Sips of water after the procedure. 

Continue regular diet after tolerating water. 

You may need new medications depending on findings of your endoscopy. 

Do not drive or operate heavy machinery for 24 hours after your procedure, because you will be under the influence of the anaesthetics.

You should have the rest of the day off for rest, and have a responsible adult take you home. 

Expect to have some abdominal bloating and a sore throat. This usually improves over a few hours. Please notify us if you have severe pain. 

We will follow up with you to discuss results of your biopsies (if any).  

Take regular pain relief and stool softeners.
Operations for haemorrhoids are extremely painful due to the sensitive nature of the area involved. Taking regular pain medications and keeping stools soft prevents worsening irritation and pain over the area. 
Expect there to be pain for 2-6 weeks. 

Regularly wash the area in the shower or bath. Avoid harsh soaps. 
This can be done during your regular showers/baths. It will keep the area clean and ease pain. 

A small amount of bleeding is expected for 2-3 weeks.
Please contact us if bleeding persists. 

We will follow up with you in a few weeks to check up on your progress. 

Take some simple pain relief medications if you feel pain. 

Apply gentle pressure over the site if there is bleeding 

Leave the dressings on for 5 days. You may change them if they are wet or stained.
Some dressings such as those for skin graft sites may need to stay on for longer. 

Avoid soaking the wound for 2 weeks. It takes about 2 weeks for the skin to become fully waterproof. 

The stitches used are usually dissolvable. If we had to use non dissolving sutures we will inform you of when they need to be removed. In general:

• On the face:  5-7 days. 

• On the body / arms / legs: 10-14 days. 

For best cosmetic healing outcomes: avoid the sun, use moisturisers, and apply a silicon based dressing over the scar until fully healed. 

We will follow up with you in a few weeks to discuss results and assess healing. 

See skin surgery (above)... In addition: 

Start gentle finger exercises within 1-2 days of surgery. 

Avoid heavy lifting, straining, and manual labour for 4-6 weeks. 

Keep hand elevated at rest to reduce swelling. 

Expect functional improvement in 2-3 months. Full recovery may take over 6 months. 

Keep the operative dressings on for 1 week. 
This keeps your wounds clean whilst your skin is healing. 

Do not soak the wounds for 2 weeks. 
This allows time for your skin to become fully waterproof. 

Book in a review in 2-4 weeks time.
This is to check your wounds and review any pathology results. 

Do not perform heavy lifting (>5kg) or strenuous activities for 6 weeks.
This is to reduce your risk of getting a hernia through the laparoscopic incisions. 

Take regular over the counter pain medications (paracetamol, ibuprofen) as required.
Expect to have some pain after your operation. The continued use of stronger pain medications may lead to addiction. 

Do not drive for 24 hours after your procedure, due to the effects of the anaesthetic. Beyond that there are no driving restrictions, however we recommend you not to drive if you are in pain or require strong pain medications. 

We will follow up with you in a few weeks to discuss results and assess your progress. 

See keyhole surgery (above)... In addition: 

Avoid excessive dietary fats/oils.
The gallbladder stores bile which helps dissolve fats/oils. Without the gallbladder you may not digest fats/oils as well, which can result in diarrhoea. This should improve with time as your body adapts. 

See keyhole surgery (above)... In addition: 

Expect tenderness, bruising and swelling over the operative area.
In cases of groin hernia repairs, swelling can extend to the scrotum and inner thigh. These can last 2-4 weeks. Please contact us if the pain and swelling is getting worse. 

See keyhole surgery (above)... In addition: 

You need to follow a special diet: 

• Clear fluids only for the first day (this includes: water, apple juice, lemonade, black coffee, and black tea). 

• Free fluids from the second day (this includes: milk, yogurt, protein shakes, and ice-cream). 

• Pureed foods for the next 6 weeks (this includes: mashed potatos, scrambled eggs, oats, and blended foods). 

• Gradually return to normal after 6 weeks. Have regular small meals, chew thoroughly, stay upright for 30 minutes after eating, and avoid fizzy drinks. 

You may initially experience some difficulty swallowing, but that will improve with time. 

Please contact us if there are any concerns. 

Things that may be concerning include: 

• Redness over the wound 

• Foul smell, discharge, or breakdown of the wound 

• Pain that is not improving 

• Persistent bleeding or enlarging bruising/swelling.