How soon can I go home after my surgery?

By home after surgery
 

Q: How soon can I go home after my surgery? 

A: You might be discharged after a few hours, or you may stay for a couple days, a week, or more. The length of your hospital stay depends upon the purpose and extent of your surgery; how quickly you're healing; if any further tests, procedures, or therapies are necessary; and if you need to learn self-care techniques for specific body changes. The length of your hospital stay may also be determined by what your health insurance will cover. Your health care team should be able to give you a general idea of how long you'll be in the hospital following surgery. Use that as a guideline for recuperation planning.
--Kathy Newman, RN, BSN

Here's what you'll need to know about your postsurgical care.

This content was last reviewed August 15, 2010 by Dr. Reshma L. Mahtani.
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