BANDAGE CARE

Your bandage should be removed the day after surgery.  Replace your bandage each day.  Most wounds don’t require a bandage after a few days, but you may decide to wear a bandage to protect the site anyway.

WATCHING FOR INFECTION

The edges of a healing incision or wound may be slightly red.  Redness is normal, but call your doctor if the redness is increasing or if it spreads more than half an inch from the wound.  Call your doctor if you see pus at the site, if the incision or wound is more than mildly tender or painful, or if you develop a fever.

You may use an antibiotic cream to help prevent infection.  You can buy some antibiotic creams (such as NeosporinÒ) without a prescription.  Apply the cream twice a day.

Do not use iodine, hydrogen peroxide, or other such agents to clean your wound, as they tend to impair healing.  Plain soap and water is adequate to keep your wound clean.

BLEEDING

If your bandage becomes bloody, replace it with dry gauze or another bandage.  Applying constant pressure directly to the incision or wound for 15-20 minutes will usually stop most bleeding.  If the wound keeps bleeding despite your efforts, continue to apply pressure, and call your doctor.

BATHING

If you have stitches, you should keep your incision or wound site clean and dry for 24 hours.  After 24 hours, you may shower or sponge bathe, but do not submerge (such as in a bathtub, hot tub, dishwater, or swimming pool) any suture site until the stitches have been removed.  Also, take a shower instead of a bath if you have skin tape on your incision.  Gently pat the wound dry with a towel after washing. If your wound is superficial and does not have stitches, you may typically bathe as usual.

SUTURE REMOVAL

If your doctor used stitches to close your wound, s/he will remove any stitches that don’t absorb into the tissues.  Deep stitches are absorbed by your body gradually and don’t need to be removed.  Your doctor will advise you when skin stitches should be removed.

Your doctor may apply skin tape after the stitches are removed.  Skin tape provides additional wound support.  If it does not fall off by itself, the tape can be removed after 10-14 days.  Healing skin may need months to regain most of its strength, so be gentle with the site.

TENSION ON YOUR SCAR

Excessive movement of your incision or wound impairs healing.  Avoid activities that could cause your scar to pull apart, such as heavy lifting, straining, exercise or sports.  Contact your doctor if the wound edges pull apart.

LONG-TERM HEALING

A healing scar will darken and become more noticeable if it gets sunburned.  Limit your sun exposure for the first six months after surgery.  When you go outdoors during the day, cover your scar with tape or sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or greater. Remember that scars can take up to a year to fade to a fine white line.  Some OTC products, such as Vitamin E creams/lotions and a product called MedermaÒ, have been shown to help fade and flatten scars in some people.  Use of these products should not be started until after the wound is fully healed.