Your doctor has performed a surgical excision. Your excision site may have been closed with sutures. Your doctor or one of his assistants will check your incision and change the dressing as needed. To ensure a well-healed wound, these instructions should be followed:

Wound Care

Keep the post-operative bandage (white-colored bandage) in place for 48 or 72 hours (please circle).

Keep the surgical site dry for time period noted above.

Remove the post-operative (white-colored bandage) and the Duoderm (skin-colored bandage) as noted above.

Showering is permitted after the bandages have been removed. Before showering, remove the pressure bandage as well as the Duoderm bandage and discard it in the trash. Follow the instructions below.

Daily Dressing Change

Wash your hands with soap and water prior to changing the dressing.

Clean the surgical site with gentle soap and water (NOT hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, or any other products) to remove any drainage and crusting.

Pat the wound dry and apply a generous layer of Mupirocin ointment / Gentamicin Ointment to the surgical site using a Q-Tip (avoid Neosporin, as it can cause skin reactions).

Cover the surgical site with a dressing.

Change this dressing two times per day until you return for suture removal.     

Avoid applying alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or any other substance to the wound, other than what is mentioned above.

Proper sun protection is vital. Avoid direct sunlight to the surgical site.

Prescription Medications
You may have been prescribed an oral and/or topical antibiotic to prevent any infection from forming. The oral antibiotic, namely ____________________________________will be taken _______ times per day for the next _______ days. The topical antibiotic, Bactroban (Mupirocin)/Gentamicin Ointment will be applied _______ times per day for the next _______ days. You can continue to take your current medication regimen.

NO SWIMMING NO EXERCISE NO GYM

NO BENDING NO LIFTING OVER 5 LBS

Swelling and Bruising
Bruising and swelling may occur. You may use cold compresses over the area which will help minimize any swelling. Ice and/or cold compresses should be applied for only fifteen (15) minutes at a time. If you had surgery on your hand, arm or leg, keep the surgical site elevated as much as possible. If you had surgery on your face, head or neck, it is recommended that you sleep with your head elevated on two pillows. If surgery was performed near or around the eyes, apply ice or cold compresses during the first forty-eight (48) hours to minimize swelling. Forehead, cheek, or eyelid repairs may result in black eye(s) and/or swelling around the eyes.

Bleeding
For mild bleeding, apply direct pressure over the dressing with clean gauze for 10-15 minutes. For moderate or severe bleeding, remove the pressure dressing and apply firm pressure directly over the wound with clean gauze for 15-20 minutes.

If the bleeding does not stop, call the office immediately at (561) 498-4407.

Infection
Infection is not common when the wound is properly cared for. If you have any of the following signs and/or symptoms, please contact the office: fever, increased pain, increased redness or swelling, yellow or green pus or foul smelling drainage oozing from the surgical site.

Pain or Discomfort
Most patients experience little to no pain after a surgery.  Should you experience pain, take TYLENOL only, not aspirin, Motrin, Advil, Aleve or ibuprofen. If you are taking a baby aspirin daily for therapeutic reasons, you may continue to take it as prescribed. If you are not able to take Tylenol, contact our office for a substitute pain medication. Do NOT consume alcohol for forty-eight (48) hours following the surgery.

Activity Level Following Surgery
Spend the day of the procedure as well as the following day relaxing and limiting physical activity. Avoid strenuous activity or exercise. Avoid bending below the waist for seventy-two (72) hours after surgery. Heavy lifting and exercise are not allowed until directed by Dr. Feinstein or one of his assistants.

Bathing
Do not submerge the surgical site in a bath. Do not get the pressure bandage (white-colored bandage) wet as directed. Following the seventy-two (72) hours, you can shower as normal. Pat the surgical area dry after leaving the shower and reapply the antibiotic and bandage if directed. Swimming in a pool or bathing in a hot tub is not allowed until after the sutures are removed.

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