Caring for a surgical wound is a critical part of your healing process and minimizes the risk of complications. Whether you’ve undergone a minor or major surgical procedure, understanding the essential steps for wound care is vital for a successful recovery. In this article, we will discuss some of the ins and outs on how to take care of your surgical wound.
1. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions:
If there are any questions about your wound ask Dr. Ball. It’s normal for the wound to hurt a little. It’s normal for the wound to turn a little red around the edges. Usually there is a little bruising. However, if you’re getting increasing pain or redness and swelling at the incision, or the wound starts draining something other than the normal postoperative seepage of blood, please call.
2. Practice hand hygiene before and after wound care:
Before touching your surgical wound, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Practicing proper hand hygiene helps prevent the introduction of harmful bacteria and reduces the risk of infection.
3. Keep your wound clean:
Keeping your surgical wound clean is essential. For the most part that means leaving the wound alone. If for whatever reason the wound does get dirty, it is okay to gently clean the wound using a mild cleanser or sterile saline solution. Avoid scrubbing the wound, as this can impede the healing process or even push soap, dirt or water into the wound causing an infection. Gently pat the wound dry with a clean, lint-free cloth. You can even gently blow dry the wound with a hair dryer, particularly if you have wet Steristrip bandages over the wound.
4. Dressing changes:
Change your dressing daily. Never leave a wet or dirty dressing on your wound but change it as soon as you can. Adhere to sterile techniques when changing the dressing to prevent contamination. Paint the wound with a little Betadine solution then use sterile gauze and tape that is gentle on your skin to cover the wound. Keep changing dressings daily until the dressing comes off clean and dry, usually at least 3 to 5 days after surgery. You can stop using the Betadine solution at the same time you stop using dressings.
5. Recognize signs of infection:
Monitor your surgical wound for signs of infection. Look out for increasing pain, redness, swelling, pus, warmth, or an unpleasant odor. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your doctor promptly. Timely identification and treatment of infections play a vital role in successful wound healing and recovery from surgery.
6. Keep your wound moist but not wet:
When your wound stops draining and you don’t need a dressing anymore, keeping the wound moist or humid, but not wet, will help the healing process and minimize scarring. There are fancy products for this but a petroleum jelly ointment (like Vaseline, or even better, povidine iodine ointment) works great too. Medical grade honey is another option. While keeping your wound clean, apply a thin layer of jelly or honey to the wound a couple of times a day being careful not to push any inside the wound. This will minimize scabbing and scarring.
7. Protect the wound:
Take precautions to protect your surgical wound from trauma or injury. Avoid activities that may strain or put pressure on the wound, and be cautious during your daily routines. Avoid sun exposure to the wound or use sunscreen as it can result in wound discoloration.
8. Showers and washing:
Do not soak or submerge your wound until it has completely closed. In other words, no hot tubs, swimming pools or baths. Showers are okay but leave the wound alone as best you can. Don’t scrub the wound or let the faucet spray directly into the wound. You don’t want to push any dirt or water onto the wound and cause an infection. After you finish gently pat the wound dry and if needed put a new dressing on. Sponge baths are an alternative if you want to be careful but this is usually not necessary.
9. Eat well:
Pay attention to good nutrition to promote wound healing.
Classically, your wound will go through 4 stages during the wound healing process: 1) Hemostasis – where the wound stops bleeding. 2) Inflammation – to remove debris. 3) Proliferation – where healthy cells fill in gaps. 4) Maturation – where the tissue develops and organizes. This whole process can take 1-2 years. The key part of the healing, however, is the first 3-4 weeks while the wound reepithelializes and forms an intact barrier again. Once you have a intact skin layer over the wound, the rest of the wound will heal up inside and the risk of wound related complications is significantly decreased.
Proper care of a surgical wound during this time is a key part of the healing process and minimizes the risk of complications. After about three weeks the wound is usually healed enough and you can treat it like normal skin again. But every wound is different, just like every person is different. Consult Doctor Ball for additional personalized advice and guidance based on your specific surgical wound care if needed.