hours
- An adult stays with you, and you rest (American Society of Anesthesiologists).
- No driving and no important decisions (American Society of Anesthesiologists, Cedars-Sinai).
- Medicines taken on the written schedule.
- The surgeon's after-hours number and the when to call lists kept by the bed.
Who has to drive you home after surgery in Los Angeles?
A responsible adult you know, in almost every case. Cedars-Sinai's patient guidance says healthcare facilities usually require a responsible friend or family member to drive you home, because anesthesia may affect your coordination and reflexes for up to 24 hours after surgery. UCLA Health's preparation guide for head and neck surgery is more direct: patients may not drive themselves home, a responsible adult must accompany them, and surgery does not go ahead without one.
Timing matters as much as the person. The American Society of Anesthesiologists' patient guide says most outpatients can go home one to four hours after the procedure, depending on the surgery and the anesthesia. Your driver needs to be reachable and close by when the call comes, not across town. Confirm your own facility's rule with the surgeon's office a week ahead, because each hospital and surgery center sets its own policy.
Can you take a rideshare home after anesthesia?
Do not plan on it. None of the guidance we reviewed from Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health or the American Society of Anesthesiologists describes a rideshare driver as meeting the requirement, and the words they use, a friend or family member, a responsible adult who escorts you, point the other way. If no one in your life can do the drive, say so at the pre-operative appointment, not on surgery morning, so there is time to arrange something else. Our guide for people with no one to help after surgery lays out the options, from least to most involved.
What should be ready at home before you leave for the hospital?
Set up the recovery spot the day before, while you can still carry things and reach high shelves. Our guide to the first 72 hours after surgery covers the full home setup. The short version:
- A bed or recliner on the ground floor if stairs will be hard, with pillows for the position your surgeon wants.
- A clear path to the bathroom, with loose rugs and cords moved out of the way.
- Night lights in hallways and in rooms that are dark, which MedlinePlus lists alongside clearing rugs and cords in its guide to getting your home ready after the hospital.
- Water, light food, ice packs and a phone charger within reach of the bed.
- A written medication schedule with times, kept where whoever is helping can see it.
- A room that stays comfortable. If your recovery falls during a hot spell, check that the room you will rest in stays cool, especially inland or in the Valley.
What bathroom and mobility equipment should be in place?
Ask your nurse or discharge planner which of these you will need, and have them set up before surgery day so you can practice with them. MedlinePlus's discharge plan guide suggests asking about equipment such as a walker or cane, a shower chair and a portable toilet, and its home preparation guide lists:
- A shower chair with non-skid rubber tips, and a long-handled shower sponge.
- A raised toilet seat or a commode chair.
- Grab bars by the toilet and tub, fixed to the wall vertically or horizontally. Towel racks are not grab bars and cannot support your weight.
- Non-slip mats in the tub and a non-skid mat outside it.
- A cane, crutches or walker, with a small basket for your phone.
- A reacher, sock aid and long-handled shoehorn, so you do not have to bend.
MedlinePlus also suggests practicing with a cane, walker or crutches while sitting down on the toilet, standing up again, and getting in and out of the shower.
What supplies should you have at home?
- Refills of the medicines you already take, stocked before surgery (Woman's Hospital surgery checklist).
- Bandages and dressings, disposable gloves and skin care items, if your nurse or discharge planner says you will need them. MedlinePlus lists these, along with adult diapers, among the supplies to ask about.
- Ice packs, frozen before you leave for the hospital (Arthritis Foundation, preparing for going home after surgery).
- Something for constipation, only if your surgeon recommends it. The Arthritis Foundation notes that inactivity and pain medication can cause constipation. Ask your surgeon before surgery whether to have a stool softener on hand.
How do you handle meals and groceries?
Do the cooking before surgery. Woman's Hospital's checklist suggests cooking and freezing meals, stocking up on groceries, and, when friends offer to help, asking them to bring a meal or run an errand. MedlinePlus suggests stocking canned or frozen food and putting food and dishes between waist and shoulder height so you do not have to stretch or bend. Before you leave the hospital, ask what you can and cannot eat at first.
Who covers children, pets, the house, insurance and work?
- Children, parents and pets. Arrange someone to care for anyone who depends on you, both while you are in the hospital and after you are home (Woman's Hospital). MedlinePlus adds that small pets underfoot can trip you, and suggests a pet stay with a friend or at a kennel for the first few weeks.
- The house. Clean and do the laundry before surgery, because you may not be able to for a while (Woman's Hospital).
- Insurance. Call your plan to confirm the surgery is approved and to get any precertification number (Woman's Hospital). HealthCare.gov's definition of preauthorization notes that approval is not a promise the plan will cover the cost, so ask about your share too.
- Work. Tell your supervisor how long you expect to be away and any limits when you return, and check the medical leave policy with human resources (Woman's Hospital).
Should prescriptions be filled before surgery day?
If your surgeon will send them early, yes. Ask whether pain medication, anti-nausea medication and any antibiotic can go to your pharmacy before surgery, so nobody is waiting in a pharmacy line on the way home with you in the car. If a prescription can only be written after surgery, agree in advance which pharmacy will fill it and who will pick it up. Bring a complete list of what you already take so it can be checked against the new orders. Our hospital discharge checklist has a printable version of the medication questions to ask.
Who stays with you the first night?
Someone who can stay awake enough to notice a change. The American Society of Anesthesiologists tells outpatients to have someone with them for the first 24 hours after they return home and to plan to rest, and notes you may be told not to make important decisions for a day or two. Cedars-Sinai's outpatient surgery guidance similarly advises having someone drive you home and stay with you for a while, and says most people cannot drive for at least 24 hours.
That person should be able to help you to the bathroom, keep medications on schedule, watch the dressing, and call the surgeon's on-call line if something looks wrong. If the obvious person is a spouse who also needs to sleep, or a parent who cannot lift, an overnight nurse can take the night. Our guide to overnight, 24-hour and live-in nursing explains the difference between those options.
Before you leave the hospital, what should you understand?
Your nurse will give you written discharge instructions. MedlinePlus's guide to your discharge plan says to read them carefully and to have your caregiver read them too. Before you leave, make sure you understand:
- Every medicine, how and when to take it, and which ones are new, changed or stopped.
- How and when to change bandages and dressings.
- The dates and times of follow-up appointments, with names and phone numbers.
- Who to call with questions, problems or an emergency.
- What you can and cannot eat.
- How active you can be, including stairs and carrying things.
- Whether you need any equipment or supplies at home.
It is also fair to ask when you can shower, drive and go back to work. The American College of Surgeons' patient checklist advises asking questions until you understand the answers and making sure you receive your instructions in writing. Our hospital discharge checklist has a printable version of these questions.
What paperwork and phone numbers should be in the car?
- Your discharge instructions and updated medication list. Our guide to hospital discharge papers explains what each page is for.
- The surgeon's office number and after-hours line, saved in at least two phones.
- The date, time and address of the first follow-up visit.
- The name and location of the pharmacy holding your prescriptions.
- Your ID, insurance card, and the list of warning signs your surgeon gave you.
When should you call the surgeon, and when should you call 911?
Your surgeon's own written list comes first. As general examples, contact your surgeon if you notice any of the signs below. The first five come from MedlinePlus's guide to caring for a closed surgical wound; the last three name their own source.
- More redness or pain around the incision.
- Swelling or bleeding.
- A wound that looks larger, deeper, dried out or dark.
- Drainage that increases or becomes thick, tan, green or yellow, or smells bad.
- A temperature above 100°F (37.7°C) for more than 4 hours.
- Pain, swelling, warmth or redness in a leg, which can be a sign of a blood clot. MedlinePlus lists these as common symptoms of a deep vein thrombosis, a clot that most often forms in the lower leg or thigh.
- Nausea or vomiting that will not stop, or not being able to keep fluids down. Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center's surgical guide on when to call the doctor lists nausea or vomiting that won't stop, and MedlinePlus's page on nausea and vomiting says to contact a provider after 12 hours or more of not keeping any fluids down.
- No bowel movement for several days, or severe constipation. The Eastern Maine Medical Center guide lists severe constipation, and MedlinePlus's discharge guide after bowel surgery says to contact your surgeon if you have not had a bowel movement 4 days after leaving the hospital.
MedlinePlus's page on recognizing medical emergencies lists warning signs from the American College of Emergency Physicians. Call 911 for signs such as:
- Bleeding that will not stop.
- Trouble breathing or shortness of breath.
- A change in mental status, such as confusion, unusual behavior or being hard to wake.
- Chest pain or discomfort lasting two minutes or more.
- Fainting or loss of consciousness.
- Coughing up or vomiting blood.
- Sudden dizziness, weakness or change in vision.
- Swelling of the face, eyes or tongue.
- Sudden, severe pain anywhere in the body.
These lists are examples, not every emergency. In any emergency, call 911.
How do you plan the drive itself in Los Angeles?
Plan the route and the time like they matter, because in Los Angeles they do. Ask the surgeon's office roughly when patients having your procedure are usually ready to leave, and work back from there. A long drive across the city in afternoon traffic is hard after anesthesia, so a small pillow between you and the seatbelt, a bag in case of nausea, water, and a passenger seat reclined slightly can all help. Whether your surgery is at Cedars-Sinai, Ronald Reagan UCLA, Keck Hospital of USC, Huntington Hospital in Pasadena or an outpatient center, ask exactly where the driver should wait for patient pickup. At home, have someone open the front door and clear the path before you get out of the car.
If you live in Pasadena or the San Gabriel Valley, our Pasadena page covers the hospitals there. For the county as a whole, see our Los Angeles County care resource guide.
Do you need a disabled parking placard for follow-up visits?
If walking will be limited for weeks, it can help. The California DMV issues a temporary disabled person parking placard for temporary disabilities, valid for up to 180 days or until the date your medical professional notes on the application, whichever is shorter. You apply with form REG 195, and your medical provider completes and signs the certification section. The DMV takes applications online or by mail, and a fee applies to temporary placards. Ask your surgeon's office to sign the form at the pre-operative visit so the placard can arrive before the first follow-up.
Where does a nurse fit on surgery day?
A nurse can take the most fragile hours off a family's plate. WholeHealth Concierge is RN-led and private-pay, and coordinates nurses for recoveries across Los Angeles. A nurse can be at home when you arrive, monitor your vital signs and the surgical site, help with medications on your surgeon's schedule, teach the family what to watch for, and report changes to the surgeon's office. Surgery-day pickup and transport home is also available. Hours and pricing are set on a free consultation. WholeHealth Concierge is not affiliated with any hospital named on this page. Read more on our Los Angeles private duty nursing page and our post-operative recovery page.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need at home after surgery?
Plan for equipment, supplies and meals. Equipment your care team recommends may include a shower chair, a raised toilet seat or commode, grab bars, and a cane or walker, set up before surgery day. Supplies include refills of your usual medicines, the dressings you were told to use, and ice packs; ask your surgeon whether to keep a stool softener on hand, since pain medication can cause constipation. For meals, cook and freeze food and stock groceries before surgery. MedlinePlus, the Arthritis Foundation and Woman's Hospital's surgery checklist list these items.
Can I drive myself home after outpatient surgery?
No. Cedars-Sinai says healthcare facilities usually require a responsible friend or family member to drive you home because anesthesia may affect coordination and reflexes for up to 24 hours, and UCLA Health's head and neck surgery preparation guide says patients may not drive themselves home.
Can I take an Uber or Lyft home after anesthesia?
Do not plan on it. The Los Angeles hospital guidance we reviewed describes a friend, family member or responsible adult escort, not a rideshare driver. If you have no one, raise it at the pre-operative appointment so there is time to arrange a nurse or another escort.
How soon after outpatient surgery can I go home?
The American Society of Anesthesiologists says most outpatients can go home one to four hours after the procedure, depending on the type of surgery and anesthesia and on how the recovery goes.
Does someone need to stay with me the first night after surgery?
The American Society of Anesthesiologists advises having someone with you for the first 24 hours after you return home. That person should be able to help you move, keep medications on schedule and call the surgeon's after-hours line if something changes.
How do I get a temporary disabled parking placard in California after surgery?
Complete DMV form REG 195 and have your medical provider sign the certification section. A temporary placard is valid for up to 180 days or until the date your provider notes, whichever is shorter, and the DMV accepts applications online or by mail.
Sources
Figures and quotations on this page come from the public sources below, each opened and checked on the date shown. Dollar figures are general market figures reported by those sources, not WholeHealth Concierge's rates.
- Cedars-Sinai, "Discharge Planning After Surgery." cedars-sinai.org. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Cedars-Sinai, "Outpatient Surgery." cedars-sinai.org. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- UCLA Health, "How to Prepare for Head and Neck Surgery." uclahealth.org. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- American Society of Anesthesiologists, "Outpatient Surgery and Anesthesia" patient guide, 2021. asahq.org (PDF). Accessed October 9, 2026.
- MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), "Getting your home ready: after the hospital," reviewed July 3, 2025. medlineplus.gov. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- MedlinePlus, "Leaving the hospital: your discharge plan," reviewed July 15, 2024. medlineplus.gov. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- MedlinePlus, "Surgical wound care: closed," reviewed April 11, 2026. medlineplus.gov. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- MedlinePlus, "Recognizing medical emergencies," reviewed January 8, 2025 (warning signs from the American College of Emergency Physicians). medlineplus.gov. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- MedlinePlus, "Deep Vein Thrombosis" (health topic). medlineplus.gov. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- MedlinePlus, "Nausea and vomiting: adults," reviewed July 22, 2025. medlineplus.gov. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- MedlinePlus, "Large bowel resection: discharge," reviewed July 6, 2026. medlineplus.gov. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, "When to Call the Doctor" (surgical education). northernlighthealth.org. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Woman's Hospital (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), "Preparing for Surgery" checklist. womans.org (PDF). Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Mary Anne Dunkin, "Prepare for Going Home After Surgery," Arthritis Foundation. arthritis.org. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- American College of Surgeons, "Geriatric Surgery Patient Checklist." facs.org (PDF). Accessed October 9, 2026.
- HealthCare.gov, "Preauthorization" (glossary). healthcare.gov. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- California DMV, "Disabled Person Parking Placards & Plates." dmv.ca.gov. Accessed October 9, 2026.