DERMATOLOGY PROCEDURE SITE CARE INSTRUCTIONS 

• Leave the surgical site clean and dry for at least 6 hours (24 hours is recommended).

• Use clean water and soap to gently cleanse the surgical site. 

• Pat surgical site dry, do not rub. 

• Apply Vaseline Petroleum Jelly to the surgical site once or twice daily until the skin has healed over, usually 2-6 weeks. Antibiotic polysporin ointment is generally not recommended as there have been many reports of people developing delayed allergies to these types of antibiotic ointments. These delayed allergies are most commonly characterized by itchiness. Fucidin ointment is a prescription topical antibiotic ointment that is considered a safe alternative to Polysporin.

• Strict avoidance of sun exposure is recommended, you can cover the surgical site or use sunscreen over the surgical site. A sun tan or sun burn over a surgical site can result in permanent darkening or hyperpigmentation on the surgical site. 

• Minimize excessive irritation, tension or irritation over surgical site for the first 3 weeks to optimize wound healing. Do not submerge surgical sites under water (e.g. swimming or hot tubs) for at least the first 5 days.

• Avoid or reduce smoking and alcohol consumption as much as possible, as they do not not promote good wound healing. ​

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If the location of the procedure is on the head or neck, consider placing a clean towel on your pillow at night in the event of bleeding. 

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If you have a suture or stitch in your surgical site, then they are typically removed in 1 week for surgical sites on the face and in 10-14 days for surgical sites on the body. Sutures or stitches can be removed by nurses or doctors. 

 

DERMATOLOGY PROCEDURE SITE EXPECTATIONS

A surgical procedure will always result in pain, irritation, bleeding, pigmentary changes and (in the case of more invasive procedures) the formation of a scar. . 

• Surgical site pain can be treated with acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g. Advil), if there are no allergies or contraindications to the medication. 

• The surgical site will become inflamed, which is normal while it is healing. Inflammation can present as redness, swelling, pain and warmth. This may be more pronounced over bony prominences (e.g. clavicles, shin, hands and feet) as these sites experience more friction. 

• If you feel that the inflammation is out of proportion to what you expect, and is worsening after a few days or a week, you may have an infection. Other signs of infection include large amounts of pus draining and fever. If an infection occurs, usually it is within the first week after a surgical procedure. 

• Mild oozing of blood at the surgical site is normal. If active bleeding occurs at the surgical site, apply firm pressure for 20 minutes. 

• The surgical site healing time can take weeks, months or even longer. It may take months for a surgical site to heal on the lower leg due to poor blood flow and circulation. 

• A scar will occur at the surgical site. It will take a full 12 months for it to settle, and in some cases years. A scar will look red and/or more pigmented after the initial healing, which will fade over months or years.