The immediate post-operative phase begins when your surgery ends and typically lasts 24–48 hours under close medical supervision in a recovery room. You'll be monitored in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) where nurses track your vital signs, consciousness level, airway function, and surgical site for bleeding or complications.
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols, now standard in leading facilities, focus on multimodal care strategies to reduce hospital stays and accelerate functional recovery. Recent studies show ERAS protocols significantly lower complication rates compared to traditional recovery approaches. Pain management involves continuous assessment using standardized scales, with medications adjusted based on your comfort level. Nausea and vomiting from anesthesia are monitored and treated promptly to prevent complications.
Early mobilization is encouraged within 8–10 hours after surgery when safe, as clinical evidence demonstrates this reduces respiratory complications, infections, and opioid dependency while shortening hospital stays. Simple leg exercises, compression stockings, and deep breathing with an incentive spirometer help prevent blood clots and pneumonia. For panniculectomy patients in Mexico, accredited facilities like CosMed Clinic follow these evidence-based protocols, with 146 clinics serving over 1,300 patient requests using standardized recovery pathways.
Watch for warning signs requiring immediate attention: fever above 101°F, excessive bleeding, severe unrelieved pain, breathing difficulties, or signs of blood clots like leg swelling and redness.