You have a surgery coming up and can't seem to move it from the forefront of your mind. You’re stressed, anxious, or deeply concerned. Even with the safest and most routine of surgeries performed by qualified professionals, these types of emotions are common and nothing to be ashamed of. At the same time, it’s important to know that there are ways to manage difficult emotions, both for your own peace of mind and for better surgical outcomes.
At the practice of Ali Hendi, MD, in Chevy Chase, Maryland, Dr. Hendi can teach you how to perform mindfulness and breathing techniques before Mohs and other types of skin surgery. In this blog, he explains why feeling relaxed before surgery is important and the benefits of meditation.
If you’re feeling anxious, concerned, or stressed before your procedure, your body can trigger hormonal responses. One such response involves the release of the stress hormone cortisol. Once that happens, you can experience additional changes, such as shifted immune system responses and raised blood sugar.
If you have heightened cortisol levels — especially over a long period of time — you can increase your risk of experiencing:
So you can imagine, if you’re already dealing with these effects well before or just before your surgery, things can snowball in a negative direction.
Mindfulness practices, such as meditation, leading up to your surgery can help in a range of important ways. In addition to helping you feel more relaxed and less stressed, these practices can improve your surgery outcome by:
As a result of these benefits, meditation may lead to boosted surgical satisfaction. On top of that, if you cultivate meditation as a practice, it may enhance your overall health and well-being moving forward.
Dr. Hendi will walk you through meditation and breathing exercises and talk to you about what to expect during and after your procedure. The more you know going in, the less likely you’ll be to feel stressed about unknowns. His goal is to ensure that you have a positive experience, physically and emotionally.
To learn more about meditation and surgery or to get care, book an appointment online or over the phone with Ali Hendi, MD, today.
