🏠 Going Home
What to expect on the day of your surgery:
- You will be observed in recovery for 1–2 hours after the procedure
- Your surgery may be a day case or involve an overnight hospital stay — this depends on case complexity and your preference
- You may go home once you are awake, comfortable, and able to drink
- You must have someone drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours
- Nausea is common in the first few hours — anti-sickness medication has been prescribed
- You may feel drowsy or unsteady — this is normal and will settle
Important: Do not drive, operate machinery, or make important decisions for 24 hours after anaesthesia.
💊 Pain Management
Effective pain control is important for a comfortable recovery:
- Take regular pain relief for the first 2–3 days — do not wait for pain to become severe
- Paracetamol 1g (2 tablets) every 6 hours as needed
- Ibuprofen 400mg every 8 hours as needed (if not contraindicated for you)
- Stronger pain medication (if prescribed): take exactly as directed on the script
- Ice pack to the surgical area for 15–20 minutes several times daily for the first 48 hours
🔑 Keyhole (Laparoscopic)
- Shoulder tip pain is common for 24–48 hours — caused by CO₂ gas used during surgery
- Walking helps the gas absorb faster
- Wound pain is usually milder than open repair
🔪 Open Repair
- More wound pain at the incision site — expected and improves over 3–5 days
- No shoulder pain (no gas used)
- May need stronger pain relief for the first 2–3 days
Note: Ibuprofen should be taken with food. If you have kidney disease, stomach ulcers, or are on blood thinners, check with us before taking ibuprofen.
🩹 Wound Care
Your incisions are closed with dissolvable stitches or skin glue:
- Keep dressings clean and dry for the first 48 hours
- After 48 hours: gentle showering is OK — pat dry, do not rub
- Do NOT soak in a bath, pool, or hot tub for 2 weeks
- Some bruising and swelling around incisions is completely normal
- A small hard lump at the incision site may be felt — this is normal and settles over several weeks
- Do not apply creams, ointments, or antiseptics unless instructed
🔑 Keyhole (Laparoscopic)
- 3 small incisions (0.5–1 cm each)
- Scrotal or groin swelling is common — usually settles within 1–2 weeks
- Bruising may spread to the groin or inner thigh
🔪 Open Repair
- Single incision (4–6 cm) in the groin crease
- More wound swelling expected — improves over 2–3 weeks
- Scar may feel firm or raised initially — softens over months
🍽️ Diet
Getting the right nutrition supports your recovery:
- Start with light meals on the day of surgery
- Progress to a normal diet as your appetite returns
- Stay well hydrated — drink plenty of water throughout the day
- Constipation is common after surgery and pain medication — increase fibre intake
- Consider a gentle laxative (e.g., macrogol/Movicol) if needed
- Avoid straining at bowel movements — this increases pressure on the repair
🚶 Activity
Gradual return to activity is important:
- Walking: encouraged from day 1 — aim for short walks several times daily
- Driving: avoid for at least 1 week, or until you can brake suddenly without pain
- Return to work: 1–2 weeks for desk work, 3–4 weeks for physically demanding work
- Lifting: nothing heavier than 5–10 kg for 4 weeks
- Exercise: light walking OK immediately; resume other exercise after 4 weeks
- Sexual activity: resume when comfortable, usually after 1–2 weeks
🔑 Keyhole (Laparoscopic)
- Faster return to light activities — most patients resume within 3–5 days
- Return to desk work typically after 1 week
- Gas-related discomfort may limit activity initially
🔪 Open Repair
- Slightly longer recovery — plan for 1–2 weeks before light activities
- Return to desk work typically after 1–2 weeks
- Wound discomfort may take longer to settle
Listen to your body: Mild discomfort with activity is normal. Sharp or worsening pain is a sign to stop and rest.
⚠️ Red Flags
Contact us or seek urgent medical care if you experience any of the following:
- Temperature above 38°C that does not settle with paracetamol
- Worsening pain not controlled with prescribed medication
- Redness, warmth, or increasing swelling around the wound
- Pus or foul-smelling discharge from the wound
- Persistent nausea and vomiting (unable to keep fluids down)
- Difficulty passing urine
- Numbness or tingling in the leg that worsens
- New bulge at the surgical site
If you experience any of these symptoms, contact us immediately:
📞 03 9421 1166