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After Surgery Recovery
Recovery timelines vary widely among individuals and procedures. Dr Sally will provide you with a personalised recovery plan outlining specific instructions and expected milestones based on your individual circumstance and work requirements. Adhering to these instructions diligently can significantly contribute to a smooth and successful recovery.Here are some general aspects of recovery you might expect:
- Immediate Post-Surgery Care: Patients often spend 30-60 minutes in the recovery area immediately after the surgery for monitoring. Nursing staff will ensure your vital signs are stable and manage any immediate post-operative pain with various pain relief. Dr Sally will also contact your nominated family member that the surgery is completed to ease their concerns.
- Pain Management: Most patients experience some pain and discomfort after surgery. Dr Sally and her anaesthetists will prescribe various pain medications or recommend pain management techniques to help alleviate discomfort. Common medications include regular panadol, non-steroidal antiinflammatories, opiates such as oxycodone, or other agents such as tapentadol. If you have a history of significant nausea after previous surgery, it is important to discuss this with our anaesthetist so that we can consider preventative medicine to reduce the risk of significant nausea post surgery.
- Hospital Stay: Depending on the complexity of the procedure and drain tube requirement, most patients will stay 1-3 nights in the hospital after body contouring surgery. It is not uncommon to have drain tubes placed in the surgical site. If the drain tube is not ready for removal prior to discharge, the patient can either go home with the drain tube or the hospital can arrange a nurse to visit each day.
- Physical Limitations: Patients will need to modify some of their activities for 4 to 6 weeks post surgery. Lifting heavy objects, bending, or engaging in strenuous exercises need to be avoided for the first 4-6 weeks. Dr Sally does encourage daily short walks to ensure the risk of deep vein thrombosis is minimised. If there is an option to work from home, Dr Sally will encourage the patient to work from home for a few weeks in order to maximise rest and recovery
- Compression Garments: For arms and thighs procedure , patients will need to wear compression garments for 3 months to reduce swelling, support healing, and improve contours. .Post breast surgery, patients will need to wear a soft bra with no underwire for 3 months at least. Post abdominoplasty, patients will need to wear a binder or firm shapewear for 3 months at least.
- Wound Care: Proper wound care is essential to prevent infections and promote healing. Dr Sally will provide instructions on how to care for your incision sites, including cleaning and dressing changes. For most procedures, there will be a close incision negative pressure dressing (known as prevena) for the first two weeks.
- Swelling and Bruising: Expect some swelling and bruising in the operated areas. This is normal and should subside gradually over time.
Dr Sally prioritises holistic patient care, emphasising the importance of both physical and emotional well-being throughout your recovery journey. She will provide tailored guidelines to optimise healing and reduce any potential complications, ensuring you receive comprehensive support to follow these recommendations diligently. Acknowledging the emotional impact of significant physical changes, Dr Sally encourages patients to seek support during this adjustment period. Additionally, Dr Sally is committed to her patient’s ongoing care. There will be regular follow-up appointments to monitor the progress, and her staff is available to address any concerns promptly and perform necessary post-operative procedures such as suture or drain removal with precision and care.
FAQs
Once the patient obtains a referral from the GP or bariatric surgeon, the patient can contact Dr Sally’s office to schedule an initial consultation to determine the suitability for surgery. During these consultations, Dr Sally evaluates your medical history, weight loss journey, current health status, weight stability, and discusses your goals and expectations. They will assess whether the patient is physically and emotionally prepared for the surgery. Dr Sally will also explain the potential risks and benefits based on your individual circumstances and the expected period of recovery.
While post-weight loss surgeries are generally safe, they do carry certain risks just like any other medical procedures. General risks include infection, bleeding, scarring, anaesthesia-related complications, fluid accumulation, blood clots, delayed wound healing, tissue necrosis, and sensory changes. Patients are encouraged to thoroughly discuss potential risks with Dr Sally before the procedure and diligently follow post-operative care instructions to minimise these complications.
Recovery times vary based on the specific procedure and individual factors. Generally, patients will need to modify their activities for 4 to 6 weeks. However, full recovery might take several monthsPatients should follow Dr Sally’s post-operative care instructions for the optimal recovery outcome.
Scarring is a typical outcome of surgery, but the extent varies based on the procedure and individual healing. Dr Sally aims to reduce the impact of scarring by placing the surgical incisions strategically and providing guidance on scar care. Scars typically fade over time but might remain visible to some degree.
The timeline for returning to regular activities varies depending on the type of surgery performed. Generally, patients are advised to avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting for 4 to 6 weeks post-surgery. Weight training or intense cardio programs may need to be deferred for up to 3 months. Dr Sally Ng will provide guidance on gradually reintroducing activities and exercising based on individual recovery progress.
Start your surgical journey with Dr Sally Ng
If you are looking to achieve a particular result or restore your appearance, Dr Sally Ng in Melbourne offers various aesthetic and reconstructive surgical procedures to help you.
For more information or to request a consultation, please contact us today.