Surgery

Surgery Group LA
What is Hashimoto’s disease?

If you’re reading this, chances are you might be feeling a little off lately.

Your neck may feel achy and swollen or you are suffering from:

  • Swelling around the neck, especially near your thyroid
  • Unexplained fatigue or sleepiness
  • Hair loss
  • Joint stiffness
  • Brittle nails

If you’re suffering from any of these symptoms, especially for no known reason, your Thyroid may be out of whack. And if your thyroid is out of whack, it most likely is Hashimoto’s disease.

What is Hashimoto’s disease?

Named after the surgeon who discovered it, Hashimoto’s disease is a condition when your immune system starts to automatically attack your thyroid system by mistake.

This can cause serious problems in your body. Specifically, because your thyroid’s job is to make hormones that control how hot and cold you are, even how your bones and joints heal!

Without your thyroid working, your whole body can start to turn on you.

While it is still unclear what causes your immune system to act this way, Hashimoto’s disease is more common in:

  • women,
  • people with diabetes 1, and those
  • people with other genetic disorders.

How do I treat Hashimoto’s disease?

The great news is that Hashimoto’s disease is easily treatable. Often people with Hashimoto’s disease develop no symptoms and can simply go on with their daily lives.

However, for people whose thyroid produces too little hormone, doctors will prescribe synthetic T3 or T4 hormones. If needed, you will probably also need to take this synthetic hormone for the rest of your 

Even still, if your thyroid is in bad enough shape, your doctor may decide that your thyroid is no longer able to function properly. In these cases, your doctor will usually recommend surgery.

How do I treat Hashimotos disease surgically?

Total thyroidectomy is the surgery of choice for most cases of Hashimoto’s disease. Straightaway it gives your medical team great control over the spread of the disease, and dramatically lowers the risk of relapse.

With modern robotic surgical techniques, Thyroidectomies can almost entirely be performed with multiple minimal incisions. 

These incisions are performed using robotic instruments that allow your surgeons the smallest and most efficient cuts possible.

What will life be like after Thyroid surgery?

Your thyroid surgery will usually put you out for a night, but for not much longer. You may experience a hoarse voice, and neck pain over the next few weeks. Be patient with your voice, especially after the first few days.

After surgery treatment is simple. Once your surgery is complete your doctor will prescribe you a synthetic version of the hormones your thyroid produces.

You will need to take these thyroid hormones for the rest of your life. While these hormones should cause no side effects, let your doctor know if you are experiencing:

  • pain in your bones and joints
  • Irregular heart rate
  • Feeling too hot or too cold all the time

If you or a loved one have read this article and believe you have a thyroid problem or condition, speak to a doctor right away.

They can get tested often on the same day.

January 4, 2023

Surgery Group LA
Colon: What is it?

” …Eat more spinach son, good for your Colon! 

…My doctor says I need a colonoscopy!

…Ow! She hit me right in the colon!”

As part of the Surgeon Group of LA’s simple biology tour, we introduce our lovely friend:

The Colon!

Colon:

The largest intestine inside the digestive system, the colon connects the small intestine and the anus and is a crucial part of the entire digestive system. It’s basically where all the good stuff that you need, like water and nutrients, gets absorbed from the food you eat.

Job Description: To completely absorb the nutrients, water, and energy from the partially digested food coming from your Small Intestine

Aliases: Large Intestine, the poop chute, the 5 feet poop maker

Size: 5 feet long, can be approximately 3 inches wide or as low as 1 inch wide depending on the region

Altogether the large intestine gets the food you chew up and turns it into energy. Albeit with poop too.

Myth# 1 Poop takes 72 hours to digest

The truth is, people, vary widely on how long food stays in their colons.

Generally, though, the colon spends anywhere from 12 to 48 hours turning mashed-up food into a waste product.

Myth # 2 You should poop every day

There is simply no medical evidence that backs this up.

The truth again is that people vary widely on how many times they poo, from a few times a day to once every three. If it takes you more than 72 hours in between bowel movements, it may be time to speak to a doctor.

Myth# 3 Red blood in your stool means colon cancer

Darkened, semi-clotted blood inside of your stool may perhaps be a sign of colon cancer.

However, if the blood in your stool is red, and does not come from inside your stool, it could be a sign of:

  • hernia
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Chronic constipation
  • Ulcers

Any blood in your stool = time to see a doctor.

However, most likely after a colonoscopy, your doctor will prescribe some preparation h and a high-fiber diet. No need to panic just yet.

Myth# 4 Fiber is all I need for a good colon

The truth is, you can have all the fiber in the world, but if you:

  • Constantly overweight and obese
  • Smoke
  • Excessively drink

You will highly increase your chance of developing colon problems.

Fiber or juice cleanse be damned.

And on that point.

Myth# 5 Juice cleanses work!

This is the myth that will especially tick off your doctors.

Every once in a while juice cleanses may be a way to reduce calories and increase the number of vitamins you get from fruits and vegetables. However, nearly every study done on juice cleanses show they have no effect on colon health. You’re likely better off adding some green tea and whole fruits to your diet and calling it a day.

Conclusion

With a good diet and exercise plan, checkups, and occasionally an apple or two, your colon should stay good as new. Additionally scheduling a yearly colonoscopy is recommended for adults over 45. Especially if you have colon problems in your family.

If you or a loved one have questions about colon health, schedule an appointment with your doctor today.

January 4, 2023

Surgery Group LA
What is GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor)

What are Gastrointestinal stromal tumors?

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are a form of cancer that forms inside the stomach or small intestine. What makes GIST so unusual is that it forms around the special nerve cells that direct food throughout the body.

At first, GISTs are often so small they cause no symptoms at all. However over time they grow and can cause:

  • Abdominal pain
  • A feeling of growth in your abdomen
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Not feeling hungry when you would be hungry
  • Dark-colored stool (a sign of bleeding in the digestive system)

GIST is very rare for patients under 40, but those experiencing symptoms should still consider GIST a possibility.

Diagnosis and Screening

Depending on your age and symptoms, your doctor may suggest an imaging test or endoscopic test. These tests will give your doctors an in-depth look at your digestive system and make sure that your diagnosis is correct.

Imaging tests

Pros: No pain, in and out, noninvasive

Cons: While extremely rare (1 in 100,000), patients may develop allergic reactions to the dye used to create contrast in the CT scans

Endoscopic

Pros: A very safe alternative for adults who have concerns about radiation.

Cons: Not safe for young children. Might require a mild anasthetic

Patients may also undergo a biopsy to ensure that the growth or tumor is GIST. A biopsy is usually minimally invasive and does not require a long recovery process.

Treatment and Recovery

Surgery

For GIST, most patients must undergo surgery of some kind. The good news is that depending on the size and spread of the GIST, surgery can actually permanently cure you of your GIST from coming back.

The more good news? The majority of GIST cases can be treated using minimally invasive surgery. 

This allows your surgeon to perform many small incisions instead of one large one.

Targeted Drug Therapy

For GIST, most drugs that your doctor is trying to stop your hormone system from creating or spreading tyrosine kinase. Treatment usually starts with the drug imatinib (Gleevec), a tyrosine kinase blocker.

If your cancer does not respond to imatinib, your doctor may try sunitinib or ripretinib. While sunitinib may be more effective than ripretinib, ripretinib has been shown to have less serious side effects.

Talk to your treatment team about which drug works best for you. Always stay informed, and remember, if you have a question ask, that’s what your doctor is here for.

What are my chances?

According to the National Cancer Institute, the five-year survival rate for GIST is 83%. That means in five years, 83% of patients who are diagnosed with GIST survive.

 In patients with no spread to the other organs, that rate can jump up to 93%, however, for patients with GIST that has spread to multiple other locations, the five-year survival rate is 55%.

The great news is that GIST treatment has seen a remarkable turnaround. Over the past twenty years, GIST has undergone amazing new advances. 

Surgeries once only able to stop the spread, have now advanced that a curing GIST is possible. And drug trials every day increase the chance of their becoming a cure.

If you or a loved have questions about GIST or fear you may have it, speak to your doctor today.

December 25, 2022

Surgery Group LA
How to Choose your Oncologist

After you have received your cancer diagnosis it can be a troubling and confusing time. It can feel hard to make any decision let alone an informed one.

Finding the right cancer doctor for you is crucial, which is why we have provided this checklist to help you begin your cancer doctor.

Who does your primary care physician recommend?

Of course it important that any doctor you use is:

  • Experienced in the field or specific type of cancer you worked in
  • Covered by your health insurance plan (aka preferred provider) and has admitting privileges
  • Communicative and speaks your language whether it’s how you talk or speak the language you’re most familiar with

However, get some recommendations! The first conversation with a medical professional you have will probably be the doctor who detected cancer in the first place. Ask them, who you recommend to a loved one in a similar position as my own.

What do the national and online boards have to say?

National directories and online review boards can be great if you feel you’ve entered a review echo chamber and want to expand the field, all for free!!:

  • The American Medical Association Doctor Finder – has great information on almost every licensed physician in the United States
  • The American Board of Medical Specialities – have an option called who’s certified which includes a bunch of useful information like a physician’s specialty, and location and verifies their certificate status
  • The American College of Surgeons – offers the to find a surgeon option, so you can find out which doctors have your specialty, where they operate from, and their contact info

Some non-government sites that are useful include:

  • Zocdoc.com – the great thing about Zocdoc is you can check on their site which insurance they can use – and then set you up with an appointment that same day! Great for getting in touch with an in-network doctor in a convenient way
  • Healthgrades.com – the most comprehensive of the private review options they include 19 million doctors on their listing, with 10 million ratings on their database you can find plenty of helpful patient experience to pull from
  • WebMD.com – with more than 127 million page visits a month the world’s number one symptom finder is now creating a doctor directory. 

It is important however to remember that these websites often rely on private sponsors for revenue and so the integrity of some of their recommendations may be slightly dubious.

Meeting with your new doctor

As soon as you meet your new doctor some crucial questions may include

  • Do you cover my insurance, can I confirm with my health insurance before proceeding?
  • Surgeons: How many operations do they perform of this kind a week? What is their success rate?
  • Is your doctor affiliated with a medical school – can signify they are a leader in their field in this area

Second opinions

Cancer can be treated in a series of different ways so it’s important to talk to multiple specialists before making treatment decisions. Does your doctor suggest radiation? Speak to a surgeon. Does your surgeon recommend surgery? Speak to your doctor next.

While it might feel like you need to make a decision immediately, get the second option first unless it is an emergency.

October 29, 2022

Surgery Group LA
What Detecting the BRCA1 or BRCA2 Gene Mutation means for you?

The term BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 mutation has spread throughout the breast cancer community. 

Let’s help clarify the chatter.

BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes affect the body’s process of replicating and dividing specific calls in the human body. Any mutation of these genes can cause the cells that these genes are responsible for to grow out of hand in troubling ways, causing growth and cancer.

So does having BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 mean I will die from breast cancer or ovarian cancer?

Just because you have a BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 mutation does not mean you will develop breast cancer or that you will perish from cancer.

But the truth is that BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 mutations will increase your chance of breast and ovarian cancer.

About 50 out of 100 women with BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 mutations will develop breast cancer, while 30 out of 100 women will develop ovarian cancer. 

This is compared to 7 out of 100 and less than 1 out of 100 on women without this mutation.

Signs you should be tested for the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 gene mutation:

  • One or both parents possess the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 mutation
  • You are a male with breast cancer
  • Cancer in both breasts
  • Breast cancer in parents before the age of 50

What can I do if have these mutations?

The good news is that their preventative measures you can pursue in order to increase your odds of being cancer free.

Surgery to reduce cancer risk

Prophylactic surgeries of breast tissue, as well as the ovaries and fallopian tubes respectfully, have proven to be effective methods of preventing cancers from forming.

A prophylactic mastectomy has proven to reduce the chance of breast cancer in women with BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 mutations by 90%. 

Prophylactic oophorectomy has also proven to greatly reduce the chance of ovarian cancer in women and has even proven to prevent breast cancer to a certain degree.

Drug Treatments for BRCA 1 and BRCA 2

As effective as prophylactic surgery can be, the results are also dramatic and can be too harsh to bear if there are other alternatives. Drugs like Opalarib are PARP inhibitors, that stop cancer cell ability to repair themselves and their DNA. 

While symptoms vary from person to person, Opalarib can leave weakened, and increase your chance of infection due to the nature of the drug. 

Speak to a medical professional about medical history before considering Opalarib.

While PARP inhibitors have proven effective, medical professionals are working on drugs with lesser side effects and more powerful efficacy by the day.

Speaking to a doctor is key

Dr. Euhus of John Hopkins said better than anyone, “ Recommending any preventive treatment should be based on carefully calculating the actual risk to the patient.” 

If you or a loved one believe that they have BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 mutations, it’s time to speak to a medical professional today.

October 15, 2022

Surgery Group LA
Types of Breast Cancer

Coming into breast cancer awareness month we here at the Surgery Group of Los Angeles would like to key you in on the different types of breast cancer you may face:

Early Stage Cancers

Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) is a noninvasive form of breast cancer. DCIS occurs when abnormal cells begin to form and multiply around the breast’s milk duct. 

Region: Milk Duct

Non-invasive

Highly treatable at early stages

Potential symptoms:

  • Usually, no symptoms but can include:
    • A breast lump
    • Bloody nipple discharge

Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS) is very similar to DCIS but the abnormal cells begin to form and multiply in lobules or milk glands of the breast. 

Region: Lobular (aka Milk glands)

Noninvasive but can spread to both breasts

Highly treatable at early stages

Potential symptoms:

  • Usually, no symptoms but can include:
    • A breast lump
    • Bloody nipple discharge

Triple Negative Breast Cancer is a form of cancer tumor that does not contain the three most common receptors hormones – breast cancer growth estrogen, progesterone, and Her 2/Neu Gene. 

Because of this TNBC does not respond to common triple hormone therapy.

Region: Varies

Makes up 10 – 15% of cases

Chemotherapy may be the preferred treatment

Breast Cancer during Pregnancy, while not a unique form of cancer, pregnancy brings serious complications to any breast cancer case. 

The traumatic implications this creates might make soon-to-be mothers lose hope, but doctors are working every day to ensure that any treatment plan for pregnant women will also ensure the protection of the unborn child.

Invasive forms of Breast Cancer

Medullary Carcinoma is a rare type of breast ductal cancer but it is very invasive, leading to 3-5 percent of breast cancer cases. Despite its aggressive characteristics, Medullary Carcinoma is less likely to affect the lymph nodes and has a better prognosis than other invasive cancer.

Region: Breast Ducts

Invasive

Likely to require surgery and radiation

Potential symptoms:

  • Can cause breast tissue to feel spongey

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) happens when abnormal cells that have formed about the breast ducts begin to aggressively grow beyond the ducts into other parts of breast tissue.

Region: Starts in the breast ducts but can move into other areas of the breast, and even beyond the breast

Makes up 70 – 80% of breast cancer cases

Most common breast cancer for men

Inflammatory Breast Cancer is an especially fast and aggressive breast cancer that affects the skin and lymph nodes of the breast. Symptoms are often unusual compared to other breast cancers.

Region: Skin and Lymph nodes of breast

IBC require urgent treatment, usually with chemotherapy and surgery.

Potential Symptoms:

  • Constant itching and rashes
  • Small irritations similar to bug bites
  • Skin changes like orange indentations
  • Nipple changes

Metastatic Breast Cancer, also known as Stage 4 breast cancer, means that cancer has spread into other parts of the body including the liver, lungs, bones, and brain.

Depending on the regions that cancer has traveled to symptoms will vary greatly. However metastatic cancer usually causes great pain and weakness in the area it has spread.

You are not alone. There are many different types of breast cancer, and each one has its own story. A cancer diagnosis can be a traumatic and stressful time, but doctors are here to help, if you have any questions about breast cancer and potential symptoms, speak to a doctor right away.

October 15, 2022

Surgery Group LA
Recovering from Thyroid Surgery: What to expect?

A Thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of a part of all of your thyroid glands. Your thyroid is located around the neck and produces hormones that control every aspect of your body’s metabolism, from your heart rate to how efficiently you work through calories.

A Thyroidectomy is required in order to treat conditions such as thyroid cancer, an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), or goiters. 

Depending on the amount of thyroid removed your thyroid may function normally after surgery. However, if your entire thyroid must be removed (total thyroidectomy) you will need to ingest a daily amount of thyroid hormone in order to replace your thyroid’s natural duties.

What is the recovery process from a thyroidectomy like? 

Some common temporary ailments that you might endure after your thyroid surgery include:

  • Sore throat
  • Neck pain
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Weak voice
  • Tingling fingers and mouth (requires calcium supplement)

The good news is again these symptoms are quite temporary, and should completely go away after 2-3 weeks. Your doctor will still recommend that you do not perform any heavy lifting or strenuous activities for about 3 weeks. 

It’s important to avoid scrubbing or soaking the site of your surgery for at least a week after surgery, though regular showering is generally okay after one day.

Before you are released from the hospital, your medical team will schedule follow-up appointments, provide specific instructions for recovery at home, and prescribe any medications you may need.

Pain and other symptoms involving the incision site of your surgery should improve after a few days but may continue for a week or so. If you notice sudden swelling in your neck, this may signify an infection, and you should follow up with your medical team as soon as possible.

Does Thyroid Surgery have side effects?

If you are undergoing total thyroidectomy, you will need to take thyroid hormone replacements for the rest of your life. If your parathyroid gland was affected during surgery you may need calcium supplements as well to balance your calcium levels.

What is the recovery process like day to day?

As mentioned earlier, after your surgery you may experience:

  • Sore Throat
  • Weak Voice
  • Neck pain

Your incision will need to be taken care of and you may need to avoid showering, pools, or baths for up to a week after in order to ensure proper healing. Your scar may start to grow pink and harden, and the surrounding area may grow dry and itchy. 

While you should avoid any neck strain a week or two after surgery, after this you should begin to stretch out and move your neck as soon as you can without pain or difficulty. This will ensure that your neck does not permanently become stiff.

When can I return to normal activities?

After about 10 -14 days you may be able to resume vigorous physical activity such as running or working out, but you should still take it slow in the beginning. Be mindful of any sudden swelling or new symptoms and alert your doctor if they come up. After 3 weeks or so you should back to normal activities without much problem.

August 30, 2022

Surgery Group LA
How to do a breast self-exam

The Surgery Group of LA would like to humbly suggest that all women perform a breast self-examination every month in a communal effort to help detect breast cancer earlier and save lives. 

This is because thirty to forty percent of breast cancer cases were detected by feeling a lump. Breast self-examinations are also amazing ways for women to become more familiar with the look and feel of their breasts and to detect changes quickly if they arrive.

So how do I actually perform a breast self-examination?

A breast self-exam requires you to visually see your breasts and feel them for about 5 minutes, every month. 

The optimal time to perform one is approximately 3-7 days after the first day of your period when your breasts are less tender and lumpy.

Who needs to do them?

Women in their 20’s and 30’s are strongly urged to do self-exams, but it’s never too early or too late to start. 

This is because women aren’t required to have regular mammography screenings until age 40 and can be a quick and affordable line of detection while the risk of breast cancer is still too low to need constant medical supervision.

Woman over the age of 40 are recommended to get a mammogram every year as well, but they are also encouraged to perform a monthly self-examination to increase the chance of detection as cancer risk rise.

What do I do if I find a lump?

The first thing to remember is that some changes in the breast can be normal. 

Breast changes even if they might require some medical attention, are usually not cancer. More likely reasons include period issues, birth control pills, pregnancy complications or the pregnancy itself, aging, and menopause.

Which lumps are most likely to be cancerous?

Keep an eye out for hard and painless lumps, especially if they come with an odd or strange texture. 

The size of the change has no relation to whether it’s minor or not, or cancer or not. Any changes in verified lumps, the breast skin, and the nipple area should be checked out by a doctor.

What are common tips and mistakes?

Generally speaking, you want your hands to be clean and moisturized ideally. Doing it in the shower can be a great way for you to really get a feel without causing too much irritation. Focus on a pattern and use the pads, not the nails of your fingers. Don’t try to feel it all at one pressure, try to oscillate between soft and tough as go.

Avoid:

  • Rushing
  • Performing them right before or right during your period
  • Missing key spots near the upper chest and armpit

Performing breast self-examinations maybe anxiety inducing but they are the best way to detect changes in the breast, and not for yourself if your breasts are as they should or not. If something is happening to your breasts that is abnormal for you, make sure your doctor knows right away.

August 30, 2022

Surgery Group LA
What grade is your hemorrhoid?

Hemorrhoids or piles are basically swollen veins in the anus or rectum that can bleed or get infected. If you are suffering from Hemorrhoids it might be important to know how severe your Hemorrhoid is, and what GRADE it is.

The medical professionals at Surgery Group of LA have crafted this sheet in order to help assess your potential Hemorrhoid before walking into your doctor’s appointment.

Grade 1

Essentially what makes a Hemorrhoid Grade 1 is when the swollen vein has not protruded out of the anus. For most Grade 1 Hemorrhoids your doctor will recommend diet and lifestyle changes such as increasing your fiber intake and improving mobility around the hips and anus. Grade 1 Hemorrhoids can be treated with over-the-counter medication. Some effective medications include Preparation H, Protoform, or Tucks, which are all hydrocortisone creams that relieve stress, irritation, and inflammation in the affected areas. 

Grade 2 

Hemorrhoids protrude through the anus during defecation but return inside the anus after the stool movement has been completed. For Grade 2 hemorrhoids, doctors will still often prescribe creams and lifestyle changes to start. If these prove ineffective, your doctor will move towards painless treatment plans that are performed at the doctor’s office.

Painless hemorrhoid treatment plans include rubber band litigation, infrared coagulation, or injection sclerotherapy.  While these treatments can be quite effective at lessening symptoms, they do not cure the hemorrhoids themselves. They last anywhere from 6 months to a year and need to be repeated. However, they do not require anesthesia and you can return to work as soon as the treatment is finished. 

Grade 3 

Hemorrhoids protrude through the anus or rectum during stool movements or any straining of the anus and need to return to their proper position by hand. Because of the chance of it developing into a Grade 4 hemorrhoid, or becoming infected or damaged further, this stage is usually when your doctor will recommend surgery. 

Grade 4

What makes a hemorrhoid grade 4 is when the hemorrhoid has prolapsed to such a degree that will not go back inside the anus even with manual intervention. At this point, surgery is the only option in order to possibly treat this level of hemorrhoid.

The most common surgical hemorrhoid treatments are surgical hemorrhoid excision or hemorrhoidectomy, where the hemorrhoid is surgically removed or surgical hemorrhoid stapling procedure or stapled hemorroidopexy where the hemorrhoid is cut down into a more manageable size and stapled back into the proper resting place. 

Conclusion

While hemorrhoidectomies have the best curative results, they can be extremely painful and can put the patient out for 2 weeks. Hemorrhoid stapling procedures were developed to be less invasive and easier to recover from. While hemorrhoid stapling procedures are far less painful, they also come with higher chances of infection and of your hemorrhoids reoccurring. There have also been cases where the staples associated with the procedure can damage the small bowels or the vagina if placed poorly.

The truth is at any grade, hemorrhoids can be a common but disruptive part of life. To find out how you or a loved one can develop a treatment plan for hemorrhoids, speak to a medical professional today.

August 17, 2022

Surgery Group LA
How to enjoy your summer post-surgery!

Summer is a great time to schedule your surgery. With vacation time kicking in and everyone out at the beaches, it might be a great time to take some time off and get that surgery you really need to maximize your long-term health.

But then there’s the humidity, kids are out of school, and outdoor activities that all your friends and family want to do. You may be encouraged to get started on these before you’re ready.

It is imperative to respect and understand your surgeon’s instructions to ensure a comfortable and safe recovery. But that doesn’t mean staying in lockdown forever! Here are a few tips from the Surgery Group of Los Angeles on keeping cool and keeping safe as a surgery patient this summer.

Enjoying the Sunshine the RECOVERY WAY!

While Sun can be a great source of vitamin D, energy, and optimism for your recovery, there are some definite downsides. Too much sun exposure can lead to dehydration and make any swelling or irritation after your operation worse.

So when you head out there, make sure there is plenty of shade and you’re wearing light, breathable clothes with lots of room to let the breeze in.

As soon as you are given the okay to wear topical products on your skin, make sure to apply sunscreen of at least SPF 30 or above every day to prevent your scars from getting exposed or darkening.

Stay cool but stay out of the water (WE MEAN IT!)

It seems like a great idea, cool down in a beautiful lake in the middle of July, and let the water relax you. But with any body of water comes challenges for post-operated patients. Pools mean chlorine can irritate the skin around your surgery scars. Even the cleanest of bodies of water can have microorganisms and bacteria that while harmless for most people can cause infections for people healing from surgery.

So when can you get back in the water? 30 minutes ain’t going to cut it here. While estimates vary on the operation from 2-3 weeks to 2-3 months the key factors in deciding whether to move into a new phase of freedom of movement for a post-operative patient are:

  • Has your surgeon had a chance to recently observe your recovered incisions and okayed you?
  • Does your wound cause any pain or irritation?
  • Is your wound completely healed?

The great news is that for most surgeries, a nice cooling shower is usually allowed one to two days post-operation.

Hydration + Nutrition = Complete Quick Recovery

With everyone moving and starting their summer body workout plans, it may be tempting to jump out there and join in the competitive desire to stay or get in shape. But there’s no reason why surgery has to stop you from getting your summer body and staying on track for recovery.

Summer is a great time for nutrition as grilling season means opportunities to try out smoked salmon recipes, or grilled chicken burgers. The season is perfect for watermelon, berries, and squashes, which when paired with enough water, can help you stay healthy and still participate in the amazing foods summer has to offer.

Final Tip!: Give your body time!

Look we get it. Summer is not meant to stay on the sidelines, but time and rest are some of the key components of the healing process. Let your body be your guide. If your exercise, your walk, or even your drive feels odd or uncomfortable, most likely it’s time to chill on that for now. The goal right now is optimal healing, and if that is your main focus you’ll be out there swimming in Lake Arrowhead in no time!

If you or a loved one have questions about a potential surgery or recovery, speak to Surgery Group of Los Angeles, or any medical professional today!

August 9, 2022

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About Surgery Group LA

Surgery Group LA is a team of professional and board-licensed surgeons, who specialize of their respective fields. The institution’s project to offer sufferers with advanced and complete surgical care.

Patient Resources

310-861-7493

8635 W 3rd St #880 W
Los Angeles, CA 90048
[email protected]

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