Recovery is a process. Learn how to care for your incision, manage swelling, use compression appropriately, regain safe mobility, and create a more comfortable recovery environment with physician-informed guidance.
After surgery, your priorities change from preparation to protection, monitoring, movement, and gradual return to normal activity. Your own surgical team should determine what is appropriate for your procedure.
Follow your surgeon's instructions for your incision, dressings, medications, and activity restrictions.
Use the recovery strategies recommended for swelling, discomfort, and fluid management.
Begin appropriate movement when your medical team says it is safe.
Know what normal recovery can look like—and what changes should be reported.
Surgical wounds change as they heal. Early care focuses on protecting the incision and following dressing instructions, while later scar care may focus on the appearance and texture of the healed scar. CDC guidance recommends following the care instructions provided by your healthcare team and using proper hand hygiene when touching or changing dressings.
Protect the surgical site and follow dressing and wound-care instructions exactly as provided.
Pay attention to changes in redness, pain, drainage, swelling, or other symptoms and contact your care team when something seems concerning.
Once your incision is sufficiently healed and your surgeon approves scar treatment, discuss appropriate options for scar management.
Surgeon’s Note: A practical option for organizing routine wound-care supplies when your surgeon has recommended dressing changes.
Surgeon’s Note: Useful as part of a surgeon-directed dressing routine when sterile gauze is specifically recommended.
Surgeon’s Note: A convenient dressing accessory when your care plan calls for securing approved wound-care materials.
Surgeon’s Note: Keeps approved wound-care supplies together and within easy reach during the early recovery period.
Scar maturation takes time. Once your surgical team confirms that your incision is healed enough for scar treatment, silicone- based products are one commonly used option for managing the appearance of scars.
Compression garments can be recommended after certain procedures, but the garment, pressure level, sizing, duration, and timing should be determined by the treating clinician. For venous-thromboembolism prevention, compression stockings may be prescribed for selected patients and need proper measurement and fitting.
Designed for postoperative breast support when recommended by the surgical team.
Used after some abdominal and body procedures when clinically appropriate.
Used for selected patients as part of a clot-prevention plan.
Once your procedure is complete, your priorities change. Learn how to protect your incision, manage swelling, move safely, and make recovery more comfortable with physician-informed guidance and carefully selected recovery essentials.
