When it comes to preparing for and recovering from surgery, well … it can feel a little overwhelming! Between following doctor's orders to preparing for a few days of recovery, taking some time to relax may be the last thing on your mind.
Those who have gone through post-surgery recovery can empathize with a friend or family member going through it! While post-surgery recovery is never fun, it can be made more bearable with a few thoughtful, useful gifts in a care surgery gifts package! In this blog post, we’re sharing several post-surgery care package gift ideas.
14 BEST GIFTS FOR A GET WELL POST SURGERY CARE PACKAGE
At Proper Good, surgery sucks, and we’re big supporters of demonstrating care and compassion toward the ones we love. We like sending a care package as a way to show support and improve the recovery process, we have even shared sick care package and college care package ideas! (you can never have enough care packages! ;) )
When it comes to sending a care package for someone recovering from surgery, including fun yet functional items is key! like a soft blanket or nail polish.
Mix and match the ideas below to make a perfect compilation of gifts for post-surgery that can help improve post-surgery comfort.
SOUP
What better way to recover from surgery than with the help of nutritious, delicious soup! Even better when you don’t even have to leave the house to send a thoughtful delivery straight to your loved one’s door! Let Proper Good do the heavy lifting for you … build your own 6 pack of delicious soups, chilis, and oatmeals for your loved one to enjoy. You can also choose from one of our carefully hand-picked collections, which are great ideas for a gift basket or a care package!
Choose an all-day pack for someone looking to barely lift a finger during post-surgery recovery. Or, plant-based, keto, gluten-free, low-sodium, and dairy-free bundles for those with certain dietary preferences and needs! You can even include a thoughtful note with well wishes inside! And did we mention Proper Good meals are basically zero meal prep? Yep, believe it! So for those times when your loved one has lower energy levels post-surgery, this low-maintenance option just has to be heated up! A truly nutritious and wholesome meal, indeed!
BAKED GOODIES, CHOCOLATE OR CANDY
Yes, yummy baked goods are STILL one of the best ways to bring a smile to someone’s face! The great thing about the internet is that you can search for anything your loved one could possibly want.
We love this 25-pack cupcake sampler from Baked by Melissa. Ice cream is also an excellent option for post-surgery pain management for those who have just had oral surgery and can’t eat hard foods. If you’re not sure which ice cream flavor is your loved one’s favorite, Original Rainbow Ice Cream is a liiiitle bit of everything! ;) Or if you’re seeking a low-sugar option, we love this Halo Top keto ice cream. Flavors like a mint chocolate cookie, berry swirl, and peanut butter chocolate are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Or if you live nearby, home make a pint of healthier banana “nice” cream and deliver it yourself! Here’s a simple banana nice cream recipe!
THROW PILLOW
Can you ever have too many cozy things in your home? We think not! Since your loved one may be spending extra time at home post-surgery, help them spend that time in comfort! These cozy faux shearling pillows are one of the best well gift ideas, they will keep them relaxed while they catch up on their favorite movies or books.
WARM BLANKET
Let the cozy theme continue! Why not couple a warm blanket with the shearling pillow in your care package? Weighted blankets use deep pressure stimulation, which is thought to stimulate the production of a mood-boosting hormone (serotonin), reduce the stress hormone (cortisol), and increase levels of melatonin, the hormone that helps you sleep. This can even be just the thing to help improve overall sleep quality!
This weighted throw blanket from Brooklinen comes in 4 gorgeous colors to choose from and is so soft. A perfect post-surgery indulgence.
HERBAL TEA
Surprisingly, herbal tea offers many health benefits, which can be helpful to promote healing and aid speedy post-surgery recovery! Ginger tea helps reduce nausea, which is ideal for those experiencing sickness post-surgery, perhaps due to pain medication. Chamomile tea is a calming beverage often drunk just before bedtime, so for those experiencing insomnia, chamomile tea can help. Hibiscus tea contains several antioxidants, such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
READY TO EAT MEALS
Yep, Proper Good offers a delicious variety of soups, chilis, and oatmeals of course! But if you’re looking to supplement your Proper Good post-surgery care package delivery with additional meals, we’ve got some ideas!
For post-surgery days when your loved one is craving a smoothie, Daily Harvest has delicious options. And like Proper Good, Daily Harvest delivers straight to your door. Get your loved ones a gift card so they can pick and choose favorites!
MOISTURIZER OR TOPICAL CREAMS
After getting surgery, it’s likely that your loved one is thrown out of their usual routine, including their personal care regimen! They also may not be drinking enough water, which can make their skin dry. This facial cream from Kiehl’s is perfect for all skin types, even sensitive skin. This ultra-moisturizing face cream strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier and provides 24-hour hydration for softer, smoother skin.
LIP BALM
Similar to the point above, your loved one may be a bit more dehydrated than usual, which can lead to lips becoming dry as well. This overnight lip balm from Burt’s Bees is a no-muss, no-fuss way for your loved ones to nourish their lips while they sleep. And it smells good, too! With passionfruit and chamomile extract, this lip balm exfoliates and hydrates.
HOT AND COLD PACK
The aches and pains that happen post-surgery can be absolutely miserable. Help your loved one rest in comfort by giving them a hot and cold pack in a post-surgery care package! This hot and cold pack is reusable, so your loved one can cool it in the freezer or warm the pack in the microwave whenever needed! A cold and hot pack can help ease pains caused by surgery, even toothaches.
COMFY SOCKS
There’s nothing cozier than a warm pair of socks, especially on cool days! Include one or several pairs of fuzzy socks in your loved one’s post-surgery care package because no one can ever have too many pairs of soft socks, right?! ;) We love these sock packs from Athleta or Bombas for comfort and quality.
GIFT CARDS
If you’re not sure which items your loved one would enjoy post-surgery, a gift card is always a thoughtful option! A Visa gift card allows them to purchase whatever they’d like, so this makes for a versatile option. Food delivery is always appreciated post-surgery as well, so DoorDash, Uber, or Goldbelly gift cards could be an idea to consider.
BOOKS
The bright side of having downtime post-surgery is that your loved one may have more time to read! Choose one or several books from their favorite author or genre to include in your care package.
Half Price Books offers a wide variety of lightly used books and ships across the U.S.! Not to mention that purchasing gently used books promotes sustainability and is better than buying new ones.
SELF-CARE ITEMS
Self-care can come in many forms depending on what your body needs. Sometimes that’s a heart-pumping workout, and other times, like after surgery, self-care means rest. For those who find it hard to sit still, items like a face mask, bath bomb, candle, or journal can be helpful AND relaxing. Lush has an awesome selection of face masks and bath bombs!
SUBSCRIPTION TO A STREAMING SERVICE
These days there are SO many unique streaming services to choose from, and they all have unique television shows, movies, and documentaries. Gift your loved one with a temporary or permanent subscription to a streaming service, like Netflix, Hulu, or HBO. If your loved one has kiddos around, Disney+ could be a good option.
Well, there you have it! While recovering from surgery is never fun, a post-surgery care package can make a world of difference in brightening the day of a loved one on the mend. And, make their journey back toward full health as comfortable as possible!
If you’re looking for more post-surgery resources, we’ve also written about:
