How difficult is the postoperative course?
The postoperative course is more severe that the surgery itself, since the patient has to stay hospitalized for a day, with the legs bent at the hips, two drainage catheters in the surgical incision, a urinary catheter and an IV. The IV and the urinary catheter are removed on the next day, while patients may carefully get out of bed, but have to wear an elastic compression garment. They may be discharged on that day, provided they receive antibiotics. Patients visit the clinic on the fourth day to have the drainage catheters removed and the wound dressed. They may shower prior to this; however, it is essential that they shower from the fourth day onwards. A compression garment has to be worn for a month and may only be removed when sleeping. The sutures are removed on the seventh day, which is when patients may also return to their normal activities, but are not allowed to lift weights for at least a month.
