SUTURED WOUND CARE SUPPLIES YOU MAY NEED Have plain Vaseline or Aquaphor available unless another ointment was prescribed. You may also need large Band-Aids, gentle-skin bandages, or non-stick pads with gauze and paper or medical tape. FIRST 48 HOURS Keep the original pressure bandage clean, dry, and in place for 48 hours unless you were instructed otherwise. If it becomes wet, loose, or heavily soiled, replace it with a clean, dry dressing. A small amount of spotting or dried blood on the bandage is normal. Avoid strenuous activity, heavy lifting, bending, or anything that stretches or places pressure on the surgical site. AFTER 48 HOURS If Steri-Strips or butterfly closures are present, remove only the outer bandage. Leave the strips in place until they loosen and fall off naturally. Do not pull them off. No additional wound care is usually needed while the strips remain securely in place. If they fall off early, begin the wound-care instructions below. If there are no Steri-Strips, wash your hands and gently clean the incision twice daily with mild soap and water. Pat dry. Apply a generous layer of Vaseline, Aquaphor, or the ointment prescribed by your physician. Cover with a clean Band-Aid or non-stick dressing. Add gauze if there is drainage. Repeat twice daily until the sutures are removed. Keep the incision moist and covered, and do not allow a thick scab to form. SHOWERING AND WATER EXPOSURE You may shower after 48 hours unless instructed otherwise. Allow water to run gently over the incision, but do not scrub it or direct strong water pressure onto it. Avoid swimming pools, oceans, lakes, hot tubs, baths, and prolonged soaking until the wound has fully healed. ACTIVITY Avoid lifting more than 10 pounds, strenuous exercise, sports, stretching, pulling, or pressure on the surgical site for approximately 2–3 weeks or as directed by your physician. Even after sutures are removed, the incision remains weak for several weeks. Continue to avoid activities that place tension on the area. Smoking and nicotine can delay wound healing. Avoid smoking and nicotine products for at least two weeks after surgery whenever possible. WHAT TO EXPECT Mild tenderness, swelling, bruising, numbness, and small amounts of clear, pink, yellowish, or blood-tinged drainage may occur and should gradually improve. Pain is usually mild. You may take acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, as directed if you can safely use it. Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen for postoperative discomfort unless your physician has approved them. Do not stop medically necessary aspirin, blood thinners, or other prescribed medication without speaking with the clinician who manages that medication. Sutures are usually removed in approximately 9–14 days, depending on the location and type of repair. Follow the specific appointment instructions provided by our office. BLEEDING A small amount of bleeding or oozing is normal during the first 24–48 hours. If active bleeding occurs, place clean gauze directly over the incision and apply firm, continuous pressure for 20 minutes. Do not lift the gauze to check during that time. If bleeding continues, repeat firm pressure once more for another 20 minutes. Contact our office if bleeding persists or the dressing becomes rapidly saturated. SIGNS OF POSSIBLE INFECTION Contact our office promptly if you notice increasing redness, warmth, swelling, worsening pain, thick yellow or green drainage, pus, foul odor, fever, chills, opening of the incision, or a wound that appears to be worsening instead of gradually improving. SCAR CARE Scars may initially appear pink, firm, raised, or more noticeable than expected. They generally continue to soften and improve for up to 12 months. Once the incision has completely healed and your physician approves it, silicone scar gel or silicone sheets may be used. Gentle scar massage may usually begin approximately one month after surgery or as directed. Protect the scar from sun exposure with clothing or broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher. Sun exposure may cause a healing scar to remain darker or more noticeable. Cosmetic laser treatment may be considered after the wound has fully healed, when appropriate. CONTACT US Please contact Lincoln Road Dermatology at 305-397-8622 if you have questions or concerns about your healing. These are general wound-care instructions. Any individualized instructions given by your physician take priority.