Skin Surgery Post-Operative Care

Skin Surgery Post-Operative Care

DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY

Skin surgery Post-Operative Care Information Sheet

Your skin surgery has now been completed. This leaflet provides you with some
important information regarding your post-operative care which will help to promote
optimal wound healing.

Immediately after the Procedure

The site of surgery will remain numb for anything from a few minutes to a few hours.
If the surgery was on your face the muscles nearby may not work properly for a
short time due to the effects of local anaesthetic which will wear off. Beware of hot
food and drinks if the surgery was near your mouth and your lip feels numb. As your
sensation returns you may experience some discomfort and it is therefore advisable
to take simple painkillers such as paracetamol when you get home.

You should relax and rest for 48 hours, following your skin surgery. Refrain from any
excessive exercise or heavy lifting for as many days as you are advised.

You should avoid alcohol for 24 hours. Smoking impairs wound healing and should
be avoided for a minimum of 5 days.

The Dressing

There may be a dressing over the wound. The dressing is designed to apply gentle
pressure to the wound, therefore reducing the risk of bleeding.

Wound Care

You need to keep the stitches dry for as many days as you are advised. If there is a dressing over the
wound, also leave in place for as many days as advised before changing the dressing.

You will be told how many days after your skin surgery to gently wash and dry the wound, remove any steri-strips which are still in place and apply Vaseline (100% pure petroleum jelly) from a
Brand New Pot (this is to reduce the risk of wound contamination or wound
infection) to the wound/ stitches for one month.

Stitch Removal

You will be told on when this will be.

Results

The skin that has been removed will be analysed by our pathologists.

For results, the timing can vary but please allow 6 weeks from your surgery date.

General Advice

It is important to try and avoid stretching of your wound, particularly during the first
few weeks post-surgery whilst the scar is maturing. A degree of long-lasting
numbness immediately along the scar-line is a common consequence of surgery
resulting from injury to the superficial nerves present in the skin. If the surgery was
on your forehead, the numbness may extend up towards your scalp.

Problems after skin surgery are not common but sometimes can occur.

If the dressing becomes heavily soaked with blood, or the wound becomes
unexpectedly swollen or uncomfortable, there may be a problem with bleeding. This
generally occurs within the first few hours post-surgery.

If the wound becomes unexpectedly sore, reddened, weepy or crusted there may be
a problem with infection. This generally occurs several days after surgery. It should
be remembered that there will be a mild degree of redness and scabbing along the
scar line is quite normal.

Please contact your practice nurse at your GP Surgery or if Out of hours:
please contact the GP out of hours’ service or your local minor injuries unit at
the local hospital or your local A&E department for wound care advice or
concerns.

If your symptoms or condition worsens, or if you are concerned about anything,
please call your GP, 111, or 999.

Patient Experience

We know that being admitted to hospital can be a difficult and unsettling time for you
and your loved ones. If you have any questions or concerns, please do speak with a
member of staff on the ward or in the relevant department who will do their best to
answer your questions and reassure you.

Feedback

Feedback is really important and useful to us – it can tell us where we are working well
and where improvements can be made. There are lots of ways you can share your
experience with us including completing our Friends and Family Test – cards are
available and can be posted on all wards, departments and clinics at our hospitals. We
value your comments and feedback and thank you for taking the time to share this with
us.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

If you have any concerns or questions about your care, we advise you to talk with the
nurse in charge or the department manager in the first instance as they are best
placed to answer any questions or resolve concerns quickly. If the relevant member of
staff is unable to help resolve your concern, you can contact the PALS Team. We offer
informal help, advice or support about any aspect of hospital services & experiences.

Our PALS team will liaise with the various departments in our hospitals on your behalf,
if you feel unable to do so, to resolve your problems and where appropriate refer to
outside help.

If you are still unhappy you can contact the Complaints Department, who can
investigate your concerns. You can make a complaint orally, electronically or in writing
and we can advise and guide you through the complaints procedure.

How to contact PALS:

Telephone Patient Services: 0300 123 1732 or via email at: [email protected]

Opening times:

The PALS telephone lines are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.00pm. Please
be aware that you may need to leave a voicemail message, but we aim to return your
call within one working day.

If you are unable to understand this leaflet, please communicate with a member of
staff.

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