Precautions After Surgery
Why Postoperative Precautions Are Important?
To minimize the potential complications of the surgical procedure and to get the best aesthetic result you have to be aware of postoperative precautions. It is of vital importance to notice the signs and symptoms of postoperative complications early and treat them on time. It is frequently observed that some patients do not thoroughly pay attention to the doctor’s postoperative recommendations, and push the limits due to various reasons; and consequently, complications develop. In the postoperative period, patients should literally follow the doctor’s advices, even if he/she feels so good and does not feel any pain in this period.
Contact Your Doctor Immediately in Case of:
- Fever of greater than 38.5 C
- Dyspnea
- Severe pain
- Excessive amount of light red bleeding
- Development of excessive swelling and redness in the surgical site
- Extreme weakness
- Mental fog and excessive sleepiness;
- Covid-19 signs and symptoms
- Or if you feel something that does not go well, you should inform the doctor who has performed the surgery, at any time of the day. If the doctor cannot be reached due to any reason, you should apply to the emergency department of the hospital, where the surgery has been performed, or the emergency department of the nearest hospital.
Precautions for Covid-19 Disease
You have to obey precautions against Coronavirus disease such as social distancing, using mask and hygiene. You have to check yourself for sign and symptoms of Covid-19 such as high fever, taste and odor loss, muscle pain, weakness and coughing. You have to contact your doctor immediately in case of these symptoms.
Position
In general, the surgical site should be kept above the level of the heart. Since this reduces the pressure in the vein, less bleeding, swelling, and bruising occur.
Breathing Exercises
If the patient cannot get deep enough breaths due to various reasons such as pain, there is a risk of blockage formation in the air passages (atelectasis) that may be caused by that condition. Therefore, it is required to take deep breaths 3-5 times per hour, in such a way as to fully inflate the lungs. Adequate fluid intake will reduce the risk of blockage formation in the bronchi.
Restriction of Movement
The parts relate to the surgical site should not be used more than adequate. For example, arm movements should be restricted for a while after a breast surgery. The patient should refrain from strenuous movements such as excessively straining on the toilet, lifting heavy things, doing housework, carrying a child or driving a car. The patient should refrain from doing active sports. Short walking exercises can be useful for blood circulation in the legs.
Nutrition
Adequate fluid intake is important in ensuring the drugs, used throughout the surgery process, to be easily discharged from the body; in reducing the risk of clot formation in the legs; and in ensuring sufficient circulation in the tissues. Reducing the fluid intake, with intent to decrease the need for going to the toilet frequently, is one of the most common mistakes. In this process, the patient should stay away from alcohol, and should not take some drugs such as Aspirin, which may increase the bleeding. Very strict diets intended for weight loss should not be adopted in the postoperative period; and instead, a balanced diet should be considered.
Avoid Taking Blood Thinners
You should avoid taking blood thinners such as Aspirin, green tea or some supplements and vitamins at least 2 weeks more after the surgery.
Prescribed Medication by Your Doctor
The medications prescribed by your doctor should be used as recommended and arbitrary changes should not be made in dose. When any unexpected effect related to drug use is observed, the doctor should be informed of the situation.
Smoking
Since it causes spasm in the vessels, smoking has an extremely unfavorable effect on tissue healing. Tissue necrosis and loss may arise due to insufficient blood circulation on the operation areas.
Mental changes
In the first days of the postoperative period, it is very normal to experience a temporary mental depression and feel anxious about the success of the surgery. In this period, mostly the targeted result has yet to be seen, due to some reasons such as bandages, dressings, edema etc. On the other hand, after plastic surgeries that lead to a significant change in the appearance, it takes time to adapt the new appearance and internalize it even if the operation was highly successful.
Pregnancy
Some of the ointments used after the surgery are inconvenient during pregnancy. Therefore, pregnancy should not be planned for at least following 3 months after the operation or the cream should not be used.
