Caring for your Sutured Wounds
Exceptional Service – Every Patient, Every Time
Zitelli & Brodland
Sutured Wounds
- No strenuous activity for 48 hours
- 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.
- Do not drink alcoholic beverages for 48 hours.
- Keep the pressure bandage in place for 24 hours. If the bandage becomes blood tinged or loose, reinforce it with gauze and tape.
- Remove bandage in 24 hours.
- Leave the flat bandage in place until your follow-up appointment.
- 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.
- If 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 & pain
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS
Bleeding
- Leave the bandage in place
- Use rolled up gauze or a clean cloth to apply direct pressure over the bandage for 20 minutes.
- 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 bandage once the bleeding 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
Contact Us Today
Please call us at Shadyside 412-681-9400 or Jefferson 412-466-9400.