Even though a surgical procedure may be considered routine, that’s not to say there won’t be risks to your health. This is why it’s especially important to follow your doctor’s advice before and after the operation. The instructions your surgeon provides will ensure the surgery goes more smoothly, and you will have a faster recovery once it’s over. Additionally, the following tips will help you speed up your recovery time and reduce the likelihood of complications.
Nutrition Plays an Important Role
Whether you receive the best plastic surgery in Miami or undergo a required medical procedure in a hospital, your diet will have a big impact on your recovery. Often, people don’t feel like eating much of anything for hours or even days after undergoing a procedure. While this is a normal reaction, it is important to eat healthy meals and drink plenty of water. The water will help replenish the hydration you lost during the procedure. Eating plant-based foods and lean meat will give your body the antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and nutrients you need to recover. In particular, you should be eating more leafy greens, berries, eggs, nuts and seeds, and cruciferous vegetables. These foods also contain complex carbohydrates that will help replenish your energy levels to prevent feelings of fatigue and drowsiness.
Watch For Infection
Throughout your recovery, you should be monitoring the site of the incision to watch for early signs of infection. If the incision site is located in an area that’s difficult to see, you should ask a spouse or another loved one to check the area for you. Before examining the incision site, hands should be thoroughly washed with warm water and soap. The incision site should be pink, but extreme redness and soreness may indicate the start of an infection. You should also make sure the staples or stitches remain intact until they are expected to fall out on their own. Be wary of pus draining from the incision site as well. If you observe any of these signs, you should contact your doctor immediately.
Control Coughing and Sneezing
While you usually don’t think about how you cough or sneeze, these are important things to think about after undergoing a surgical procedure. A violent sneeze may not seem like a big deal, but, if your incision site is near the abdomen, that sneeze may be enough to cause the incision to open. You may also lose some stitches or staples. Anytime you cough, sneeze, or need to have a bowel movement, be sure to place a hand firmly over the incision site. This will help control the muscular movements that could otherwise force the incision to open.
Don’t Ignore Your Pain
Even though you may feel concerned about taking pain medications, you must do something to alleviate your pain. If you don’t want to take an addictive opioid medication, ask your doctor for a different type of pain reliever. The reason that alleviating pain is so important is that too much pain will inhibit your ability to cough. While you will have to take care in protecting the incision site as you cough, this is a necessary reaction that helps prevent complications. If you’re not coughing, your risks for blood clots and pneumonia are higher. For this reason, alleviating pain, either through medication or natural means, is essential for your recovery and your overall health.
Start Resuming Physical Activity
While your ability to exercise will be limited after undergoing a surgical procedure, that doesn’t suggest you shouldn’t be doing anything. You should talk to your surgeon about the physical activity you can do during your recovery. At the very least, short walks taken at a slow to moderate pace should be permissible. Exercise is important because it can help reduce your risks for pneumonia, blood clots, constipation, and other physical side effects of the procedure. Additionally, exercise boosts the mood and promotes better emotional health, which also affects your ability to recover faster. Less stress will leave your immune system free to concentrate on healing your surgical wounds rather than fighting stress hormones.
No matter what type of surgery you require, the tips mentioned here can be applied to your situation. You can also look for more suggestions that will specifically apply to your condition. Following more specialized tips can have a positive impact on your recovery time and help you get back to your life sooner.
