Offered at our convenient location in Raleigh, NC
- Your incision has been closed with either sutures (stitches) or with a skin graft placed. If a skin graft was placed it is covered by a yellow bolster dressing. Any skin graft area should remain dry until the yellow dressing is removed by our office.
- If you have a steri-strip covering the surgical incision, you should begin washing the area gently with soap and water and then pat dry, 24 hours after surgery. We will remove the steri-strip at your follow up visit. If the steri-strip falls off, then cover with a Band-Aid for protection, if able to. Change the Band-Aid more often to maintain a dry environment. Remove the Band-Aid before showering to allow for washing to the area.
- Protect the area from any excessive rubbing or friction.
- Avoid direct sun exposure for minimum of a year following your procedure or keep covered with band-aid to prevent pigment change along incision site(s).
- Refrain from submersing the incision in standing water, like dishwater, swimming pools, tub bathing, or hot tubs until the sutures have been removed. Showering and washing the incision is fine as long as you do not have a yellow dressing covering a skin graft.
- Drainage from the wound can be experienced over the first few days after surgery as well as some swelling and bruising. Apply pressure to the wound for 10-15 minutes as needed for any excessive drainage.
- There will be swelling in the area treatment. This is normal. Swelling can persist for months. A cool compress can be applied for 15 minutes three times a day if you are concerned about the swelling.
- Extra strength Tylenol may be taken for any discomfort is helpful for pain control. Narcotic pain medication may have been prescribed for you but is not necessary to take. Ibuprofen or Aleve may be taken after 24 hours.
- If an antibiotic has been prescribed to you, take the full prescription until it is finished.
- If you have had liposuction or Renuvion skin tightening, you need to wear your garment 24hr/7days a week for a minimum of 2 weeks (liposuction patients need to wear for 6 weeks). After 2 weeks, you can wear the garment only at night.
- You may return to work 24 hours after surgery and may drive at that time as long as you are not taking any narcotic pain medication.
- You can expect the area treated to become hard and there may be possible bruising. The area will soften with time and the bruising will improve.
- Results vary but most often final results will not be known until at least 6 months to a year. Please try to be patient as things change.
- For any other questions, please contact the office. In case of emergency, contact Dr. Allen directly. (919) 676-5052.
*RESULTS MAY VARY