• Reference Number: HEY494/2025
• Departments: Plastic Surgery
• Last Updated: 31 July 2025

Introduction

This leaflet has been produced to give you general information about your discharge. Most of your questions should be answered by this leaflet. It is not intended to replace the discussion between you and your doctor, but may act as a starting point for discussion. If after reading it you have any concerns or require further explanation, please discuss this with a member of the healthcare team.

What is local anaesthetic?

Local anaesthetic means that only the area which has been operated upon is numb and that you remain awake during the procedure.

Will I need pain relief after a local anaesthetic?

When the local anaesthetic wears off, you may feel some soreness or discomfort. It is advisable to have a supply of mild pain relief medication at home, which should be used as directed on the packet if you have pain. DO NOT take aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen unless you are already taking them regularly.

What if I have stitches and/or dressings?

You may have stitches which do not need removing as they dissolve. If you have stitches that need to be removed, you will be advised to make an appointment with the practice nurse at your doctor’s surgery or you will be given an appointment to attend the Plastics Dressing Clinic.

You may have a dressing specific to your wound area, adhesive paper strips, an adherent dressing or no dressing. Please try to keep the dressing clean and dry until you are seen in the clinic. You will be advised on the type of dressing on the day of surgery.

You may be advised to go to your practice nurse at your doctor’s surgery for a wound review and removal of stitches or to attend the Plastic Surgery outpatient department. These details will be made clear on discharge.

What follow up care will I need?

If you require any follow up care you will be advised of these arrangements on discharge.

What special instructions should I follow?

(This space is left blank. If there are any follow up instructions, the nurse will write them in here when applicable).

Help and Advice

Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this leaflet, please do not hesitate to contact the any of the following:

Please contact the area where you had surgery in the first instance if the area is open

General Advice and Consent

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:

• you must be able to give your consent
• you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
• you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

Information about you

We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.