Having surgery is a serious matter that can change your life. There are many different factors to consider and the process can feel overwhelming if you’re not sure what to expect. The good news is that you don’t have to go the journey alone.
If you need liver surgery, the first thing you should do is find a good surgeon you can trust to perform your procedure safely.
What Happens During Liver Surgery?
There are multiple types of liver surgery. Your surgeon will decide which one to perform depending on the severity of your cancer:
- Liver resection: During this procedure, your surgeon will remove any tumors on your liver, clearing some of the healthy tissue in the process.
- Liver transplant: In this situation, a surgeon will remove your entire liver and replace it with that of a donor.
- Radiofrequency ablation and microwave ablation: These processes involve the heating of cancer cells until they die off.
- Irreversible electroporation: Like the previous procedures, this surgery also kills off cancer cells, but does so through the use of an electrical current.
What Happens After Liver Surgery?
Typically, you’ll spend about a week in the hospital after a liver surgery — potentially longer if you have a transplant. Pain following the surgery is normal but manageable with medications, and you should start to feel more like your regular self again after six to eight weeks.
If a part of your liver had to be removed, it should grow back to its average size in a few weeks. During recovery, it’s important to get adequate rest and avoid lifting any heavy objects or straining your body.
What to Look for in a Liver Surgeon
If you’re currently wondering, “How do I find the right liver specialist near me?” there are a few qualities to find so you can ensure sure you’re in good hands. Because liver surgery can be a life-altering decision, you need to find someone qualified to give you the best results. Positive surgeon traits include:
- High success rate: Few metrics can give you a better insight into your surgeon’s qualifications than their success rate. How many other liver surgeries have they performed, and how many were successful?
- Notable credentials: Before you commit to a liver surgeon, find out where they received their education and training. You’ll probably feel more comfortable if you know they learned from a trustworthy source.
- A balance of confidence and humility: Naturally, it makes sense for you to want a liver surgeon who has confidence in what they do. However, humility and the ability to admit when they don’t have all the answers is just as important. This usually means they care about you as an individual rather than just getting results.
Trust Dr. Mark Fraiman to Perform Your Surgery
If you’re looking for a liver surgeon in the Towson area, you can depend on Dr. Mark Fraiman and his group of specialists. Our team has helped many patients pull through and recover from liver surgery. With years of experience in pancreas and liver procedures, Dr. Fraiman will take extra steps to make sure you have the care you need to make a full recovery. Call now to schedule your first appointment.
