25 Best Gift Ideas for a Loved One After Surgery | Cake Blog (2024)

When someone you know has surgery, you want to support them however you can. But, you may not know exactly what to say or do to help them feel better. Sending a gift might just be what they need to brighten their day. But how do you know what to get someone after surgery?

Jump ahead to these sections:

• After-Surgery Gifts for Pain Management
• After-Surgery Gifts for Relaxation
• After-Surgery Gifts for Recovery
• After-Surgery Gifts for Comfort
• After-Surgery Gifts for Kids
• Best After-Surgery Gift Baskets
• More After-Surgery Gift Ideas

Whether you need a gift that brings comfort, a smile, or assists with pain management, we've got a variety of gift ideas for your loved one. If you want even more ideas, we'd encourage you to look through our favorite sympathy gift ideas, as well.

After-Surgery Gifts for Pain Management

Navigating surgery without any post-op pain is rare. Most people experience at least a few days where pain management is at the forefront of their thoughts. Some people live through weeks of managing pain after surgery. Help alleviate their pain and distract their mind with gifts like these.

1. U-shaped body pillow

Sleeping and resting can be a challenge after you’ve had surgery. You may need to keep weight off of an incision area or need to elevate parts of your body.

This pillow is excellent for helping people with post-surgical pain. With this pillow, your loved one can achieve the most comfortable position while they recuperate.

2. Backrest or back pillow

Hospital beds or and even a person's own bed can get uncomfortable after a while. And, depending on the type of surgery they had, they may not be able to lay completely flat. A nice backrestorpillow can help ease muscle pain and keep them in a good position to avoid post-surgery pain.

3. Swear word coloring book

Enduring pain after surgery can be frustrating. You can only take so much pain medication and even that may not always help.Help your loved one blow off some steam with a swear word coloring book and some nice markers or colored pencils to go with it.

This isn’t the right gift for everyone but the right person will be cheered up by a silly gift like this. And as a bonus, they’ll have something to keep them entertained.

4. Movies

Sometimes the only thing that can take someone's mind off of the pain they're experiencing is by getting lost in a good movie. Give them the gift of escapism bybuying or renting a movie from Amazon for them.

After-Surgery Gifts for Relaxation

Rest is key to recovering well after surgery, and gifts that help someone relax are the perfect way to support the process. Whether they enjoy reading, viewing, or simply resting, these gifts will help promote a sense of relaxation.

5. Magazines

Resting and relaxing after surgery can get boring after a while. Man can’t live on binge-watching alone. Reading material is a great gift, but if a patient is on a lot of pain medication, they may not have the attention span for a book.

Magazines are excellent gifts—they’re an entertaining diversion that doesn’t require a ton of focus. And there are magazines for just about every specialty. So you can likely find at least one for anyone’s area of interest.

6. Books or an e-book reader

When someone is recovering from surgery, there’s a lot of downtime. Boredom can be a very bad thing for patients, because they may try to rush their recovery. Make sure your loved one has plenty to keep them occupied. Some good reading material is a great distraction. You can buy books they might be interested in, or invest in an e-book reader.

E-book readers are relatively inexpensive these days. And you can check out e-books for free from most local libraries. Your loved one won't have to spend a lot of money to fill up their e-reader. That option is especially great for people who may lack the muscle or dexterity to hold a heavy hardcover book.

7. Essential oil diffuser

Surgery can be an incredibly stressful time, but rest and relaxation are the keys to timely recuperation. Help promote a relaxing and serene atmosphere by giving your friend or loved one an essential oil diffuser. Pair the diffuser with lavender essential oil to get them started.

8. Streaming service gift card

If your friend or loved one enjoys relaxing with a nice documentary or low-key movie, then you might want to give the gift of a streaming service. Netflix and Amazon Prime are both good choices.

After-Surgery Gifts for Recovery

Recovery can be a difficult time as your friend or loved one adjusts to limited mobility, the need to track their progress, and the long space of time that comes after surgery. Help them through this time with gifts like these.

9. Neck pillow

After surgery, many people have to be on extended bed rest. This can get very uncomfortable after a few days. A neck pillow can help provide support during recovery so they can read or watch TV without straining themselves.

10. Bedside storage organizer

When someone has major surgery, they often have to stay in bed for extended periods. This means they may need to keep a lot of things within arms reach. You can get bedside organizers that hang off the side of your bed and have storage pockets.

You can keep all kinds of things in there including the following:

• Books
• Magazines
• Drinks
• Snacks
• Tablet
• Cell phone
• Portable charger
• Remote control

11. Journal

A journal can help decompress from the stress of surgery. But it can also help with making daily notes about the progress of their recovery, questions to ask their doctor, and any concerns that might pop up. Having a place to record their progress is a perfect way to assist in recovery.

12. Flowers

This is a classic gift, but one that never gets old. People love receiving a gift of fresh flowers that add a pop of color to their space and help them cheer up during recovery.

After-Surgery Gifts for Comfort

Comfort is important after someone goes through surgery, and it comes in all shapes and sizes. From comfy clothes to comfort-food, there is something you can give anyone to promote their sense of comfort and well-being.

13. Super soft blanket

Spending several days in bed sounds great, right? It’s not as much fun when you’re in pain. Gifts that make people feel more comfortable when they’re confined to bed will be appreciated. Super soft and snuggly throw blankets are a great gift.

They’re so cozy, it’s the perfect gift for someone recovering from illness.

14. Bathrobe or dressing gown

If your friend or family member has had abdominal surgery, their usual sleepwear might be uncomfortable. The waistband of pajama pants or basketball shorts can rub painfully against incisions. Gift your loved one a dressing gown or bathrobe that will enable them to recover in comfort.

15. Cozy pajamas

Your friend or loved one might find that their options in the pajama category are lacking after surgery. If all their current wear is tight or hard to get on, a new pair would be just the thing to increase their comfort level.

16. Baked treats

Sometimes you just want something ooey, gooey, and downright comforting to eat. If you bake, then whip up a batch of brownies or their favorite baked goods.

If baking isn't your forte, you can consider getting abasket of baked goodsdelivered to them.

After-Surgery Gifts for Kids

It can be especially hard for children to rest and heal after surgery. Kids have a lot of energy and may not understand the importance of taking it easy. Get them some gifts that will encourage them to take the time to recuperate.

17. Teddy bear

Being sick is no fun, and all the world can feel like a sad place. Cheer up a child with a classic cuddly teddy bear and give them a virtual hug.

18. Activity books and lap desk

Kids can get bored and restless when they have to be still. A little lap desk and a stack of activity books can help assuage their boredom. Little kids may like coloring books with their favorite characters on them.

Pre-teens may enjoy more intricate coloring books. Mandalas are currently a very popular coloring book subject. You can also get word search books or sudoku geared towards kids. Busy hands and a busy mind may help keep their bodies still while they recover.

19. Fun pajamas

Sometimes when we’re under the weather, a little silliness can help brighten our day. Luckily fun pajamas are on-trend right now.

Cozy onesies are available featuring a wide variety of characters and in a range of sizes. Get them for any little kid - or big kid - who needs a little cheering up after surgery.

20. Kids movies

The best part of being sick when you’re a kid is getting to snuggle up and watch TV and movies. Ask the patient’s parents if there are any movies their kid has been wanting to see, and offer to bring them a copy.

You could also bring movies you loved when you were a kid. If the parents don’t have a DVD player, offer to pay for a month of Disney+ or another streaming service.

Best After-Surgery Gift Baskets

00" />

Gift baskets are a great way to pack multiple gifts into one, and there are a wide variety to choose from. Here are three of our favorite post-surgery gift basket ideas.

21. Snack basket

After surgery, patients may not have a huge appetite. But they still need to eat to keep their strength up. Put together a basket of your loved one’s favorite snacks. Make sure they’re non-perishable so they can be kept right by the patient’s bed.

This is helpful for people with limited mobility who can’t make it to the kitchen. Things like nuts and dried fruit are filling and have some nutritional value. Popcorn is another good snack for people who can’t eat a heavy meal.

22. Spa basket

Someone who has just had major surgery may not be able to go for a massage or take a hot bath because of their incisions. But they can still indulge in some spa time at home. Put together a gift basket with relaxing indulgences that can be enjoyed in bed.

This can include things like:

• Scented candles
• Essential oils and diffuser
• Moisturizing hand cream
• Lip balm
• Fuzzy socks infused with aloe and lotion
• Gel eye mask

23. Personal products

Nice personal products are always enjoyable. Hydrating lotion, lip balm, moisturizer, and hand cream can provide a little spot of comfort in the midst of a difficult time. Individually, these are small products, but all together they add up.

More After-Surgery Gift Ideas

Some gifts are perfect for everyone and are things everyone needs. These gift ideas will be helpful no matter who you’re giving them to.

24. Grocery and meal delivery

When someone is recovering from surgery, they need to eat to keep up their strength. But they might not be well enough to go to the grocery store or even cook themselves a meal. You can help out in a few ways.

Many major grocery stores are now offering grocery delivery services. Even if you’re across the country, you can place an order for delivery and pay for it. Just ask your friend ahead of time what they need. If you live closer, you can cook some meals that freeze and reheat well and drop them off. Both of these gifts can offer comfort and nourishment to your loved one.

You might also consider taking a homemade post-surgery meal to your loved one, too.

25. Cleaning service

Keeping your household clean and organized can be challenging even under the best of circ*mstances. It becomes much more difficult when you’re recovering from surgery.

Your loved one likely has a lot of physical limitations. They’re probably not supposed to bend, twist, or lift anything heavy. Hiring a cleaning crew to come by and help with laundry, dishes, and other household tasks is a great service. This is a great gift for cancer patients in particular.

A cancer patient may be immunocompromised. They’ll need to come home to a home that has been deep-cleaned and sanitized. A professional cleaning crew can help make your loved one’s home a safe environment.

Helping Your Loved One Recover With a Gift

Recovering from surgery is never fun, no matter how old you are. Thoughtful gifts can provide a great deal of relief.

Gifts will be appreciated whether they reduce boredom or provide comfort. Mostly they will be appreciated because it shows you care enough to put thought into selecting the perfect present.

Post-loss tip: Unfortunately, surgery and medical intervention can't always save a life. If you or someone you know has recently lost someone, our post-loss checklist can help with the tasks and challenges you might face.