How Do You Care For A Surgical Incision?
You’re home from the hospital, all stitched up after your surgery. You got all your instructions from your doctor about medications, but you forgot to ask how to care for this unsightly bandage and what lies beneath it. Keep the bandage on for at least the first few days. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, most surgical wounds don’t need to be covered for more than a few days after the initial procedure, but you may opt to keep a bandage on to protect the cut. Change your wound covering if blood starts seeping through it. Apply pressure to the wound for a few minutes to try and stop bleeding. When bleeding is under control, replace the covering with another bandage or sterile gauze and tape. If the wound continues to bleed, call your doctor. Stay dry. Your bandage should remain dry for at least a day, so steer clear of the shower. Take a sponge bath instead. Take it easy. Avoid exercise, heavy lifting, sometimes even driving (depending on where the incision was mad
