Even though we do not expect you to have any serious problems after your surgery, you may experience some symptoms that need to be addressed immediately. If you experience any of the following symptoms, contact your health care team right away:
- Accelerated heart rate above 120 bpm
- Fever of 38° or higher
- Redness, swelling, increased pain and/or pus-like drainage from your wound
- Chest pain and/or shortness of breath
- Nausea and/or vomiting that lasts for more than 12 hours
- Pain, redness and/or swelling in your legs
- Urine output less than four times in 24 hours
- Pain that is unrelieved by pain medication
Normal symptoms and when to be alert
- Moderate swelling and bruising are normal after any surgery
- Mild to moderate discomfort or pain
- Numbness – small sensory nerves to the skin are occasionally cut when the incision is made or are interrupted by undermining of the skin during surgery. The sensation usually returns within 2 to 3 months as the nerve endings heal
–Note: Be especially careful not to burn yourself when applying heating pads to the area that may have some postoperative numbness
- Itching – itching and occasional small shooting electrical sensations within the skin frequently occur as the nerve endings heal. These symptoms are common during the recovery period
–Note: Ice, skin moisturisers, vitamin E oil and massage can help
- Redness of scars – all new scars are red, dark pink or purple. The scars take about one year to fade
–Note: We recommend that you protect your scars from the sun for a year after your surgery. Even through a bathing suit, a good deal of sunlight can reach the skin and cause damage. Wear a sunscreen with a skin-protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 when out in sunny weather.