Post-Surgery Care
Post-Surgery Care at UVM Health
Proper post-surgery care is an important part of your recovery and is essential to achieving a good outcome. At University of Vermont Health, your care doesn’t end when your surgery does. We take pride in making sure you get the very best care before, during and after your surgical procedure.
Recovering From Surgery in the Hospital
All surgeries require postoperative care. If you have an outpatient procedure, you can typically go home (be discharged) the same day. If you have inpatient surgery, you will stay at the hospital for several days.
While you’re in the hospital, your care team will monitor your recovery and manage your pain. They will check your incision to make sure it is healing well and look for signs of infection. They will also:
- Help you move around to help prevent blood clots
- Lead you through exercises to help ease pain and promote healing
- Have you cough to prevent breathing problems
Talk to your surgeon about what to expect during recovery after surgery. They will let you know when you can expect to be discharged.
Recovering From Surgery at Home
Every person is unique, which means your recovery after surgery will be unique too. You may not feel like yourself for a few weeks or longer. Your body has been through a lot. It’s also not unusual to feel sad or down after surgery. As you recover, you will need to:
Follow your surgeon’s instructions for how to care for your incision at home. Generally, you should:
- Change your bandages (dressing) as your surgeon instructs.
- Keep the area around the incision clean. Be gentle and avoid scrubbing. You should also avoid using alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean your incision.
Let your surgeon know if you experience pain or soreness near the incision. It’s normal to see some mild redness and irritation as the incision heals.
Common side effects after surgery may include:
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Swelling
When you’re recovering from surgery, you may need help with things like driving and shopping. A family member or friend may also be able to help with:
- Childcare
- Cooking
- Errands
- Housework
Although you may feel anxious to get back to work or your usual activities, it’s important to give yourself time to heal. Your surgeon will provide a postoperative care plan for you to follow once you leave the hospital, with guidance on:
- Exercise
- Lifting heavy objects (including children)
- Resuming typical activities
- Returning to work or school
Complications After Surgery
Complications after surgery are rare. Your care team will instruct you on symptoms to watch for. Contact your surgeon’s office right away if you have:
- Bleeding
- Extremely red or puffy incision
- Fever
- Fluid that drains from the incision
- Nausea and vomiting
- Problems with urinating
- Trouble breathing
Your surgical care team is there to help throughout your recovery. If you have questions or concerns, contact your surgeon’s office.
