Dermatology Post-Operative Care

Dermatology Post-Operative Care

Patient Information

Dermatology

• Author ID:           AF 
• Leaflet Ref:         Derm 068 
• Version:              4
• Leaflet title:         Dermatology, Post-Operative Care
• Date Produced:   April 2024 
• Expiry Date:        April 2026

Things that MAY occur approximately 1 to 2 hours after having a local anaesthetic:

Your wound may become uncomfortable or painful however this should not be excessive. You may take Paracetamol if required (no more than 8 in 24 hours and only if you have no allergy to this product). Do not take Ibuprofen or Aspirin unless prescribed by a doctor as this can make any bleeding worse.

Your wound may start to bleed or ooze slightly, enough to stain your dressing. If you notice this, apply constant pressure by pressing firmly on top of the wound/dressing. Apply pressure for 15 to 30 minutes. Do not keep removing the pressure to check if the bleeding has stopped.

Applying pressure should stop the bleeding. If it does not, and the wound continues to bleed and you are worried that the bleeding is excessive, you may need to seek medical advice via your own General Practitioner (GP), on call service or walk in centre.

If there is a small amount of blood on the dressing it is fine to leave it in place. If the dressing is saturated or completely covered with blood, you should replace it with a new dressing. 
Keep the dressing completely dry for 48 hours, longer if possible.

Dressings only NEED to be changed if:

•    they are lifting away from the skin and allowing water or dirt to get underneath
•    if they become saturated with blood, sweat or water 
•    if instructed to do so by the Nurse or Doctor

If your dressing remains clean, dry, and intact, the same dressing may be left in place until the stitches (if you have any) are removed, or until the date the Nurse has told you to remove it.

If you run out of dressings supplied by the hospital, any sterile dressing available from your chemist should be suitable.

If the wound becomes red, inflamed, or painful in the weeks following surgery it may be infected and you need to seek medical advice from your GP or walk in centre.

If you have stitches, please do not forget to contact the District Nurses treatment room to make an appointment to have these removed. We would advise you to do this in the first 24 hours after your surgery to ensure that they have an appointment free.

The contact details for the District Nurses, along with the date on which the stitches will need removing will be given to you on a separate form.