To speed the healing of your surgical wound and minimize scar formation and infection, follow these instructions:. If you experience increased redness, swelling, pain or drainage at the surgical site, call the office immediately as these could be signs of infection. Results should be available in 10 days.
If you have not received your results within 2 weeks, please call our office. East Valley Dermatology Center To speed the healing of your surgical wound and minimize scar formation and infection, follow these instructions: Keep wound dry and covered for 24 hours.
After 24 hours, remove the pressure portion of your dressing, but leave the steri-strips covering the wound in place until they fall off or become discolored. Generally speaking, you will want to leave the skin open to the air once the strip is removed. If there is visible oozing, you may need to apply a dressing. Call your healthcare provider if there is any oozing or discharge. Make sure to protect the area until it has fully healed, avoiding contact with lotions or clothing which could be irritating.
Continue to watch for any signs of infection. Rather than removing the strips, it is always an option to simply wait until the strips fall off on their own. In fact, many surgeons will recommend this.
Showering and the natural oils of your skin will allow the strips to peel off on their own, usually in about 2 weeks. If your surgeon recommends removing the Steri-Strips, it will usually be on or around the seventh day following the surgery. Even then, it is not necessary to remove the strips, especially if the scabbing around the Steri-Strips looks dense. Waiting will not cause any harm or change the outcome of the wound's appearance.
If the ends of the Steri-Strips begin to curl, simply trim the edges to keep them neat. If your Steri-Strips come off and the incision opens, see your healthcare provider right away.
Reclosing an opened incision can be challenging and, if not done correctly, may result in "second intention," a condition in which the open gap will fill in unevenly while healing and cause an unsightly scar. Worse yet, it can lead to an infection. If you experience any signs of infection , such as pain, swelling, redness, drainage, or a fever, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Your healthcare provider will likely suggest waiting 24 to 48 hours before getting the area wet. Afterwards, use mild soap to gently cleanse the area. Avoid rubbing the Steri-Strips. Carefully pat the area dry with a clean towel. Half of the Steri-Strip will go on one side of the wound.
The other half will go on the other side, pulling the skin together to close the cut. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.
Adv Biomed Res. Cleveland Clinic. Incision Care Procedure Details. Updated April 14, Postoperative wound dehiscence: Predictors and associations. Wound Repair Regen. Brunicardi FC, et al. How to apply. How to care for Steri-Strips. How to remove.
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