Normal to see nurse and not surgeon post op?

My surgical techniques will be different from that of another surgeon as will my postoperative regimen. My nurses can administer medications and assist patients with wound care, drain tubes, etc., but as a commitment to providing the most efficient and effective recovery for my patients, I see all my patients at each post-operative visit to answer questions, determine the progress of their recovery, check for any signs of excessive bleeding, bruising, swelling, or infection, and obtain valuable feedback. Kenneth Hughes, MD, ABPS Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Hello, every clinic will have different protocols for their postoperative assessments.  It is not uncommon for nurses to be involved in the care of patients, but in my experience most surgeons want to be directly involved for at least some of the postoperative assessments.  My own practice is to see patients myself for several postoperative visits, but occasionally if a patient wants to be checked when I am not available, one of my experienced nurses will see the patient then provide me with a progress update.