If there are no problems during your recovery, you will meet your surgeon again about two to six weeks after you leave the hospital. You can expect to see your surgeon several times over the next year. You will be provided with your appointment dates and times at each visit. It’s a good idea to have someone (a family member or friend) come with you to this visit to listen and take notes. If you have any questions, write them down and bring them with you.
If you had knee replacement surgery, you may also be working with a physiotherapist to help your recovery. If you had hip replacement surgery, you should talk to your surgeon during the post-op visit about your physiotherapy needs.
You should also see your family doctor as part of your ongoing care. Many patients will have their staples removed by their family doctor about 10 to 14 days after their surgery. Others may have them removed during the follow-up visit with their surgeon. Or you may have a dissolvable type, where there will be no need remove them because they go away on their own.
Click on the tabs below to learn more about your post-op follow up visit, and some questions you might want to ask after your hip or knee replacement surgery.