Swelling after surgery is a common occurrence after surgery on any part of the body. Swelling is formed due to the accumulation of a large amount of lymph in damaged tissues. This process is a response of the immune system, which tries to ensure the normal functioning of the human body, even despite recent surgical intervention. Consider in more detail the causes of puffiness, methods for removing edema and treatment methods.
Why does puffiness appear?
After damage to the soft tissues, edema appears almost always, but may have a different severity. The following factors affect the degree of puffiness after surgery:
- lifestyle of the patient;
- individual characteristics of the body;
- health status;
- Does the patient adhere to all the recommendations of the doctor;
- the condition of the lymphatic and immune systems of the patient.
In most cases, the reduction of edema on the face after surgery directly depends on what efforts the patient makes after the operation to restore health during the rehabilitation period. Compliance with all the doctor’s prescriptions will improve health in the shortest possible time. Self-medication is not recommended in this situation, this can lead to a deterioration.
Types of edema
Edema is conditionally divided into several types:
- local or local, which are formed in certain areas of the body;
- general blood circulation, which are formed in different places at the same time due to disturbances in the functioning of internal organs.
Why after surgery, edema appears near the affected area of the skin, only a qualified doctor will tell you.
Duration
How much time a hand swells after an operation or a leg directly depends on the scale and complexity of the surgical intervention. In order to minimize the risk of an inflammatory reaction, patients in the postoperative period should be under the constant supervision of a doctor.
According to medical statistics, puffiness after removing the dressing remains for another 14-21 days. After the operation, it is important to constantly be observed until the wound heals, not only at the attending physician, but also at the nephrologist.
What is dangerous swelling
Even after the most minor operation, puffiness can form, but it does not pose any danger to the patient’s health. According to medical statistics, the leg can swell after the operation or the arm can be already 24-48 hours after the operation, and also after the same period of time the symptoms disappear, without leaving any traces.
Do not panic if:
- the swelling is small;
- only that part of the body where the operation was previously performed has flowed;
- that injured limb, on which a large load was exerted, swelled.
You need to sound the alarm if, simultaneously with the appearance of edema after the operation, malfunctions in the liver, kidneys and heart are observed. In this situation, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Complications
During the period of surgical intervention, the patient's body lends itself to a heavy load, so swelling can be accompanied by thrombosis, stagnation of blood and intercellular fluid. Consider in more detail the types of complications.
Thrombosis after surgery occurs mainly in elderly patients. This pathology is dangerous in that it does not have visible symptoms, so it is rather difficult to diagnose it at the first stage of development. In severe cases, pulmonary thromboembolism may occur. To detect the disease is possible only with the help of ultrasound.
Swelling of the blood and intercellular fluid is indicated by swelling of the neck, limbs and the area around the eyes, which can appear both after surgery and as an independent pathology. If the patient had problems with the heart or kidneys, then after surgery the existing diseases may worsen.
The basic principles of treatment of postoperative edema
Effective elimination of puffiness directly depends on strict adherence to treatment principles. Symptomatic therapy includes the following activities:
- reduction in the amount of water consumed;
- reduced intake of foods high in salt;
- monitoring daily diuresis;
- taking diuretics to remove excess fluid in the body;
- monitoring the level of electrolytes in the blood, and especially potassium.
Doctors Recommendations
How to relieve edema after surgery, advised by qualified doctors. Of course, you need to limit the intake of a warm bath or shower. Instead, it is allowed to take a contrast shower or rinse certain parts of the body with cool water. This will save tissue from fluid accumulation.
It is mandatory to rest and rest after surgery. The head during sleep should be raised using pillows. During the rehabilitation period, you need to abandon the long views of the TV and reading books, so as not to strain the body.
During the healing of edema after surgery, it is not recommended to consume alcoholic beverages, salty and fried foods, spicy dishes. You should abandon coffee and carbonated drinks, as they increase swelling, retaining water in the body.
Reduce the pain that accompanies swelling
To reduce pain, which in most cases can accompany pathology, doctors recommend applying cold compresses or an ice bladder. The duration of the procedure is 10-15 minutes, after which inflammation and swelling are reduced. In some cases, you can use cool compresses based on decoctions of herbs, such as St. John's wort or plantain. Such procedures will not only reduce swelling, but also significantly accelerate the healing process of postoperative wounds. The above methods can be used in rehabilitation therapy only after agreement with the attending physician. Otherwise, an allergic reaction may occur that will only exacerbate the patient's condition.
Drug therapy
It is quite possible to reduce swelling with the help of various medications, which are used only as directed by a doctor. An excellent option would be the use of ointments and gels, the main action of which is aimed at accelerating the outflow of lymph and minimizing hematoma. Anti-inflammatory drugs, decongestant compresses, and also external preparations with a medical leech extract can be prescribed.
How to remove puffiness using folk remedies
After surgery, severe swelling can be removed not only with the help of drug therapy, but also thanks to traditional medicine. The main purpose of using your own cooked broths is to remove excess fluid that accumulates in soft tissues. The following recipes can be considered effective methods:
- To remove puffiness from the lower extremities, an infusion of chamomile or St. John's wort is used. In soft tissues, you can rub olive oil or apply compresses based on vinegar. Also, the infusion of valerian, which wipes the affected areas of the skin, will also help relieve inflammation.
- Edema after surgery on the face at home can be removed by rubbing the skin with pieces of ice from infusion of chamomile or tea. Postoperative edema can be reduced by applying raw potatoes and cucumbers to sore spots.
- You can also apply infusion based on knotweed. The dry mixture of herbs is poured with boiling water. The broth is infused for several hours, after which it is taken orally several times a day.
- A quite popular remedy is aloe juice, which quickly and effectively relieves inflammation and pain. Cut leaves of aloe are applied to the affected area and aged for 2-3 hours.
Relieve puffiness after surgery from the face
To get rid of postoperative edema that arose on the face, it is worth it easy to massage the affected areas with ice cubes from chamomile tea. A great option would be the use of masks from raw potatoes and cucumbers. Rubbing the face with a decoction of green tea leaves will allow not only to remove puffiness, but also quickly tone the skin.
In fact, in most cases, edema after surgery does not pose a risk to human health, but nevertheless, it is worth getting rid of them faster. Before using traditional medicine, you should consult your doctor. This will avoid an allergic reaction or a deterioration in overall health.