Your wound has been closed with stitches. The following information explains how to look after the wound.
Care of your wound
Your wound has been covered with a simple pressure dressing. Please keep this in place for 24 to 48 hours as advised as it reduces the risk of bleeding.
As advised, it is important to keep the wound dry for 24 to 48 hours to reduce the risk of infection. We advise against swimming or soaking the wound (e.g in the bath) until you have had the stitches removed.
We recommend you take a shower and remove your dressing once wet (this avoids potential damage to the skin). Allow the shower to wet your wound but avoid getting soap on the wound. Pat the wound dry with a clean towel.
It is unnecessary to apply a dressing afterwards, but if the stitches rub or catch on your clothing, then you can cover the wound with a dressing. Do not leave a wet dressing in place as it increases the risk of infection.
Bleeding
The operation site will be checked for bleeding before you leave the department, but rarely, bleeding may occur at home.
If there is any bleeding do not disturb the dressing, just apply continuous pressure for at least 20 minutes with a clean towel.
If possible, elevate or raise the area, e.g. arm or leg.
If bleeding persists, please contact your relevant department between 8am - 5pm.
Should you experience any problems outside of these times, you will need to visit your local Emergency Department or Walk in Centre for assessment.
Wound Infection
In the first 24 to 48 hours, it is normal to sometimes see redness and have slight swelling at the site, this is part of the healing process.
If you experience any of the following changes after 72 hours, please arrange to see your GP or dressing clinic nurse:
- Increasing pain at the site
- Increasing swelling
- Increasing redness
- A pus like discharge
Pain relief
The local anaesthetic will wear off after 1 to 2 hours. You may need some pain relief, e.g. Paracetamol (as long as you do not take any other medicines containing Paracetamol) to a maximum of eight 500mg tablets in 24 hours.
Please avoid using drugs such a Aspirin, Brufen and Diclofenac (non-steroidal tablets) as these tables increase bleeding and bruising.
Activity
You should try to minimise activity for the remainder of the day. Sport/excessive exercise is best avoided until 2-3 weeks after stitches are removed, especially in sites of movement e.g. back, legs and shoulders. This is to avoid a stretched scar of the wound opening which may leave a lumpy scar.
Removing your stitches
If your GP is located in Bury, you will be transferred to your local treatment room service for your stitch removal. If your GP is outside of this area, please contact your GP surgery to arrange removal of your stitches at your local dressings clinic.
You have ______ stitches in place
Please arrange for removal after ______ days.
Pathology result
You will always be informed about the outcomes of your results and you may be invited back to clinic for a further appointment. Your GP will receive a copy of this. If you have not been contacted with the results within 12 weeks of your procedure, then please contact the responsible secretary. You will find this phone number on the top of your clinic letter.
Contact Information
If you have any queries or concerns, do not hesitate to contact the relevant Dermatology Team (between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday) on the following numbers:
Dermatology Theatre, Salford - 0161 206 1022/2099
Bury Dermatology ICAT, Radcliffe - 0161 724 2156
Fairfield Dermatology - 0161 778 2637/2638
Dermatology at Stockport, Kingsgate - 0161 204 4677
Dermatology Altrincham - 0161 206 6837
Date of Review: October 2024
Date of Next Review: October 2026
Ref No: PI_SU_1162 (NCA)