If you’re scheduled for a parotid surgery, you may have received different pieces of advice – from what you should do to what you should not do before and after the procedure. Here we list more dos and don’ts to help you prepare for a very important and crucial day in your life.
Do have someone to take you home.
Make sure that you’ll be accompanied by a loved one, friend, or relative. It will be unsafe for you to go home alone or drive yourself home after getting surgery. Also, you may feel pain or a burning sensation when you start moving. So, arrange a ride home. Ask a family member or a close friend to do this task for you.
Do some research and ask questions.
It is essential that you clearly understand the relevant facts about parotid surgery – from risks to benefits. In addition, do not hesitate to discuss the matter with your head and neck doctor and ask him or her if you have any questions or want something to be clarified.
Do stop taking aspirin or other blood thinners.
As aspirin and blood thinners increase the risk of bleeding, it is recommended to stop taking them before your surgery. You may consult your doctor about this and know if there are other medicines or health products that you should avoid taking. Moreover, you should tell the head and neck specialist if you are allergic to medicines or anesthesia. This is to prevent allergic reactions, such as rash, hives, swelling, shortness of breath, reduction in blood pressure, cough, and anaphylaxis.
Don’t smoke.
After a successful parotid surgery, it is very important that you take care of your health – and this includes not smoking. As smoking delays healing and increases the risk of infection, it is strongly suggested that you refrain from smoking during your recovery period. In doing so, your wound will heal faster, decrease the risk of complications, and improve your recovery time.
Don’t perform any strenuous physical activities.
Just because you feel you’re physically fit and strong, you should not ignore the fact that you still have a wound that needs complete healing. You must not do any strenuous physical activity like lifting heavy objects for three to four weeks after the surgery or until your head and neck doctor says so. Acting otherwise may cause your wound to open and increase the risk of infection. It is likewise important to not overextend your neck for two weeks after your surgery.
Don’t forget your doctor’s instructions.
Do not ever forget what your doctor has instructed you to do when taking care of your incision. Generally, you’ll be advised to wash around the incision with clean water twice a day.
Takeaway
Parotid surgery or parotidectomy is the surgical removal of the parotid gland. It is performed under general anesthesia, which means that you will be asleep during the operation. Still, it is essential to observe the dos and don’ts before and after the surgery to ensure its success and safety as well.