If you are planning for an upcoming surgery, there may seem like a lot of aspects to consider before arriving on the operating table. From choosing the most qualified physician to proper diet and post-operative recovery, heading in for surgery can often feel a bit overwhelming. What many people don’t know, however, is that there are specific ways you can prepare to make your surgery as problem-free as possible. By having the right conversations with your surgeon and doing a little bit of your own research, you can make the surgery process much smoother.
Continue reading to learn more about preparing for surgery and what you can do post-operatively to help your wounds and scars heal.
What you can do to prepare
Preparing for surgery isn’t difficult. But there is some advice you may want to keep in mind to ensure your operation goes according to plan. Below are five best practices that will help your surgery along so you can resume your daily lifestyle.
Eat healthy
Having a well-balanced diet isn’t something that should only be done before surgery, we should be mindful of it all year long. However, if you are someone who eats a lot of greasy fast food, you are doing your body a disservice. Without a nutritional diet full of proteins, healthy fats, and vitamins, the bodies’ ability to effectively heal wounds and fight infection can become compromised. This is especially problematic before a major surgery when wound healing plays a major role in your post-operative recovery.
Exercise
Getting at least 30 minutes of exercise each day can improve your blood circulation and reduce your risk of heart complications. Even if you aren’t physically able to perform rigorous exercise, a light walk around your neighborhood can give you so many health benefits. Wound healing requires oxygen and other nutrients that are brought to the wound site by healthy blood flow. If you aren’t getting your heart pumping and oxygen flowing, your wounds after surgery may take much longer to heal.
Quit smoking and drinking
If you are a heavy smoker or drinker you should give them up for at least a month before going in for surgery. Nicotine is considered a vasoconstrictor, meaning that it reduces nutritional blood flow to the skin. Heavy alcohol use, on the other hand, can diminish the body’s ability to find off bacteria and other harmful pathogens that are often acquired in a hospital. Both nicotine and alcohol can cause unwanted complications during surgery and lead to a much longer recovery process.
Make sure your doctor is qualified
If you are going in for a major surgery, you will want to know how qualified your physician is for that specific procedure type. If your surgeon has performed hundreds or thousands of successful procedures specific to the type you need, then you are likely in good hands. It is especially important to check for qualifications if you are going in for a cosmetic surgical procedure. There are too many horror stories of botched plastic surgery results, so it’s vital to have an in-depth discussion with your doctor prior to your procedure.
Have a positive mindset
Surgery can be frightening, especially if your health and well-being depend on a successful outcome. But you shouldn’t stress and worry too much about it. Stress can weaken the immune system and lead to high blood pressure and heart disease. Having a strong immune system during and after a surgery is vital for fighting off infection and speeding up the recovery process. Worrying won’t change the future or the outcome of the surgery, so try to relax and stay positive.
Post-operative scar therapy
Scarring is part of a natural and healthy wound healing response. If you’ve recently had an invasive surgery, you can be sure that at least some scarring will remain after the wounds have closed. To help fade and treat scars, medical-grade silicone gel technology can be used. Topical silicone for scars has been the gold standard for scar treatment among physicians for the last 30 years. Medical silicone is backed by countless clinical studies, so doctors and patients can trust the application of it after a procedure. If you suffer from abnormal scarring, such as keloids or hypertrophic scars, ask your surgeon if medical silicone is right for you.
Continue reading to learn more about preparing for surgery and what you can do post-operatively to help your wounds and scars heal.
What you can do to prepare
Preparing for surgery isn’t difficult. But there is some advice you may want to keep in mind to ensure your operation goes according to plan. Below are five best practices that will help your surgery along so you can resume your daily lifestyle.
Eat healthy
Having a well-balanced diet isn’t something that should only be done before surgery, we should be mindful of it all year long. However, if you are someone who eats a lot of greasy fast food, you are doing your body a disservice. Without a nutritional diet full of proteins, healthy fats, and vitamins, the bodies’ ability to effectively heal wounds and fight infection can become compromised. This is especially problematic before a major surgery when wound healing plays a major role in your post-operative recovery.
Exercise
Getting at least 30 minutes of exercise each day can improve your blood circulation and reduce your risk of heart complications. Even if you aren’t physically able to perform rigorous exercise, a light walk around your neighborhood can give you so many health benefits. Wound healing requires oxygen and other nutrients that are brought to the wound site by healthy blood flow. If you aren’t getting your heart pumping and oxygen flowing, your wounds after surgery may take much longer to heal.
Quit smoking and drinking
If you are a heavy smoker or drinker you should give them up for at least a month before going in for surgery. Nicotine is considered a vasoconstrictor, meaning that it reduces nutritional blood flow to the skin. Heavy alcohol use, on the other hand, can diminish the body’s ability to find off bacteria and other harmful pathogens that are often acquired in a hospital. Both nicotine and alcohol can cause unwanted complications during surgery and lead to a much longer recovery process.
Make sure your doctor is qualified
If you are going in for a major surgery, you will want to know how qualified your physician is for that specific procedure type. If your surgeon has performed hundreds or thousands of successful procedures specific to the type you need, then you are likely in good hands. It is especially important to check for qualifications if you are going in for a cosmetic surgical procedure. There are too many horror stories of botched plastic surgery results, so it’s vital to have an in-depth discussion with your doctor prior to your procedure.
Have a positive mindset
Surgery can be frightening, especially if your health and well-being depend on a successful outcome. But you shouldn’t stress and worry too much about it. Stress can weaken the immune system and lead to high blood pressure and heart disease. Having a strong immune system during and after a surgery is vital for fighting off infection and speeding up the recovery process. Worrying won’t change the future or the outcome of the surgery, so try to relax and stay positive.
Post-operative scar therapy
Scarring is part of a natural and healthy wound healing response. If you’ve recently had an invasive surgery, you can be sure that at least some scarring will remain after the wounds have closed. To help fade and treat scars, medical-grade silicone gel technology can be used. Topical silicone for scars has been the gold standard for scar treatment among physicians for the last 30 years. Medical silicone is backed by countless clinical studies, so doctors and patients can trust the application of it after a procedure. If you suffer from abnormal scarring, such as keloids or hypertrophic scars, ask your surgeon if medical silicone is right for you.
Biodermis is an innovative market leader with 30 years of expertise in the medical silicone industry. Visit Biodermis.com today to explore a complete range of scar management and post-operative care solutions.
PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS: REFER OR RESELL?
Biodermis offers custom tailored referral programs designed to simplify and reduce the cost of your patients' post-op care. Additionally, we offer professional pricing if you opt to retail our products. Give us a call at 800.322.3729, and we will be happy to provide additional details on these programs.
