Postoperative Care

Our goal is to have both immediate and ultimate postoperative care to be excellent. The Benetatos nursing team at both the Athens Medical Center and the REA Maternity Hospital will make sure you have a comfortable and safe stay in the hospital for as long as you need it after your surgery. Postoperative care varies depending on the severity of your surgery.

Mr. Benetatos will monitor you closely until he has been cleared and the slightest chance of any complication occurring. There will never be an extra charge for post-operative visits – all costs are included in surgical costs. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.

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General principles and secrets for faster and safer healing.

Personal hygiene - Wound lesions

All wounds are epithelialized and can be soaked after the second postoperative day. We always try to cover the wounds with waterproof adhesive gauze, where one can be washed immediately after surgery. However, this is not always feasible either because of an area (eg face, eyelids, ear, etc.) or allergy to the adhesive tape. In cases where a wound will get wet early, one should not overdo it by throwing water on the wound for prolonged time as it can destroy this very thin epithelial layer and at the same time the microbial barrier. Conservative wetting is therefore needed by the end of the second week. You should also avoid bathing in the sea or the pool for two weeks.

Excercise

You should avoid intense exercise or anything else that can cause friction in your scars during early healing (the first two weeks.) As a general direction we would suggest you take a gentle exercise such as walking for the first 7-10 days. you can get moderate exercise intensity, such as cycling and fast walking, by the end of week 4. Extensive exercise such as running, swimming or sports requiring contact should follow after the 4th week, depending of course on the gravity of the surgery U (see the relevant section of the surgery you are interested for more information).

Driving

You should avoid driving until you feel completely well. It should not limit you to any nuisance from the operating room so that you can respond fully to any unexpected danger you encounter on the road. This will depend on the severity and extent of the surgery as well as on your postoperative course.

Exposure to solar radiation

Avoid direct contact with the sun in the early post-operative period, as scarring can occur. Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or above to cover the scars for at least 6-12 months.

Laser Fractional, Silicone Jel, Herbal Creams

Healing quality varies from person to person. Generally, the wounds of most patients heal too well, and relatively quickly, leaving thin white incisions, but in some healing is delayed and widespread red scars are created that may take months until they become flat and white. Once the incisions have healed, they should be moisturized (with any moisturizing cream you desire) and made a local massage one to two times a day.

Mr. Benetatos offers, without charge, Laser Fractional treatment to all patients who have surgery to improve and eliminate their scars.

In areas such as the breast or abdomen, silicone sheets may also be used, which has proven to help improve scarring, but it is a long process that can last at least 3-4 months of everyday use to produce a result. Instead, silicone-enriched Jel creams such as Stratamed or Dermatix can be used with much simpler application and corresponding results. Of course the combination of all the above options – Laser Fractional , hydration and massage, silicone sheets and silicone gel creams – is the one that will give the best result.