 [ Symptoms ] why is good post surgical care so important [ Disease ] the care of the surgical patient does not end with the last stitch because success also hinges on the healing what happens afterwards the service called post operative care is absolutely essential and by the way surgeons who do not offer continuous post operative care are in violation of one of the basic ethics of the american college of surgeons group for example it is called itinerant surgery where you just operate and leave the patient no you do not do that that is not kosher for example we have seen situations where a patient would have a very extensive face lift the surgeon would put on dressings to exert a little pressure and not see the patient for 3 or 4 days and then when the patient came in then and only then was it discovered that they had significant bleeding under the skin and the skin was destined to die a very very serious complication that is not a conscientious practice they are not giving good post operative care you need to see the patient the next day and probably the day after that you have got to make sure in the critical 24 – 48 hours after a 5 to 6 to 7 hour operation that everything is just right and if there are any signs of any bleeding under the skin it can be dealt with right then and there and prevent the complication it is as simple as that eternal vigilance you have got to be on top of it and if you do the face lift and friday and think that just because it is the weekend you should not see the patient until monday you are not a very conscientious doctor because complications know no holiday