Post-op wound care tips?

Angela Foster43 said:Apply either a fresh sterile gauze pad or some Steri-Strips, depending on how large the area is.
I suppose you could coat it in Betadine or spray it with Octenisept, though if the wound is minor and isn't showing signs of infection, there probably isn't much point in bothering.

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I actually picked up some large Band-Aids at the pharmacy—I'm pretty sure they're basically just gauze in the middle anyway. Everything seems fine for now, though, since the wound is pretty minor. If things start looking sketchy, I'll grab some ointment or a spray then.

I'm still heading to see the doctor tomorrow since she had an opening after all, so I'll see how they handle it. Thanks for the help, everyone.

Your primary care doctor will handle that for you for free through your insurance. Just go see them.
In the hospital, they usually just slap some iodine on it and wrap it in gauze, which sounds fine until the next time they have to change the dressing—then it’s pure agony when they try to peel that stuck-on gauze right off your skin. When I went back to my doctor after my own procedure, she actually put a moist dressing over the wound before applying the gauze, so there was zero issue with it sticking. It hurts like hell when they rip it off a fresh surgical site... I've dealt with that twice now, once after knee surgery and once after getting a toenail ripped out.

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My gauze actually just fell off on its own this morning—it wasn't even stuck or anything, there was barely anything left on it. I think it was just a tiny little incision. They were removing about 3mm of fatty tissue, so maybe that’s why it didn't hold as tight.

Anyway, I don't quite remember how things felt after they pulled my nails xD

I'm not really looking to cut corners here, though. My doctor's office feels like a crowded waiting room at a DMV, and I really don't want to waste two hours of my life just to have someone dab some liquids on a cotton ball and slap a new bandage on me—especially since I have another similar procedure scheduled in a week. I'd end up spending way too much unnecessary time there. I'd rather just figure out how to handle it myself, assuming the wound doesn't give me any trouble.

So, I’ve got a fresh wound from my second procedure. This one is a bit more complicated, I guess. They removed some fatty tissue from the scalp area and... okay, this part sounds weird, at least to me. They actually stitched a little "bow" made out of gauze directly over the wound. Like, they literally stitched a piece of gauze to my head :|

It’s pretty painful—though I honestly think it's more the stitches bothering me than the actual incision itself. Has anyone ever seen them do something like this before? It doesn't seem particularly smart to just leave it like this for seven days, crusting over with gauze attached.

Has anyone here dealt with an open wound following sepsis? It’s my abdomen, currently undergoing secondary intention healing. Right now, we’re looking at something roughly 8 inches long and 4 inches wide, with a depth of about half an inch. I’m out there every single day, redressing it with sterile gauze and saline. This whole ordeal has been dragging on for three and a half months already, and from what I can tell, I’ve got at least another two months of this ahead of me. Honestly, the wound is starting to get under my skin—literally and figuratively. I dealt with cellulitis along the way, which led to some significant drainage from the abdominal area. At this rate, I think I can officially cross liposuction off my bucket list for the foreseeable future. :/

Laura Ward98 said:Has anyone here dealt with an open wound following sepsis? It’s my abdomen, currently undergoing secondary intention healing. Right now, we’re looking at something roughly 8 inches long and 4 inches wide, with a depth of about half an inch. I’m out there every single day, redressing it with sterile gauze and saline. This whole ordeal has been dragging on for three and a half months already, and from what I can tell, I’ve got at least another two months of this ahead of me. Honestly, the wound is starting to get under my skin—literally and figuratively. I dealt with cellulitis along the way, which led to some significant drainage from the abdominal area. At this rate, I think I can officially cross liposuction off my bucket list for the foreseeable future. :/

Just saline? Is there any drainage or discharge coming from the wound?

Honestly, you just have to be patient with it. They really do start breaking down if you give them enough time—after about six months, those little bumps just completely vanished for me. Also, try sticking to cold showers whenever you can, it actually helps

Hi everyone, I couldn't seem to find an existing thread covering this particular situation, so I figured I'd just start a new one myself. To give you the backstory, I underwent a minor surgical procedure on my scalp today—specifically, a mole removal that my dermatologist strongly advised. To my absolute surprise, they only gave me three stitches and didn't apply any kind of bandage or adhesive patch over the site at all. They simply scheduled me to have the stitches removed in ten days, with a follow-up appointment set for about three weeks out. I was handed those standard post-op instruction sheets which tell me to rinse the area with saline solution three times a day and then apply a thin layer of Bivacyn ointment once it's dried. I would be incredibly grateful if anyone here could share their own experiences; is it actually normal or even safe to leave an open wound completely uncovered without a bandage? Also, I can't help but wonder if rinsing it three times daily is truly necessary, as my gut tells me that skin might actually heal faster if kept dry. Any suggestions, advice, or thoughts you could offer would mean the world to me.

bluemason92 said:Hi everyone, I couldn't seem to find an existing thread covering this particular situation, so I figured I'd just start a new one myself. To give you the backstory, I underwent a minor surgical procedure on my scalp today—specifically, a mole removal that my dermatologist strongly advised. To my absolute surprise, they only gave me three stitches and didn't apply any kind of bandage or adhesive patch over the site at all. They simply scheduled me to have the stitches removed in ten days, with a follow-up appointment set for about three weeks out. I was handed those standard post-op instruction sheets which tell me to rinse the area with saline solution three times a day and then apply a thin layer of Bivacyn ointment once it's dried. I would be incredibly grateful if anyone here could share their own experiences; is it actually normal or even safe to leave an open wound completely uncovered without a bandage? Also, I can't help but wonder if rinsing it three times daily is truly necessary, as my gut tells me that skin might actually heal faster if kept dry. Any suggestions, advice, or thoughts you could offer would mean the world to me.

If you can't get a straight answer at the ER, just head to the nearest pharmacy. They can usually help you out, sometimes even better than doctors can.

Greetings, I am seeking assistance, guidance, or any insight whatsoever regarding the healing of a purulent wound. Currently, the wound appears closed by a dry scab—essentially just dried blood—yet beneath this crust, pus continues to accumulate incessantly, a situation that has persisted for over a month now. Following the surgical removal of pins from my middle finger, which had been positioned around the uppermost joint, I completed a one-week course of two different antibiotics. The wound on the palmar side of my middle finger, just proximal to that top joint, failed to heal completely, and the process of extracting the pins caused further trauma to the site; since that moment, the suppuration has been constant. It is imperative to note that the wound extends deep into the finger toward the midpoint, meaning the tendon remains exposed without tissue coverage. Should the scab and the accumulated pus be removed, there would be a void measuring approximately 1cm².
Currently, I am utilizing an antiseptic solution to cleanse the area.
I am requesting advice from anyone who has endured similar finger injuries on how to properly manage this infected wound, which is currently masked by a dry scab on the dorsal side. I am turning to this community because the specialist provided no actionable advice when I inquired, and I am convinced that if proactive measures are not taken, the recovery process will remain stagnant indefinitely. I am looking for recommendations for a topical cream, an oil, or some other medicinal application to facilitate healing, all while I arrange a follow-up consultation with a specialist.

A friend of mine had an abscess burst—it was absolutely disgusting, just full of pus. She ended up at the ER, where they drained everything out, flushed the area, inserted a drainage tube, and put her on antibiotics. Once the swelling went down, she ended up needing two stitches.
I honestly think she might be left with a bit of a hole there.

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mellowskipper said:A friend of mine had an abscess burst—it was absolutely disgusting, just full of pus. She ended up at the ER, where they drained everything out, flushed the area, inserted a drainage tube, and put her on antibiotics. Once the swelling went down, she ended up needing two stitches.
I honestly think she might be left with a bit of a hole there.

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As for myself, I simply extract the pus manually by applying pressure to the dry scab using sterile gauze to force it out. My specialist offered zero guidance on this matter, despite my explicit mention that the site continues to fester constantly.

Please get to your primary care physician immediately. If there is pus, you absolutely need antibiotics; it won't clear up on its own without them.
Some strange specialist who failed to notice a wound that's clearly festering.

Don't take any chances—go to your doctor or head straight to the ER. An infected wound is a serious matter.