Surgical Wound Care

Generally:

• You may remove the dressing after 24-48 hours;
• Keep your wound clean and dry;
• You may shower or have a sponge bath, but do not scrub the area;
• If your surgeon prescribed an antibiotic ointment, apply a thin layer to the wound after cleaning it and then put on the dressing.

Call your doctor if:

• The wound becomes increasingly red or swollen;
• There’s pus coming from the wound;
• You have a fever over 38 °C (100.4 °F);
• You have any other concerns.

FAQs

1. Can I have shower on the day of my procedure?

Yes, you can. We provide a waterproof dressing for you, and you can take a shower with it on. It is okay to let water run over the wound, just do not soak your wound in water, as this may hamper wound healing.

2. If I go to the beach next week, can I swim?

Please do not soak your wound in water before it heals. Wound soaking time for swimming might be too long even for your waterproof dressing, so the safest way is to avoid swimming, hot tubs, or baths until the wound is completely closed, usually after three to four weeks.

3. Is there anything I should avoid eating considering the fact that I now have a wound?

You can eat anything you want, as long as you’re not allergic to it. Maintaining adequate protein intake will benefit your wound healing.

4. When should I have the sutures removed?

Usually, the timeframe for suture removal is seven to 10 days after your procedure. The better the blood supply, the less tension there will be in the wound and the quicker you can have your sutures removed. In general, different wounds have different suture removal times. For example, wounds on the face need three to five days, but wounds on your back need approximately seven to 10 days to heal well. Your doctor will tell you the exact time to come back to remove your sutures so, if you’re not sure, just check with your doctor.

5. Is there going to be a scar?

Yes. The appearance of the scar involves many factors, including each patient’s ability to heal. The scar will remodel itself, especially in the first three months but even up to one year after the procedure. So, be patient and allow your scar to heal well in the first few weeks. We have taken efforts to minimize your scar, including good alignment of the wound, using fine needles and threads, and adopting good suturing techniques. We may apply antibiotic ointment topically to help prevent infection. To have the best scar results, keep your wounds clean and dry and avoid sun exposure to the scar in the first six months to one year. If you do go in the sun, use high-SPF sunscreen. Ask your doctor for more details or their recommendations.

6. Can I exercise?

We ask you to limit vigorous exercise in the first two weeks after any incision. We also recommend limiting vigorous exercise for up to six weeks if you have had hernia surgery or a large midline incision. This is to decrease the risk of poor fascial healing, which puts you at risk for a postoperative hernia recurrence. However, walking is great exercise after any surgery and has no limits. Listen to your body and, if you feel pain, stop the exercise. Ask your doctor for more details or their recommendations.