Realistic expectations for recovery after laser surgery may depend on the type of laser surgery you've had. In general, you can expect to receive instructions from your surgeon that will guide you through what to do or avoid during the recovery period after laser surgery. In most cases, however, you can expect your recovery time to be faster than with traditional surgical options, and you may experience less discomfort. Additionally, many laser surgeries do not require general anesthesia, so you may be able to go home sooner after surgery, and in many cases, overnight hospitalization is not required.
As with traditional surgery, you can usually expect to receive instructions after laser surgery. These instructions will guide you through the things you need to do and other things your surgeon may want you to avoid. These instructions may also provide you with an idea of how you should feel during the recovery process. In most cases, your post-surgery instructions will also fill you in on common signs that something is wrong. Such information can be helpful for deciding whether and when to call your doctor.
After laser surgery, you can usually expect to recover significantly faster than you would after a traditional surgical procedure. The expected length of recovery varies, however, depending on the type of surgery in question. In many cases, post-surgery discomfort is far less severe when you opt for laser surgery, and you may be able to go home much sooner. This is due to the fact that laser surgeries do not usually involve large incisions, and often, patient’s do not even need general anesthesia. Depending on your unique needs and the type of surgery you have, you may be able to return home within hours of having laser surgery.
It is important to keep in mind that laser surgeries are not free of risk, and it is possible that you will experience complications during the recovery period. For example, you could suffer damage to the surrounding tissues that could cause health problems. Infection and the need for repeat treatment are also among the problems you could experience after this type of surgery.
You can likely expect a follow-up visit to your doctor after laser surgery as well. No matter how well it seems that your laser surgery procedure has gone, your doctor will likely want to examine you to ensure your recovery is going well. The number of follow-up visits you will need will likely depend on the type of laser surgery you undergo.
