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Caring for your Sutured Wounds

Exceptional Service – Every Patient, Every Time

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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.

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