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.