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Post-operative care begins when surgery ends, but it should be understood before surgery takes place. The early days, wound care, movement, support garments, follow-up and return to normal activity all form part of the treatment plan.

This page provides a general recovery framework and a library for procedure-specific aftercare PDFs. Your own discharge instructions and the advice of the treating clinical team always take priority.

Leave surgery with a clear aftercare plan

Before discharge, you should know what medication has been prescribed, how wounds or dressings should be managed, whether a garment or support is required, what activity is allowed, when the next review will take place and how to contact the clinical team.

International patients should also know what must be reviewed before leaving Istanbul and how follow-up will continue after returning home.

Good aftercare makes the expected recovery easier to recognise — and unexpected changes easier to act on.

The first days are procedure-specific

Pain, swelling, bruising, tightness, tiredness and temporary asymmetry can occur to different degrees after many operations. Their pattern and significance depend on the procedure, the individual patient and the stage of recovery.

Do not compare your day-by-day recovery with another patient’s photographs or social media timeline. Use the expectations and restrictions provided for your operation.

Movement, rest and positioning

Recovery usually involves a balance between appropriate rest and appropriate movement. The type of surgery determines how you should sleep, sit, walk, lift, bend or use the operated area.

Follow the progression given by the treating team rather than trying to return to normal activity as quickly as possible.

Wounds, dressings, garments and scars

Instructions for dressings, showering, compression garments, surgical bras and incision care vary by operation. Scar management also changes as healing progresses.

Do not add massage, creams, devices or other treatments simply because they are popular online. Ask when — and whether — they are appropriate for your particular operation.

Procedure-specific post-operative PDF library

Keep the PDF for your operation accessible on your phone and, where useful, as a printed copy. These documents are designed to supplement the personalised discharge instructions provided by the clinic.

Breast surgery

Face and neck surgery

Body surgery

Know the difference between expected recovery and a concerning change

Many postoperative symptoms exist on a spectrum. Mild swelling may be part of expected recovery, while rapidly increasing swelling may require assessment. Discomfort may be expected, while sudden or severe worsening pain can change the clinical picture.

Use your procedure-specific discharge information and the clinic’s contact pathway. For a broader orientation, see the Post-operative Warning Signs guide.

Follow-up is part of treatment

Postoperative reviews are not administrative appointments. They are opportunities to assess wounds, swelling, function and progress, identify problems early and update restrictions as healing changes.

If you live abroad, make sure you know which reviews should happen in Istanbul and how remote follow-up will continue afterwards.

Returning to work, exercise and travel

There is no single recovery calendar for all operations. A desk-based job, physical employment, long-haul travel and strenuous exercise place very different demands on healing.

Ask for guidance relevant to your actual daily routine rather than trying to fit your recovery into someone else’s timetable.