After surgery
You will likely be discharged home 1 to 2 days after your surgery.
You will likely receive painkillers and antibiotics to reduce the chance of infection.
During the healing process, you can expect:
- Discomfort in your belly
- Pain in your upper chest and shoulder area, due to the gas used to inflate your abdomen.
- Pink, brown or yellowish-brown discharge from your internal genitals (vagina) for 4 to 6 weeks
- Possibility of passing some stitches (this is normal)
- Incisions that may be red with some bruising (this will slowly go away)
- Incisions that will be closed with Steri-strips, sutures or staples. Your surgeon will let you know whether and how these will be removed
The number of check-ups needed varies from person to person. You will likely be asked to visit your surgeon 4 to 6 weeks after your surgery to ensure you are healing as expected. You can also see your primary care provider about any concerns in the post-operative period.
When you visit your surgeon or primary care provider, they should check your surgical sites to make sure there are no infections or wound healing problems. They will ask questions about pain, bleeding, discharge, urination, bowel movements, fever and how you are feeling physically and emotionally.
Recovery time varies from person to person, so always follow the advice of your surgeon. You'll need to get plenty of rest in the first 2 weeks. Most people are back to their usual activities within 4 to 6 weeks. Some activities, such as driving, heavy lifting, exercise, sex and soaking in hot tubs, may be restricted in the post-operative period. Your surgeon will give you advice about when it is okay to resume these activities.