Patient Advice

Pre-operative period

2 – 3 days before the operation

Underarm and leg hair removal. After the operation you won’t be able to feel your underarm skin for a while, so for this area you will only be able to use hair removal creams, so if you want to have tidy underarms for the first 2 – 3 weeks, hair removal is the right solution! And as for your legs – you won’t be advised to (or be able to) bend at the waist for at least 2 – 3 weeks after the operation, which means that the use of a razor is out of the question.

Prepare several clean bedding sets

Prepare a number of pillows of different sizes

Arrange for your apartment to be cleaned

Identify a support person who will be able to help you at the drop of a hat

If you live alone, it is crucial to identify a person you trust who will be in a position to be with you around the clock (you will require help to get out of bed, dress yourself, go food shopping, go for a walk, have a shower etc…)

Get plenty of wet wipes with alcohol (Lilly health and beauty stores sell them) and patient wash gloves (you can find these in DM – located in Terazije area) – for several days following the operation you won’t be able to have a shower.

The day before the operation

Don’t panic!!! Everything will work out just fine!

Open all the drawers you use on a daily basis – the action of opening drawers exerts pressure on chest muscles, and you won’t be able to use your chest muscles for a few weeks following the operation.

Take down all of the items you use from kitchen and bathroom shelves and place them at the level of your work tops – for a month dyer the operation you won’t be able to raise your arms higher than shoulder height.

Don’t panic!!! Everything will work out just fine!

In your fridge: move all of the food items you intend to use to a shelf which you can easily reach

Remove dark nail varnish – the device measuring blood oxygen levels you will have attached to your finger during the operation “doesn’t like” dark nail varnish colours

Wash your hair

Don’t panic!!! Everything will work out just fine!

Pack a hospital bag with the following items: a nightgown/overshirt with buttons on the front, slippers, hair comb, toothbrush and toothpaste, wet wipes, lip balm, hand cream, mobile, charger, your usual daily medication (so-called “regular therapy”), something to read, glasses (if you wear them)…

Prepare clothes to return home in: a loose-fitting jacket, front-buttoning shirt, loose skirt/trousers/ tracksuit bottoms with an elasticated waist (you may experience considerable bloating a couple of days after the operation), and comfortable flat shoes with no laces (you won’t be advised to/ won’t be able to bend down to tie your shoelaces).

Prepare the bed you will spend the following 2 – 3 weeks in. You’ll be most comfortable in a semi-upright position, such as when you push the seat back when on an airplane or coach. I found an armchair with lots of pillows the most comfortable option, like in this picture:

If for whatever reason you have to stay in bed, here are some tips:

Fix a coffee table or such within easy reach by your armchair/bed so that you can place on it all the items you’ll be using (wet wipes, phone, medicine, books, drinks, food…).

Don’t panic!!! Everything will work out just fine!