Plastic Surgery Instructions (Panniculectomy):
-During the first 3 weeks, always wear your abdominal binder, except when showering.
-Ok to shower starting 48 hours after surgery
-When showering you can hold your drains, pin them to a belt around your waist, attach them to a
lanyard or string around your neck, or a partner/family member can hold them. Do whatever is easiest for you.
-Leave all surgical tapes in place. You may change the gauze pads (4×4’s) or ABD pads around the drains or over the incision, but do not remove the tape that is covering the incision.
-Elevate your head with 2-3 pillows and elevate your feet/knees with a few pillows so that you are in a “V” position. This will relieve pressure on your incisions.
DRAIN CARE:
- Strip your drains at least 5-6 times per day. If you use a small amount of soap/water or hand sanitizer it makes the process easier.
- Record the individual drain output daily. Bring the record to your follow-up appointment.
- Make sure the JP bulb is on suction by squeezing the bulb and then replacing the cap. When the bulb is on suction and providing negative pressure, it should be slightly indented.
- Do NOT wear underwear while you have drains. The underwear tends to kink the drain tubing which causes the drain to clog.
-Do Not apply a heating pad or ice to your incision or abdomen. After surgery you will have decreased sensation and heat/ice can result in a burn/frost bite without you feeling it.
– Take your pain medication with food (a few crackers are ok) to help prevent nausea.
-Pain medications can cause constipation. Take a gentle over the counter laxative (Milk of Magnesia, Colace, or Dulcolax) if you feel constipated.
-Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen for at least 2 weeks following surgery unless specifically instructed. This can lead to bleeding issues.
-Smoking causes multiple wound healing complications. It is very important that you do not smoke, and you are not around people that smoke for at least 6 weeks after surgery. Secondhand smoke is just as harmful as if you were to smoke.
-You can resume driving when you are off all pain medications, have full range of motion of your arms, and feel safe to react quickly in an emergency. -No strenuous physical activity until cleared by Dr. DePerro.
-Be sure to walk at least 300 yards daily. This can be broken up in multiple short trips. It is OK and recommended that you walk more than the minimum of 300 yards. This will help prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT’s/Blood Clots) and Pulmonary Embolisms (PE’s).
-Avoid exposing the scars to the sun for at least 6 to 12 months. When going outside, it is recommended that you use SPF 30 or greater over your surgical sites. All incisions will be extremely sensitive during the healing phase.
Call the office immediately if you have: -A fever over 101 degrees, severe nausea and vomiting -Bright red skin that is hot to the touch -Excessive bleeding at any time