Caring for Your Wounds
Most of Dr Lourensz's operations are done by keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery, so the wounds are small and usually heal well. The written instructions you receive when you leave hospital take priority over this general guide.
Preparing for Surgery · Before and After Surgery
Dressings
- Your wounds are usually closed with dissolving stitches under the skin or skin glue, and covered with waterproof dressings.
- Leave the dressings on for as long as your discharge instructions say, usually about a week, unless they become loose, soaked or dirty. If that happens, replace them with a clean dressing from the pharmacy.
- You can shower with waterproof dressings on. Pat the area dry afterwards.
- Avoid baths, swimming pools and spas until your wounds have fully healed, usually about two weeks.
Stitches and Clips
Dissolving stitches don't need to be removed. If you have stitches or clips that need removing, your discharge instructions will say when, and your GP can usually do this.
What Is Normal
- mild bruising and swelling around the wounds
- a small amount of ooze in the first day or two
- numbness around a wound, which can take months to settle
- a firm ridge under a scar, which softens over the following weeks
- shoulder tip pain for a day or two after keyhole surgery, from the gas used during the operation
When to Call Us
Call the rooms, or the hospital after hours, if you have:
- redness spreading around a wound
- increasing pain, swelling or warmth
- pus or a smelly discharge
- a wound that opens up
- a temperature over 38°C or chills
If you are seriously unwell, call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department.
Looking After Your Scars
Once your wounds have healed, protecting the scars from the sun for the first year helps them fade.
Reviewed by Dr Kaleb Lourensz