- Reference Number: HEY1202/2024
- Departments: Oral Surgery, Dentistry and Max Fax
- Last Updated: 30 April 2024
Introduction
This advice sheet has been produced to give you information about post-operative wound care following minor skin surgery. It is not meant to replace discussion between you and the healthcare team. If after reading it, you require further explanation please discuss this with the healthcare team.
Following you procedure, the team will discuss with you how to look after the wound.
The first 24 to 48 hours
When the anaesthetic wears off it is common to feel some discomfort or soreness. This usually responds to simple pain relief medication such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. The team will discuss appropriate pain relief medication for you. You should avoid aspirin, unless this is something you already take regularly for another condition.
We recommend relaxing and taking things easy for the day. Any vigorous exercise or heavy lifting can raise your blood pressure and encourage bleeding. For this reason you should also avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours.
It is normal to see some blood staining on the dressing or around the stitches. If there is any active bleeding, sit down, press firmly onto the wound with either a clean handkerchief or tea towel, or with the gauze you have been provided with. You should apply constant pressure for 20 mins before checking if bleeding as stopped. If you have any concerns, please use the contact numbers at the end of this leaflet to seek advice.
What else to expect
Bruising and swelling is normal and can take a few days to fully develop. This will be slightly different for each patient and depends partly on where the lesion has been removed from. The bruising can take up to 2 weeks to fully settle.
Please keep the wound dry for at least 48 hours. If you wish to bath or shower after this, do not soak the area under water for a long period. Gently pat the area dry and re-apply any dressing or ointment you have been given.
The stitch line/scar will look red at first. In time this will fade though can take several months. Scars often fade in with the natural creases of the skin over time. There may be some numbness or altered sensation over the wound. This can take many months to recover, or sometimes there can be some altered sensation to the skin in the long term.
Is there anything I need to do?
We ask you to keep the area clean and dry as far as possible. Often, you will be given an ointment to rub over the stitches, and we ask you to do this twice a day.
This helps to prevent infection and makes it easier to remove the stitches.
We do not routinely prescribe medication; however, if you have been prescribed any other medication, such as antibiotics, by the surgeon, the reasons will be explained to you.
Often the stitches or dressings need to be removed in 7 to 14 days. The team will tell you when the best timing is in your case. If appropriate an appointment will be made for you to return to the department for this, or you may be able to have this done at your own doctor’s practice.
Signs of infection to look out for
Infection is uncommon. However, signs to look out for include the wound becoming more hot and red. There may be increased pain and swelling, and you may see some crusting or leaking from the wound. You may feel generally unwell, or hot and sweaty. If this happens, please contact us on the numbers below, or you own doctor.
Some of information included in this advice sheet has been provided by the https://www.baoms.org.uk/patients/procedures/
Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this advice sheet, please do not hesitate to contact the Maxillofacial Unit on tel: 01482 463218.
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.
