Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIncision CleaningInspectionBracingPreventing Injury
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Incision Cleaning
Inspection
Bracing
Preventing Injury
Surgical incisionsrequire daily care in order to heal quickly and completely without becoming infected. Closed surgical incisions require the same care whether they are closed withsutures, staples,steri-strips, or surgical glue. Open incisions, or incisions that are left open for the surgeon to close at a later time, require very different care from the standard closed incision.
This article discusses tips on how to take care of your incision after surgery, including how to protect, inspect, and clean your wound.
Cleaning Your Surgical Incision
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Good handwashing technique, using warm water and soap, should take no less than 30 seconds. A quick wash under the water is not adequate to protect your wound frominfection.
Hand washing should be done before touching your incision, before changing the dressing on your incision if you have one, after using the restroom, and before showering.
If you have had surgery and your incision is still healing, plan on showering at least once a day if you are able. A shower is an ideal way toclean your incisionand remove soap residue without softening the incision to the point of weakness.
An unscented mild soap is best for someone healing from surgery to help prevent infection.Liquid soap may be easier to use, as it can be easily applied without a washcloth. Be sure to rinse your incision well to make sure no soap residue remains after showering.
Applying a small amount of soap and rinsing it well should be adequate. Take care not to scrub the incision, which mayremove scabs, slow healing, and irritate the incision.
While it is safe to take a regular shower, it is important not to allow the incision to be wet for so long that it puckers and softens (how your fingers look after a long bath or a swim).
Be GentleIf your wound was closed with steri-strips or surgical glue, do not scrub or use a washcloth on it. They may appear dirty, which is normal, but they should be allowed to remain in place until they fall off on their own. Scrubbing can cause them to fall off, leaving yourincision vulnerable to openingwhen it should be closing.
Be Gentle
If your wound was closed with steri-strips or surgical glue, do not scrub or use a washcloth on it. They may appear dirty, which is normal, but they should be allowed to remain in place until they fall off on their own. Scrubbing can cause them to fall off, leaving yourincision vulnerable to openingwhen it should be closing.
When you are finished with your shower, gently pat your incision and allow it to air dry completely before covering with a bandage or clothing.A wet incision is a breeding ground for bacteria and can also lead to softening of the skin which decreases its strength.
If you cannot shower, it is best to take a “sponge bath” rather thanbathefor the first few weeks if you cannot bathe without soaking your incision for an extended time.
Whether you are standing in the shower or taking a sponge bath, the daily bath is meant to decrease the chances of infection due to bacteria that live on your skin. Cleanliness is key to preventing infection.
Inspecting Your Surgical Incision
Plan to inspect your incision daily until it closes completely and your surgeon indicates that you have finished healing from your surgery. When you finish with your shower, take the time to pat your incision dry or allow it to air dry.
Some redness along the incision line is normal and should diminish as the incision heals. Increasing redness, especially if the incision feels warm, can indicate the beginnings of an infection. While some redness is normal, the key here is whether the redness is worsening instead of improving and if the skin is hot.
Drainage from the woundmay also indicate an infection. In the first few days after surgery, there may be a very small amount of clear fluid that leaks from the incision, but bloody, green/yellow, chunky, thick, or whitepusor drainage usually indicates infection and should be reported to your surgeon.
A healthy incision will be well-approximated, meaning that the edges meet neatly and closely. Gaps in your incision should be reported to your surgeon as they can grow and become a serious complication if ignored.
How to Brace Your Surgical Incision
Incisions, especially abdominal incisions, cause a weakness in the skin. While acough, sneeze, lifting objects, and “bearing down” to have a bowel movement are normal activities, they can cause problems. To prevent your incision from opening, a serious medical problem known asdehiscence, it is important to brace your incision.
In the first weeks after surgery, hold a pillow gently but firmly over your incision when you sneeze, cough, or vomit.This will help prevent pain and strengthen the incision temporarily to avoid tearing your stitches and having your incision gape open.
Preventing Injury to Your Incision
Part of good incision care is preventing an injury to your incision. Here are three ways to avoid hurting your surgical wound:
Summary
Taking proper care of your incision after surgery is essential for preventing infection and other complications. Washing your hands and cleaning your surgical wound regularly may be the most important thing you can do during your surgical recovery to prevent infection and to make sure your recovery is brief.
During the healing process, it’s also important that you keep your incision protected and regularly inspect it for signs of infection or bleeding.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Surgical wound care - open.U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Surgical wound care - closed.Wound Care Centers.Dehisced wounds.American Academy of Family Physicians.Caring for your incision after surgery.Additional ReadingPost-op Instructions: Taking Care of Yourself After Your Operation. National Institutes of Health.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Surgical wound care - open.U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Surgical wound care - closed.Wound Care Centers.Dehisced wounds.American Academy of Family Physicians.Caring for your incision after surgery.Additional ReadingPost-op Instructions: Taking Care of Yourself After Your Operation. National Institutes of Health.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Surgical wound care - open.U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Surgical wound care - closed.Wound Care Centers.Dehisced wounds.American Academy of Family Physicians.Caring for your incision after surgery.
MedlinePlus.Surgical wound care - open.
U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Surgical wound care - closed.
Wound Care Centers.Dehisced wounds.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Caring for your incision after surgery.
Post-op Instructions: Taking Care of Yourself After Your Operation. National Institutes of Health.
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