Surgery is just one of the treatment steps. Recovery begins in the hospital, but continues at home and depends on a series of care that influence healing, resumption of activities and prevention of complications. Although each procedure has specific guidelines, some errors are frequent and can compromise the patient’s progress.

According to nurse Katia Cristina Amorim Sousa, from Clínica Boutros Carvalho, specialized in monitoring of surgical patientsand Joseli Ferreira Angelini Fantini, master in Nursing and clinical coordinator at Rede Vitória Spa, specialized in the care and rehabilitation of elderly people, the success of recovery does not depend only on the procedure performed.

The care adopted in the following days, such as adequate nutrition, hydration, mobility, attention to healing and professional monitoring, directly influence the evolution of the treatment. Below, the experts explain which attitudes deserve attention and why the post-operative period requires a vision that goes beyond the surgery itself.

1. Thinking that being discharged from hospital means that the treatment is over

Many patients associate discharge with the end of recovery. In practice, it only marks the beginning of a new stage. Katia Cristina Amorim Sousa explains that healing continues over the following weeks and depends on compliance with medical instructions, the correct use of medications and follow-up at return appointments.

2. Neglecting the surgical wound

Change dressings without guidancemanipulating the stitches or ignoring changes in the scar can encourage infections and make recovery difficult. According to Katia Cristina Amorim Sousa, signs such as intense redness, secretion, opening of stitches, increased pain or bad smell in the wound must be evaluated by the responsible team.

Resting is important, but remaining completely still for several days also carries risks. Joseli Ferreira Angelini Fantini explains that, when authorized by the medical team, moving gradually helps preserve muscle strength, reduces loss of mobility and contributes to a safer recovery.

Among the elderly, this care is even more important, as the loss of muscle mass and autonomy can happen more quickly after prolonged periods of rest, increasing the risk of falls and making it difficult to return to activities.

4. Getting back into your routine early

Feeling better does not mean that the body has already fully recovered. Resume physical activitiesdriving, carrying heavy weight or returning to work before medical clearance can compromise healing and increase the risk of complications.

5. Underestimating the importance of nutrition and hydration

Recovery also happens from the inside out. Joseli Ferreira Angelini Fantini highlights that proteins, vitamins, minerals and a good intake of fluids provide the body with the nutrients necessary to repair tissues, preserve muscle mass and promote healing. In the elderly, this care must be even greater, as the reduction in the sensation of thirst and the natural changes of aging increase the risk of dehydration and can delay recovery.

6. Waiting for symptoms to worsen before seeking help

Not all pain is part of the normal recovery process. Fever, persistent bleeding, shortness of breath, severe pain or important changes in the surgical wound should not be ignored. Katia Cristina Amorim Sousa recommends that any unusual signs be communicated quickly to the healthcare team to prevent the condition from worsening.

7. Thinking that all recovery happens at the same pace

Each organism responds in a different way. Age, pre-existing diseases, nutritional status and type of surgery directly influence the recovery time. Joseli Ferreira Angelini Fantini remembers that elderly patients tend to require even more careful monitoring, as they are more vulnerable to functional loss, dehydration and other complications during the postoperative period. Comparing your own progress with that of other people can generate anxiety and expectations that do not correspond to reality.

8. Relax in care because the pain has decreased

One of the most common mistakes is to abandon part of the care as soon as symptoms begin to improve. Even when the pain decreases and the mood increases, the body may still be in the healing process. Therefore, Katia Cristina Amorim Sousa reinforces that medications, dressings, effort restrictions and follow-up appointments must be maintained until the medical team is released.

Recovery from surgery does not just depend on the procedure performed in the operating room. Care for the surgical wound, combined with adequate nutrition, hydration, mobility and respect for each organism’s recovery time, helps to reduce complications and promote a safer return to daily activities. This attention should be even greater among elderly patients, who are at greater risk of loss of mobility, dehydration and other complications, requiring closer monitoring by the healthcare team and family.

By Henrique Fernandes