Surgery
SURGERY AFTER CARE
After you have had your surgery you will have a few sutures in place. Please keep it dry for 24 hours and then shower as normal. Your sutures will usually be removed in 7 days except if we tell you otherwise. Please return to our practice for your suture removal unless we arrange with you to visit your GP.
Tips to reduce wound bleeding
Bleeding after surgery is unlikely but may happen. In case of bleeding apply an ice pack or pressure pad until the bleeding has stopped. Please rest and elevate the affected area. Apply firm pressure and ice pack for 15 – 20 minutes. For excessive bleeding please contact us.
Pain Relief
You will experience some discomfort when local anaesthetic starts to wear off so we encourage you take some pain relief before you feel any discomfort. We suggest Paracetamol if no allergies to this. Avoid Aspirin/Nurofen as it may cause bleeding.
How to care for your wound while it heals
Recipe for salt water: Fill a mug with boiling water and add a ¼ of a teaspoon of salt and dissolve. Leave to cool down to tepid and divide in half. Use half in the morning and half at night. Make a clean batch each day.
- Wash your hands with soap and water before touching the wound site.
- Wash the wound site with salt water. If the wound site is on your scalp, use shampoo.
- Rinse the site well.
- Pat the site dry with a clean towel.
- Cover the site with a small dressing as needed to protect from trauma.
- Continue care until stitches are removed.
- For shave biopsies that don’t require stitches, apply a light smear of vaseline or pawpaw ointment every second day to prevent wound scabbing.
Signs of infection
The biggest risk is the risk of infection. In order to minimise this risk, you will need to take certain precautions as discussed under care for the wound site. Signs of infection are:
- Inflammation at the site
- Skin turning red and puffy
- Pain
- Excessive bleeding
- Any discharge from the site of the wound
- Fever and chills
- Any unusual odour
Any of these symptoms may be cause for concern and should be reported immediately to us. Please give us a call or come in and show us.
Healing
Initial healing will be completed by the time you have your sutures removed. Full healing of the wound can take several weeks, but is usually complete within two months. Wounds on legs and feet tend to heal slower than those on other areas of the body. Healing may be delayed if you are a diabetic or suffer from other chronic conditions.
Please do not hesitate to call if you have any concerns.
