Keep your stomach empty: Don't eat or drink anything (not even water) after midnight the night before surgery. Your surgery may be canceled if you eat or drink before surgery. If you take any regular medications and have been told to continue them, take them with small sips of water.
You must have nothing to eat or drink for six hours prior to surgery. (You may take sips of water up until 2 hours before the operation and you may take your medications with a sip of water). You must not chew gum or smoke on the day of the operation.
The doctor may want you to stick to liquids only the day before the surgery and take a laxative. Empty bowels can make the hernia surgery proceed more easily.
Do I need to shave before surgery? No! We will use a clipper before surgery. Shaving at home increases the risk of infection.
Most inguinal, femoral and umbilical hernias can be repaired under local or regional anesthesia. Sedation may be administered based on individual preference in consultation with our anesthesiologists. Laparoscopic repair requires a general anesthetic and temporary intubation with a breathing tube.
With both surgery types, you may feel pain or soreness for the first 72 hours post-op. You can often manage it with over-the-counter drugs, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen if your hernia was small or in the groin. Most people have less pain after minimally invasive hernia surgery versus open.
Don't move quickly or lift anything heavy until you are feeling better. Be active. Walking is a good choice. You most likely can return to light activity after 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the type of surgery you had.
Routine shaving should be stopped at least two days before your surgery on all areas of your body, including the legs and underarms. This is to prevent any skin irritation which could lead to an infection.
During the process of shaving with a razor, the skin may sustain microscopic cuts and abrasions. It is suggested that micro‐organisms are able to enter and colonise these cuts, thus contaminating the surgical incision site and causing SSIs (Briggs 1997).
Be sure that you complete all tests and any recommended consultations well in advance of surgery. Eat normally on the night before surgery but take no alcohol after 8PM and nothing to eat or drink after 12 midnight except prescription medications. Call us if you have any questions about the upcoming surgery.
Please monitor your bowels closely after surgery especially if you are taking prescribed narcotics. You should be passing gas and have a bowel movement within a few days after surgery and resume your normal bowel routine.
Having a Bowel Movement After Hernia Surgery
Don't strain, push or force a bowel movement to avoid damaging the repaired hernia. Instead, bring a book or your phone and try to relax so your body can take care of the rest.
Other Issues. The first bowel movement may occur anywhere from 1 – 10 days after surgery. As long as you are not nauseated or having abdominal pain, this variation is acceptable. Constipation can occur after this operation, and taking milk of magnesia (two tablespoons; twice a day) can prevent this issue.
Avoid lifting anything that would make you strain. This may include heavy grocery bags and milk containers, a heavy briefcase or backpack, cat litter or dog food bags, a vacuum cleaner, or a child. Ask your doctor when you can drive again. Most people are able to return to work within 1 to 2 weeks after surgery.
Compression Garments after Hernia Surgery
The goal of compression garments is to provide compression to the skin and soft tissues, alleviating pain, reducing swelling and improving overall healing. Additionally, sudden movements like coughing, laughing and sneezing can be uncomfortable and lead to bruising.
Sitting: for several days after surgery sitting may be uncomfortable. You may have to get up and move around and change positions periodically. Stairs: no limitations. Lifting: for the first week lifting is limited to 20 pounds.
Why Can You Not Wear Deodorant During Surgery? You can't wear deodorant during surgery because it can leave a residue on your skin that's difficult to remove. This residue might make it challenging for the surgeon to cut through the incision site or accurately assess your skin circulation during surgery.
Hair: Many hair products and hair pieces contain highly flammable products. Your safety is our first priority. That's why we require that you wash your hair the night before or the morning of surgery using only shampoo and conditioner.
Bathing, creams, lotions, deodorants.
Please shower or bathe the night before your surgery. Your surgeon may request bathing with a special soap; please follow their instructions. Creams and lotions should not be worn on the day of surgery. A light application of deodorant is permissible.
Do not wear makeup, lotion, powder, deodorant or nail polish. It is important to remove your nail polish so that the doctors and nurses can see your true color during the surgery and in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit.
Shaving the scrotum prior to surgery is important to reduce the risk of infection. Many men are anxious about this preparation, or uncertain about the technique.
Increased Risk of Infection during and after Surgery
Simply put, if there are wounds on the skin around the treatment area, there is a higher risk of infection during and after surgery. You've essentially increased the exposure area. Even the tiny nicks you take for granted could be bacterial breeding grounds.
VOIDING / URINATING
Occasionally, after surgery, your bladder may become too full with urine, and urinary retention can develop. This may manifest as either: 1) inability to void, 2) frequent voiding, or 3) frequent voiding of small amounts of urine.
Of course, they should not be doing any strenuous exercise, but all patients after a hernia operation, be it laparoscopic hernia surgery or open, should be encouraged to get out of bed as much as possible and move around. Absolute bed rest is no longer recommended for hernia operations.
Flying immediately after hernia repair surgery is not possible. You must wait for the recommended amount of time before being able to board a plane safely. As a general rule, airline companies will not have you on board a flight for the first 10 days after hernia repair surgery.