How Should You Care for Your Wound Post Procedure and What Are the Signs of Infection?
You may have undergone a minor surgical procedure in the Altruderm clinic such as lipoma removal, cyst removal, dermatofibroma removal or another minor skin surgery. Or, perhaps you are thinking about undergoing a procedure but would like more information on what to expect post-procedure.
We are here to answer your questions and offer advice at each stage of the process. Be assured, that before you leave the clinic, after your procedure, the doctor will discuss with you how best to look after your wound. You will also be sent a wound care information leaflet by email to read at home.
Here, we identity the main points to consider when looking after your wound at home:
- Typically, we advise that the wound should remain covered for 48 hours. Use the dressing that is on the wound. If this becomes dirty or wet, change to one of the dressings provided in your post procedure pack.
- Refrain from getting the area wet. By keeping the area dry for 48 hours you will give the wound the best chance for healing, otherwise the skin can become soft and the wound can open up.
- After 48 hours, you are encouraged to wash the wound but very gently with pat wash and pat dry, taking care not to disrupt any sutures.
- The wound is typically left without a dressing at this stage to encourage healing.
- You may be advised to use silicone gel on the wound daily to keep it hydrated and give you the best cosmetic outcome.
- It is important to keep scars protected from the sun to prevent discolouration and you will be given advice of how to do this, such as how and when to apply sunscreen.
Although the wound area is usually small following a minor procedure, it is still important to look out for the signs of infection and to contact the clinic if you have any concerns.
Surgical site infections usually happen any time from one to two days post procedure to two to three weeks after the procedure.
So, what are signs of infection you should be aware of:
- Your wound is hot, red, swollen and/or tender to the touch
- Your wound has pus oozing from it (usually yellow or green)
- Your wound has opened
- You feel feverish with a high temperature
If you notice these symptoms it is important to contact the clinic, or the out of hours number you have been given, as soon as possible. You may require to be treated with antibiotics.
At the Altruderm clinic we are only a phone call or email away and will always be happy to answer any of your post procedure questions.
Contact us today on 0141 370 6201 or enquiries@altruderm.co.uk