After certain surgeries, you may be given additional or special instructions for caring for your incision. Be sure to follow these instructions carefully. If you are unsure about any part of your care or have questions, call your doctor’s office for clarification. Also, if your pain increases or you notice any signs of infection, contact your doctor immediately.
Some redness and swelling around stitches is normal, and drainage can be expected in the first few days. If you notice any of the following, contact your healthcare provider.
Increasing redness or red streaks spreading from the incision site.
Noticeable swelling or puffiness around the incision that doesn’t improve.
The skin around the incision feels unusually warm to the touch.
Increasing or persistent pain, especially if it worsens over time.
Pus or unusual discharge, which may be yellow, green, or have a foul odour.
A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, indicating possible systemic infection.
The incision is not healing properly, or the wound edges aren’t coming together as expected.
The area around the incision feels hard or firm to the touch.
Feeling unusually tired or weak, which may be a sign of infection.
Avoiding these helps your incision heal and reduces the risk of complications.
Your surgeon’s instructions come first. If anything below conflicts with what your care team told you, follow them — they know your procedure. When you’re unsure, call rather than guess.
Taking the dressing off early exposes the incision to dirt and bacteria before the skin has closed.
Leave it in place for as long as your provider directed. If it comes loose or gets wet, change it using the supplies in your kit.
Products that weren’t prescribed can introduce bacteria or irritate healing tissue — including ones marketed for scars.
Use only what came in your kit. If the area itches or feels tight, tell your provider instead of treating it yourself.
These damage the new tissue your body is building, even though they feel like they’re cleaning the wound.
Use the sterile wound wash provided. Spray it over the incision — don’t scrub.
Baths, pools and hot tubs soften the closure and can carry bacteria into the wound.
Shower only once your provider has cleared you to, and pat the area dry rather than rubbing it.
Pulling anything off early reopens the incision and makes scarring worse.
Let adhesive strips and scabs come away on their own. Your provider will remove anything that needs removing.
UV light darkens healing scars, and the effect can last permanently.
Keep the incision covered. Once it’s fully healed, sunscreen over the scar for the first year helps it fade.
Tension across the incision can pull it open, sometimes days after it looked closed.
Stay inside the weight and activity limits you were given, even on days you feel fine.
Nicotine narrows blood vessels, so less oxygen reaches the wound. It measurably slows healing and raises infection risk.
Pausing while you heal helps. Ask your provider about support if quitting is something you want help with.
Noticing redness, swelling, warmth, discharge or a fever? That’s a different list — see the signs of infection above, and contact your provider.
Call us Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm at 1-888-754-0103. For questions about your wound or medication, contact your doctor.
