General and Gastrointestinal Surgery

Taking Care of the Incision

Your incisions are covered with Band-Aids. It is not uncommon for them to become saturated with blood during the first 24 hours. Do not become alarmed. Simply change the Band-Aids as needed.
You can take a shower 24-36 hours after surgery. Be sure to gently dry your incisions and replace the Band-Aids.
It is not necessary to keep your incisions covered after 2-3 days, but it will usually make you more comfortable.
Metal clips or sutures will be removed in the office, 7 to 10 days after surgery.
If you do not see metal clips or sutures, the sutures are in the skin itself and will dissolve. This occurs 3-4 weeks after surgery and may be associated with a little drainage from the incisions.
It is common for patients to notice some black and blue or maroon discoloration around the incisions. This represents a small amount of blood and is normal. It should not alarm you. It is also common for this to only become apparent 2-3 days after surgery as any blood in the tissues moves to the surface.
If your incision is red, hot and tender, you may have an infection. In that case call the office.
You received antibiotics in the operating room at the start of your surgery. You do not need them after surgery unless this was specifically discussed with you.
It is normal for the incisions and the hernia site to be hard and swollen following surgery. This is called a healing ridge and represents wound healing. It is not a hernia and will go away in eight to twelve weeks.
Do not tan your incision for one year after surgery as it will darken your scar.
Some people believe Vitamin A and Vitamin E applied to the incision help wound healing. These can be obtained at a nature food or drug store.