How do I care for an incision after surgery?
Your healthcare provider will give you specific instructions to follow after surgery to care for your incisions, which may include:
- Alwayswashing your hands before and after touching your incisions.
- Inspecting your incisions and wounds every day for signs of infection like swelling, pus or color changes.
- Looking for bleeding. If your incisions start to bleed, apply direct and constant pressure to the incisions. If you experience any unexpected bleeding, you should call your healthcare provider for instructions.
- Avoiding wearing tight clothing that might rub on your incisions.
- Avoiding participating in activities that can interfere with healing, like running or strength training and some household chores that involve twisting, bending or lifting.
- Avoiding scratching your wounds. Your incisions might feel itchy as they heal — this is normal. If the itchiness gets worse instead of better after a few days, call your healthcare provider.
How do I bathe with surgical incisions?
If you have a surgical wound, your healthcare provider may give you specific instructions about how to bathe and not irritate your incisions. These may include:
- Staples and Stitches (Sutures): You can wash or shower 24 hours after surgery unless directed otherwise by your healthcare provider. Clean the area with mild soap and water and gently pat dry with a clean cloth.
- Steri-Strips: You can wash or shower with Steri-Strips in place. Clean the area with mild soap and water and gently pat dry with a clean towel or cloth. Don’t pull, tug or rub Steri-Strips.
- Tissue adhesive (glue): Keep the adhesive dry for the first five days. While the glue is waterproof, cover the area while bathing until five days are up, then you can bathe normally. Avoid soaking your surgical site in water; showers are the best method to wash. Pat the wound dry if it gets wet.
How do I change a wound dressing?
Your healthcare provider will give you detailed instructions and will usually show you how to change your dressing. If you have any questions, call your provider.
Wound dressing supplies
There are a few basic supplies you’ll need to change a dressing. These supplies include:
- Gauze pads.
- Disposable medical gloves (optional).
- Surgical tape.
- Scissors.
- Paper towels or a clean cloth.
Steps to change a wound dressing
There are several steps involved in changing the dressing for your incision.
Step 1: Prepare an area to change a dressing.
First, clean a surface, like a table or counter, to work on. If you have pets, move them to a different room during this process and remove any jewelry you’re wearing. After washing the surface where you’ll store your supplies with soap and water (and/or sanitizing wipes), cover that surface with a clean cloth or paper towel.
Step 2: Remove the old dressing.
Gently remove the old dressing from your skin as instructed by your healthcare provider.
Step 3: Clean and rinse the incision.
You need to clean and rinse your incision site with a gentle (unscented) soap and water. If you take a shower, you can clean the incision during the shower. You can apply the dressing after your shower. If you aren’t showering, you should clean the incision as instructed by your healthcare provider.
Always inspect your incisions for signs of infection, like swelling or color changes to your skin.
Step 4: Apply a new dressing.
To apply a new dressing, follow these steps:
- If your surgeon prescribed a topical ointment, apply a very thin layer of the ointment to the incision.
- Hold a clean, sterile gauze pad by a corner and place it over the incisions
- Tape all four sides of the gauze pad to your skin.
- Wash your hands with soap and water again.
How do I apply a butterfly bandage?
A butterfly bandage, Steri-Strip or a butterfly closure, is an adhesive bandage that has two long and wide ends connected by a thin center. This type of bandage treats small and shallow cuts in an area of your skin that doesn’t move around a lot.
To apply a butterfly bandage, follow these steps:
- Wash your hands with soap and water then clean the wound and your skin around it.
- Open the butterfly bandage.
- Pinch the skin of your cut together by sticking half of the bandage on one side of the cut. The thin part of the bandage should rest over the cut. Then, stick the other side of the bandage on your skin on the opposite side of the cut. You may need to apply more than one butterfly bandage to your cut depending on its size.
- Keep the area clean and dry until your skin heals.
If you have a large cut or a cut on your skin that continues bleeding after you place a bandage on your skin, contact a healthcare provider.
FAQs
The original dressing should be left in place for at least two days (48 hours) (or as advised by the nurse / doctor), provided that the wound is not oozing. The wound must be kept dry. If the dressing becomes wet from blood or any other liquid it must be changed.
What is the fastest way to heal a surgical incision? ›
Six ways to speed up the healing process after surgery
- Give your body proper healing energy. ...
- Get out of bed. ...
- Remember to hydrate. ...
- Grant yourself permission to rest. ...
- Get proper wound care. ...
- Follow instructions. ...
- An approach to healing.
The original dressing should be left in place for at least two days (48 hours) (or as advised by the nurse / doctor), provided that the wound is not oozing. The wound must be kept dry. If the dressing becomes wet from blood or any other liquid it must be changed.
Can you put anything on a healing incision? ›
Don't use skin cleansers, antibacterial soaps, alcohol, iodine, or peroxide. They can damage the skin in the wound and delay healing. Also, don't put on any lotion, cream, or herbal product unless you've checked with your doctor first. Your doctor will tell you how to wash out your wound.
Do wounds heal faster, covered or uncovered? ›
Wounds need to be covered so that they can heal properly. When a wound is left uncovered, the new surface cells that are being created can easily dry out. When these important cells dry out, it tends to slow down the healing process. A wound should be covered using a clean bandage.
Do surgical incisions heal better covered or uncovered? ›
It's best to keep fresh wounds covered for healing, but remember to first clean the wound with water, then apply Bacitraycin Plus antibiotic ointment, and leave the covering somewhat loose. A bandage that is wrapped too-tight can cut off circulation.
How do you know if an incision is healing properly? ›
Sign of healing include:
- Clotting blood at the wound.
- Scabbing.
- Swelling.
- Scarring.
Change the bandage as your doctor recommends. If you didn't get instructions from your doctor, gently wash the area daily with warm water, and pat it dry. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol.
Is it bad to keep a wound covered for too long? ›
A handful of studies have found that when wounds are kept moist and covered, blood vessels regenerate faster and the number of cells that cause inflammation drop more rapidly than they do in wounds allowed to air out. It is best to keep a wound moist and covered for at least five days.
What are the 5 rules of wound dressing? ›
What are the 5 Rules of Wound Care?
- Wound Care Rule #1: Keep The Wound Clean. ...
- Wound Care Rule #2: Use Clean, Appropriate Dressings. ...
- Wound Care Rule #3: Change Your Dressings Regularly. ...
- Wound Care Rule #4: Follow Instructions for Antibiotics or Topicals. ...
- Wound Care Rule #5: Find Wound Care Guidance.
To help the injured skin heal, use petroleum jelly to keep the wound moist. Petroleum jelly prevents the wound from drying out and forming a scab; wounds with scabs take longer to heal. This will also help prevent a scar from getting too large, deep or itchy.
What is the best thing to put on an incision? ›
If your surgeon prescribed a topical ointment, apply a very thin layer of the ointment to the incision. Hold a clean, sterile gauze pad by a corner and place it over the incisions. Tape all four sides of the gauze pad to your skin. Wash your hands with soap and water again.
What is the best cream to put on an incision after surgery? ›
A layer of polysporin or bacitracin ointment must be kept over the sutures until they are removed. You may leave the incision site covered or uncovered during the day it is your preference, however, we do recommend that a layer of the antibiotic ointment be kept over the sutures at all times.
When should you stop putting vaseline on a wound? ›
Continue applying the petroleum jelly until the wound has fully healed. Open wounds heal more slowly. A large wound can take 4 weeks or more to heal. A dressing (e.g. a plaster or gauze & tape) can be applied to protect the wound and keep it clean.
When should you not cover a wound? ›
Leaving a wound uncovered helps it stay dry and helps it heal. If the wound isn't in an area that will get dirty or be rubbed by clothing, you don't have to cover it.
Should I cover my stitches at night? ›
Should you keep stitches covered? You'll likely leave the hospital or your provider's office with your stitches already covered, and Dr. Yaakovian recommends leaving them dressed for two to three days. During this time, avoid getting the covering wet.
What speeds up wound healing? ›
Your body needs good food to fuel the healing process. Include foods rich in vitamin C in your diet. The body needs vitamin C to make collagen. Fresh fruits and vegetables eaten daily will also supply your body with other nutrients essential to wound healing such as vitamin A, copper and zinc.
When should you stop putting Vaseline on a wound? ›
Continue applying the petroleum jelly until the wound has fully healed. Open wounds heal more slowly. A large wound can take 4 weeks or more to heal. A dressing (e.g. a plaster or gauze & tape) can be applied to protect the wound and keep it clean.
How long should you put Vaseline on an incision? ›
Following Mohs surgery, it is highly recommended that you use a thin film of Vaseline on the wound site 3-4 times daily for up to three weeks. This not only helps reduce pain, but also the chances of infection and dehydration, as well as improves the rate at which your skin regenerates cells.
What is the best thing to put on a surgical wound? ›
Fill a syringe with salt water or soapy water, whichever your doctor recommends. Hold the syringe 1 to 6 inches (2.5 to 15 centimeters) away from the wound. Spray hard enough into the wound to wash away drainage and discharge. Use a clean soft, dry cloth or piece of gauze to carefully pat the wound dry.
