Before & after surgery
Patient guides
Knowing what to expect makes surgery easier — for you and your family. These guides cover preparation, recovery and the warning signs to watch for.
Gallbladder Surgery: Before & After
How to prepare for laparoscopic gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) and what recovery looks like day by day — diet, activity, work and warning signs.
Read the guideHernia Repair: Before & After
How to prepare for laparoscopic hernia repair and what recovery looks like — support belt, avoiding constipation, when to lift, exercise and return to work.
Read the guideEndoscopy & Colonoscopy: Before & After
How to prepare for an upper GI endoscopy (gastroscopy) or colonoscopy — fasting, bowel preparation, sedation, and what happens afterwards.
Read the guideThese guides are general information. Your own instructions from Dr. Sawarkar's team — especially about fasting and medicines — always take priority.
When can I…?
Typical timelines after laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery such as gallbladder or hernia repair. Your recovery may be faster or slower — listen to your body.
| Activity | Timeline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shower | 48 hours | Pat the incisions dry — no scrubbing |
| Drive | 3–5 days | Once off strong pain medicine and comfortable braking hard |
| Return to desk work | 4–5 days | Physical work takes longer — ask us |
| Light exercise | 2 weeks | Walking, gentle yoga |
| Swimming | 2 weeks | Incisions must be fully healed |
| Sexual activity | 2 weeks | When comfortable; avoid straining the abdomen |
| Heavy lifting / gym | 6 weeks | Start at about 50% of your usual load |
General advice after keyhole surgery
After major operations — liver, pancreas or cancer surgery — recovery takes longer, and you'll get a personal plan from the team.
Pain management
Pain after keyhole surgery is usually mild to moderate. Take the prescribed medicine on schedule for the first 1–2 days — pain medicine works best when taken before pain becomes severe.
By days 3–5 most patients need only paracetamol, and by the end of the first week many are pain-free.
Nutrition for healing
Your body is rebuilding tissue. Protein helps wounds heal — dal, paneer, eggs, chicken, fish, curd. Vitamin C helps too — oranges, guava, amla, tomatoes.
Drink 8–10 glasses of water a day. In the first week avoid alcohol and tobacco (both slow healing) and go easy on tea and coffee.
The mental side of recovery
Day 2–3 is often the hardest: the soreness peaks, the novelty has worn off and you're tired of resting. That's normal, and it gets better from here.
Week 1 you may be frustrated by how quickly you tire — your body is putting its energy into healing. Week 2+ you'll wake up one morning and realise you forgot you had surgery.
Questions about your operation?
Call or WhatsApp the clinic — no question is too small.