Discharge Instructions: Caring for Your Incision
You are going home with sutures (stitches) or surgical staples in place. Or you may have special strips of tape called Steri-Strips. One of these items was used to close your incision, help stop bleeding, and speed healing. Follow the tips on this sheet to help your incision heal.
Home Care
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Always wash your hands before touching your incision.
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Keep your incision clean and dry.
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Avoid doing things that could cause dirt or sweat to get on your incision.
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Don’t pick at scabs. They help protect the wound.
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Keep your incision out of water.
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Bathe or shower only as directed.
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To keep the incision dry when around water, cover it with a plastic bag or plastic wrap.
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Pat sutures dry if they get wet. Don’t rub.
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Leave the dressing (bandage) in place until you are told to remove it or change it. Change it only as directed, using clean hands.
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After the first 12 hours, change your dressing every 24 hours.
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Change your dressing if it gets wet or soiled.
Follow-Up
Make a follow-up appointment as directed by our staff.
When to Call Your Doctor
Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following:
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Increased pain, bleeding, redness, swelling, or foul-smelling discharge around the incision area
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Fever of 100.4°F or higher
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Shaking chills
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Vomiting or nausea that doesn’t go away
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Numbness, coldness, or tingling around the incision area
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Opening of the sutures or wound
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Date Last Reviewed:
1/1/2007
Date Last Modified:
12/7/2007