The **blood** is the specialized connective tissue that is composed of the following: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. This tissue plays an important role in the transport of oxygen and nutrients to the body, and in waste removal.

Functions of the different blood components:

1. **Plasma**- carries breakdown materials, nutrients, hormones, and signal body activities. Moreover, it regulates the amount of water in the blood, fights diseases, and forms blood clots.
2. **Red blood cells** – carry oxygen to all of the cells in the body.
3. **Platelets** – cell fragments that have an important role in blood-clotting.
4. **White blood cells** – important in the immune system. It recognizes, disease-causing organisms, and chemicals that are potential invaders of the body.

**Plasma** is the **fluid portion of the blood** composed of 90% water and 10% dissolved gases, salts, enzymes, nutrients, hormones, waste products, and blood proteins. This fluid helps in serving the function of the blood to transport blood cells all throughout the body together with nutrients, minerals, and even waste products to help maintain the body’s fluid balance.

Immediately after the surgery, the person will start to swell. because the lymphatic vessels will not be efficient in returning fluids back to the blood vessels. In addition to this, the immune system effectiveness of the person will also decrease.