VISITING someone who has just had surgery? Make no jokes, please.
The person shouldn't laugh, sneeze or cough. It will feel as if the surgical wound is about to split open.
Can it really happen? No, it won't. However, there are certain physical activities that could open up the wound. After any surgery, you will most certainly need to take care of the surgical incision as it heals.
Regardless of whether your doctor has used stitches, staples, tissue glue, or tape strips to close the surgical incision, you will need to keep the area clean, change the dressing and watch for signs of infection.
Doing so not only lowers the risk of infection, but it can also help you avoid pain and discomfort, and limits scarring.
The following are some tips for taking care of your surgical wounds:
1. Avoid friction and trauma to your incision.
Do not wear tight clothing against the incision. It is best to avoid movements that affect the area surrounding your wound. That way, you'll lower the risk of pulling the wound apart.
2. Keep your incision covered with clean and dry dressing.
Change the dressing according to your doctor's instructions.
3. Showering is preferable to bathing.
Soaking the wound will soften the tissue and can cause the wound to re-open. You can splash the wound but do not rub the wound area as this will cause pain and delay healing.
4. Some waterproof dressing can be left in place while you take a bath or shower.
Dressings that are not waterproof will need to be removed before taking a bath or shower.
5. Do not use skin cleansers, alcohol, peroxide, iodine, or soaps with antibacterial chemicals.
These can damage the wound tissue and slow down healing.
6. Pat the wound dry gently with a clean towel after bathing or showering. You may apply an antibacterial ointment to protect the incision from infection.
7. Avoid make-up
If the surgery was performed on your face, do not wear make-up over the scar until it has fully healed.
8. Eat right
Eat a balanced diet, high in protein, which keeps your skin strong and helps wounds heal.
9. If you smoke, quit.
Smoking is bad for blood flow and ultimately, skin healing.
10. All wounds leave a scar.
Scars are sensitive to the sun and can get darkened. For the first six months after your operation, keep scars covered or apply sunscreen. Lotions and skin softeners are also helpful to soften scars. Some scars fade over time but some do not.
WHEN TO GET HELP
Consult your doctor if you see the following changes:
• A wound that is more red, swollen or hot.
• A wound that has green or yellow discharge.
• A wound that smells bad.
• Bleeding that does not stop after applying pressure.
• Worsening pain.
• A feeling of hardness or fullness around the wound.
• An incision that opens.
• A fever over 37.8 degrees Celsius
*The writer is a consultant general surgeon at Columbia Asia Hospital Iskandar Puteri.
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