INSTRUCTIONS
- Depending on the complexity of your surgery, you may need to be admitted to the hospital for a few days.
- Have someone drive you home after surgery and help you at home for 1 week.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Follow balanced diet.
- Decreased activity may promote constipation, so you may want to add more raw fruit to your diet, and be sure to increase fluid intake.
- Take pain medication as prescribed. Do not take aspirin or any products containing aspirin.
- Do not drink alcohol when taking pain medications.
- Do not smoke, as smoking delays healing and increases the risk of complications.
- If you are provided with an abdominal binder, wear it as instructed. Do not wear a compression garment unless approved by your physician.
ACTIVITIES
- Turning on your side and pushing off with your arm when getting out of bed will reduce stress on your incision.
- Start walking as soon as possible, this helps to reduce swelling and lowers the chance of blood clots.
- Do not drive until you are no longer taking any pain medications (narcotics).
- Do not drive until you have full range of motion in your legs and no discomfort in your abdomen when lifting your legs.
- No lifting greater than 5 lbs for 6 weeks.
- Resume sexual activity as comfort permits, usually 4-6 weeks postoperatively.
- Avoid straining of abdominal muscles. Strenuous exercise and activities are restricted for 6 weeks.
- Return to work in 4-6 weeks.
INCISION CARE
- You may shower 48 hours after surgery. Drains may stay in for several weeks.
- Avoid exposing scars to sun for at least 12 months.
- Always use a strong sun block, if sun exposure is unavoidable (SPF 30 or greater).
- Keep steri-strips on; replace if they come off.
- Keep incisions clean and inspect daily for signs of infection.
- No tub soaking while sutures or drains are in place.
- May wear soft support underpants for comfort, may pad incision with dressings for comfort.
- Sleep with pillow under knees and head elevated on 2 pillows.WHAT TO EXPECT
- You may experience temporary pain, soreness, numbness of abdominal skin, incision discomfort.
- Maximum discomfort will occur the first few days.
- You will have swelling and bruising of the abdomen. The majority of bruising and swelling will subside in 6-8 weeks.
- You may feel tired for several weeks or months.
- 1 or more of your drains may remain in for several weeks.
APPEARANCE
- This procedure only removes the pannus; it does not narrow your waistline.
- You will walk slightly bend forward and gradually return to normal posture over next 3 weeks.
- Scars will be reddened for 6 months. After that, they will fade and soften.
- The scar will extend from near one hipbone to the other, low on the abdomen.
FOLLOW-UP CARE
- Abdominal drains removed when less than 30ml for 24 hours.
- Surface stitches removed in 7-10 days but may remain in longer if there is concern of incision separation.
WHEN TO CALL
- If you have increased swelling or bruising.
- If swelling and redness persist after a few days.
- If you have increase redness along the incision.
- If you have severe or increased pain not relieved by medication.
- If you have any side effects to medications; such as, rash, nausea, headache, vomiting.
- If you have an oral temperature over 100.4 degrees.
- If you have any yellowish or greenish drainage from the incisions or notice a foul odor.
- If you have bleeding from the incisions that is difficult to control with light pressure.
- If you have loss of feeling or motion.
For medical question, please call:
- 812-477-6600 Evansville office
- 812-634-6600 Jasper office
