Recovery after bladder lift surgery?

Plan for your care and recovery after the operation. Find someone to drive you home after the surgery. Allow for time to rest and try to find people to help you with your day-to-day duties.

Follow your health care provider's instructions about not smoking before and after the procedure. Smokers heal more slowly after surgery. They are also more likely to have breathing problems during surgery. For this reason, if you are a smoker, you should quit at least 2 weeks before the procedure. It is best to quit 6 to 8 weeks before surgery. Also, your wounds will heal much better if you do not smoke after the surgery.

You may stay in the hospital about 2 to 6 days. The catheter may remain in your bladder 2 to 6 days or until your bladder starts working normally again. You may be constipated during this time.

During the first 4 weeks after the operation, you may have some smelly, sometimes bloody drainage from your vagina.

After you leave the hospital, avoid all heavy activity such as lifting for the first 6 to 8 weeks. Then follow your provider's recommendations for gradually increasing your activity.

Ask what other steps you should take and schedule follow-up visits with your health care provider.