Caring for your Skin Graft

• No strenuous activity for 48 hours.
• Resume moderate activity after 48 hours.
• No heavy exercising until you are seen for your follow up in one week.
• No aspirin or other over the counter products that contain aspirin and other blood thinners for 48 hours. Take Tylenol or aspirin free pain relievers as needed for discomfort.
• Continue taking all prescribed medication.
• No alcoholic beverages for 48 hours
• Leave the bandage in place until you come in for follow up in one week. If the bandage becomes blood tinged or loose, reinforce it with gauze and tape.
• Keep the bandage dry. Wash around it carefully.
• If the tape becomes soiled or starts to come off, reinforce it with additional paper tape.
• Do not smoke for 3 weeks; smoking is detrimental to wound healing and may cause the graft to die.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to extremely cold temperatures for 3 weeks.
• It is normal to have swelling and bruising around the surgical site. The bruising will fade in approximately 10-14 days.
• Elevate the area to reduce swelling.
• Numbness, itchiness and sensitivity to temperature changes can occur after surgery and may take up to 18 months to normalize.

Bleeding – If this occurs do the following:

• Leave the bandage in place.
• Use rolled up gauze or a clean cloth to apply direct pressure over the bandage for 20 minutes straight.
• Reapply pressure for an additional 20 minutes if necessary.
• Call the office or go to the nearest emergency room if pressure fails to stop the bleeding.
• Use additional gauze and tape to reinforce the bandage once the bleeding has stopped.

Pain

• Post operative pain should slowly get better, never worse.
• A severe increase in pain may indicate a problem. Call the office if this occurs

In case of emergency phone:
Shadyside Office 412-681-9480
South Hills Office 412-466-9400