After your plastic surgery

This information leaflet has been provided to help answer some questions you, your family and friends may have about what to expect after your plastic surgery.

Postoperative guidance

Your surgeon will explain any postoperative guidance that you should follow after your operation. This will also be written in your discharge summary, which you will be given a copy of before leaving the hospital.

Medication

If you are required to take any medication after your operation this will be supplied to you on your discharge from hospital. Information on the medication will be written on your discharge summary. It is important to take this as directed by your doctor.

Follow-up

Depending on your operation your surgeon will recommend if and when you need to return to the hospital for a check up.

If you need to return for a wound review in the plastics dressing clinic, this will be booked by the ward prior to leaving hospital.

If you do not receive an appointment for a check up with your doctor, please contact the hospitals appointments office 020 3315 6666.

Dressing care

If you have a dressing in place it is important to keep this clean and dry. This helps to reduce the risk of infection.

If your dressing gets wet or dirty please contact the hospital for advice

If you have been instructed to change your dressings at home, instructions will be clearly provided by the plastic surgery nurse specialist.

Wound infection

It is important to look out for signs of a wound infection as this may cause you to become unwell and affect your recovery.

Signs and symptoms to look out for include any of the following:

  • Fever
  • Lack of energy
  • Pus near the wound site
  • Increased pain in or around the wound
  • Redness around the wound site
  • Swelling around the wound site
  • Warmer skin around the wound site

If you have any of the above signs or symptoms of infection please contact the plastic surgery department or out of hours attend your local accident and emergency department.

Contact information

Plastics Dressing Clinic
Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5:30pm
E: chelwest.pdc@nhs.net

Plastic Surgery Clinical Nurse Specialist
Mon–Fri, 8am–4pm
T: 07385 384 435 or 07824 502 944 

At all other times go to your nearest A&E.

Appointments Line

If you need to change or cancel your appointments, please do one of the following:

  • Reply ‘change’ or ‘cancel’ to a text reminder about your appointment
  • Log in to Dr Doctor (further information on the hospital website)
  • If less than 3 days before your appointment with a consultantyou can call us on 020 3315 6666 (Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5:30pm)

Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS)

If you have concerns or wish to give feedback about services, your care or treatment, you can contact the PALS office on the Ground Floor of the hospital just behind the main reception.

Alternatively, you can send us your comments or suggestions on one of our comment cards, available at the PALS office, or complete the feedback form.

We value your opinion and invite you to provide us with feedback.

T: 020 3315 6727
E:

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
369 Fulham Road
London
SW10 9NH 

T: 020 3315 8000

 

Contributors
Camelia King-Martey George Vasilopoulos