Dressings.
During your operation, a dressing will be applied to your wound.
All dressings must be kept intact and remain clean and dry until your first review appointment.
There may be some slight blood or ooze on your dressing but this is not cause for alarm. Dressings can be reinforced at home with bandages or gauze if required. If the bleeding is substantial or the dressing comes off please contact us.
You will most likely require further appointments after your initial review appointment – these will normally be with one of our two practice nurses at Waverley Plastic Surgery.
Wound.
You will most likely have sutures or staples in your incision.
Some sutures are dissolving and will gradually disappear. If you have non-dissolving sutures or staples, they will be removed by our practice nurse 7-10 days post-operatively at an outpatient appointment.
Do not smoke as smoking delays healing and increases the risk of complications.
A prescription for antibiotics may be provided – please take the full course as directed.
If you have had surgery to your face you, may experience bruising and swelling around eye and cheek areas. This is normal and will start to resolve within 7-10 days. Sleeping on 2-3 pillows can assist with reducing the swelling.
Activity.
In the first few days after the operation, it is important that you rest.
If you have had surgery of your hand or foot, please keep the affected limb elevated, this will help reduce swelling and pain.
If you have had surgery to your arm or hand, you may be unable to drive for some time depending on the severity of the injury.
In most cases, however, you can resume normal activities after your review appointment. You may need time off work – please discuss this with Dr Ying during your review appointment.
Pain.
It is normal to experience some pain during the first 24-48 hours after your operation. Depending on the severity of the injury, a prescription for pain medication may be provided by Mr Ying. If a prescription is not provided, available pain medication such as Panadeine and Nurofen is usually very effective.
Local anaesthetic is, in most cases, administered to the wound during surgery, which can help relieve post-operative pain, however, to avoid pain suddenly returning once you are discharged, commencing any prescribed pain medication soon after returning home is advised.
- Please remember to always take medication as directed by your pharmacist.
- Do not drink alcohol when taking pain medication.
- If you have excessive pain or discomfort that is not alleviated by medications please contact the practice.
- Your dressing will most likely be changed during the first review appointment. To help alleviate discomfort during the dressing change, it can be helpful to take pain medication half an hour prior to your appointment.
Occupational Therapy.
Waverley Plastic Surgery’s onsite occupational therapists may be required post-operatively to provide ongoing therapy after reconstructive hand surgery. David Ying will decide if you should commence treatment and will continue to monitor the process of rehabilitation through to recovery.
Occupational therapy may be covered under private extras in your health cover.
For all hand therapy bookings at Waverley Plastic Surgery, call (03) 9807 8300.
Click Here to download our post-operative care and management document.