Please make sure you read and review all post-op instructions given to the patient, and the medication chart, prior to surgery. This will ensure you understand what recovery entails. Even if the patient insists they can take care of themselves after surgery, they cannot — especially the first 24 hours.
- Someone needs to be close to the patient the first 12–24 hours, since after general anesthesia or sedation the patient may be groggy or nauseous.
- If possible, use a pick-up vehicle that is easy to get in and out of.
- If doing liposuction, prepare the pick-up vehicle with a blanket, pillow, and towels. We can give you a plastic sheet if needed to cover the seat, as the patient may be draining red/pink fluid from liposuction incisions.
- When the patient gets home, help them into a comfortable setting. Bring them water and a protein snack. Avoid salty foods that can make swelling worse. A low-sodium bone broth is perfect if the patient is not hungry.
- Make sure the patient urinates at least once before bedtime or soon after.
- The patient may have gauze pads over liposuction incisions — you may replace these as often as needed with maxi pads/gauze pads.
What to Watch Out For
Call/Text (714) 723-2756, or go to the nearest ER if you notice:
- Fever (100.4°F)
- Difficulty breathing
- Persistent vomiting
- Bloody vomiting
- One-sided calf pain, swelling, or redness
- Bladder pain, unable to void
Medications
There are 3 categories of medications prescribed — antibiotic, pain, and nausea.
On the first night, make sure you give the patient their antibiotic, Celebrex, and as-needed pain/nausea medication.
- The antibiotic is to be given and completed. If a dose is missed, just continue with the next dose — do not double up.
- Pain meds are tiered based on strength:
- Give celecoxib (Celebrex) in the AM and at bedtime. This is an anti-inflammatory. Give Tylenol as needed.
- For more pain control, give gabapentin (nerve pain) OR Flexeril (muscle relaxer). Wait 1 hour — if more is needed, give the other.
- If pain is greater than 6/10, give the narcotic as needed (i.e., Oxycodone, Tramadol).
- For nausea, give Zofran under the tongue. You may also give ginger products, or let the patient smell alcohol prep pads.
Patient Musts
- Walking: Beginning the day after surgery, the patient must walk — this reduces the risk of serious blood clots and helps with swelling. Start with 5 minutes every 1–2 hours, then gradually get to 15 minutes 3x/day, or as much as they can comfortably.
- Breathing exercises: After surgery, it is important to exercise the lungs to prevent pneumonia. Make sure the patient takes deep breaths. A good exercise is 1 very deep breath, hold for 2 seconds. Repeat hourly. Don’t get lightheaded. You can also purchase an “incentive spirometer,” but it’s not necessary.
- Tummy tuck patients: The patient MUST always be bent forward 45 degrees to take tension off the incision, for 10+ days. Please ensure this, as the patient may forget. When the patient is lying down, make sure there are pillows propped under the knees to keep the legs bent. We do not want tension pulling the large incision apart.
