Caring for your 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

• 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