Some surgeons are prescribing celebrex the night before and after surgery. isn't it "more or less" the same as advil? why is celebrex an alternative?

Not the same: Although both Celebrex and Advil are both antiinflammatories, Celebrex works on a slightly different pathway in the body. You have less of a chance of stomach ulcers with celebrex because it does not inhibit protoglandins in the same way. You also have less of a chance of bleeding which is likely why it has become popular for peri-operative use.