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Post-Surgery Wound Care Regimen

Skin surgery usually results in the placement of multiple sutures in various arrays. An important point of post-surgery wound care is the avoidance of stress on the surgery site by heaving lifting, stretching, or physical exertion. Such wound stress will result in stretching of the incision leaving a wider and more noticeable scar. While avoidance of such physical stress on the wound should be practiced for 2-4 weeks after surgery, avoidance of such activity for 6-8 weeks will ensure the best possible appearance of the surgical scar. An exception is a back incision, since they may stretch for years after the surgical procedure.

While a whitish or slightly dark scar is fully expected, the appearance of the scar can be minimalized with proper care of the wound. These biopsies require less care than shave biopsies since the suture keeps the wound closed. Place antibiotic ointment on the wound for 2-3 days with a bandage. After 2-3 days, no ointment or bandage is needed. Showering and washing the area may be done 24-36 hours after the procedure. Use clean, warm, soapy water gently over the wound. Do not use hydrogen peroxide on the wound. Any signs of excess pain, redness, smell, drainage, pus, fever, chills, or swelling around the site should be interpreted as a possible infection - alert your dermatologist immediately should these signs occur.

The suture(s) should be removed in 4-7 days if the biopsy is done on the face, and in 7-14 days if done on the body. In certain cases such as subcuticular sutures, sutures may stay in place for over 3 weeks. No wound care is needed after the suture(s) removal.

Don Mehrabi MD, FAAD
Dermatologist, Certified by the American Board of Dermatology
Los Angeles, California

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