Caring for your surgical wound
Necessary material :
- Antibiotic ointment (Fucidin, Bactroban, Polysporin or sterile petroleum jelly can also do the trick);
- Sterilized salt water (1 cup boiled water – 250 ml – with 1 tsp salt). This water can be kept for 4-5 days at room temperature or 7 days in the refrigerator; some companies offer water spray which will have a similar effect (Laroche Posay™ or Avène™ thermal water);
- Cotton swabs (mounted swabs — “Q-tips”);
- If you want to cover the wound during the first week: Telfa™ and Micropore™ paper diachylon (3M) which does not contain glue, so you will not be allergic to this product even if you have already had allergies to conventional adhesive dressings .
Technique :
- Remove the dressing 24 hours after surgery;
- Clean the wound twice a day using cotton swabs moistened in salt water or thermal water;
- Salt water will soften, weaken and remove crusts of dried blood and other small debris on the wound (line of stitches);
- After the wound has been thoroughly cleaned, apply ointment with cotton swabs;
- This should be done 1-2 times a day for up to a week after the stitches have been removed;
- The wound will heal satisfactorily if left in the open air, covered with ointment only;
- However, if for cosmetic reasons you prefer to cover the wound, apply a small Telfa™ dressing and hold it in place with a Micropore™ adhesive dressing. You can also use standard adhesive bandages.
If pain:
- Take acetaminophen (eg, Tylenol®).
- Do not take Aspirin®, Entrophen®, Advil® or Motrin® for pain relief for 3 days after surgery.
- Avoid alcohol consumption for 2 days after surgery.
If you have had a skin graft (skin taken in front of the ear or on the shoulder):
- Keep the cotton ball that covers your wound moist and cover it with plenty of ointment after having moistened it with water, do this twice a day: a humid environment will prevent the graft from drying;
- In case of grafting, have the stitches removed 1 week after surgery, for the donor site, the stitches are removed 1 week after surgery (if the skin was taken in front of the ear) or 2 weeks (if the skin was taken taken on the shoulder);
- Once the stitches are removed, apply ointment to the wounds for 1 more week.
Use of the extra-thin Duoderm® dressing:
- Clean the wound with sterile salt water or thermal water;
- Apply the extra-thin Duoderm® dressing;
- Change the dressing 2 to 3 times a day for the first week due to oozing from the wound;
- Thereafter, once a day only.
- An ointment containing silicone promotes better healing. Ask Dr Alain’s team for more information.