My Surgeon Gave Me No Aftercare Instructions. Now What?
You're home from surgery with a faja, a bag of meds, and maybe one sheet of paper. Or maybe nothing at all. You traveled for surgery, the recovery house sent you home, and now you're on the couch wondering, "Am I supposed to be doing something?"
Okay, amiga, take a breath. You're going to be fine, and I'll walk you through it.
No aftercare instructions? The quick answer
If you got no aftercare instructions, call your surgeon's office first and ask specific questions. Then cover the basics most surgeons agree on: wear your compression, walk a little every day, keep your incisions clean and dry, drink water, rest, and know the warning signs. And build a small local support team, especially if you had surgery out of town.
No estás sola: you're not alone. This happens a lot more than people think.
Why this happens
You had surgery out of state or out of the country, and your surgeon is far away
You got a one-page handout that doesn't answer your real questions
You were told things in recovery while you were still groggy, and none of it stuck
After your first check-up or two, your surgeon just isn't that involved anymore
Step 1: Call your surgeon's office
Even if you traveled, most offices will answer questions and review photos. Pregúntale: ask them. Write your questions down before you call:
How long should I wear my faja, and how tight?
When can I shower? When can I take a bath or swim?
How do I care for my incisions or drain sites?
When can I drive, work out, or go back to work?
Which medications should I take, and which should I avoid?
When is my next follow-up?
What warning signs should make me call you right away?
Here's your chisme for today: ask them to send the answers by email or through your patient portal. Then you're not trying to remember everything later.
Step 2: Cover the basics
While you wait to hear back, here's what most surgeons agree on:
Wear your compression as directed, without deep creases
Walk a little every few hours to keep blood and fluid moving
Keep incisions clean and dry. Cuidado, be careful: no baths, pools, or hot tubs until your surgeon clears you.
Drink water, and don't cut salt to zero
Rest. Healing takes a lot of energy.
Protect your bedding and couch if you're leaking
Step 3: Build your local team
If your surgeon is far away, you need people close to home:
A primary care doctor or urgent care you can go to if something seems off
A wound care clinic, if an incision isn't healing well
A trained post-op therapist for lymphatic drainage and scar tissue release
What I tell my clients: a lot of women come to me after surgery somewhere else with almost no guidance. That's okay. We figure out where you are, what your body needs, and when something needs a doctor instead.
Step 4: Know the warning signs
Ojo, watch out: call your surgeon or get care right away if you have:
Pain, warmth, or swelling in your calf, or shortness of breath (call 911)
A fever, chills, or redness that's spreading
Drainage that smells bad or turns cloudy or green
An incision that opens up
Swelling that's suddenly much worse on one side
A soft, sloshy pocket of fluid
If it feels like an emergency, call 911.
Want the full game plan?
My book is the aftercare guide I wish every woman got. It walks you through recovery week by week, with what's normal, what's not, and what to buy.
If you're in Sacramento and feeling lost after surgery, I'd love to help you get on track.
Not local? Reach out to me for a private consult over Zoom (small fee).
I'm a Certified Massage Therapist (CAMTC No. 39170), not a doctor. This post is for education, not medical advice. Always follow your surgeon's instructions, and contact them with any questions about your recovery.
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