Coming home after surgery: wound care, warning signs and when to call

Looking after the wound

Your surgeon's instructions come first. In general, the dressing put on in theatre stays on for the first 48 hours. After that most people can shower, letting water run over the wound, then pat it dry with a clean towel. Avoid soaking in a bath or swimming until the wound has fully healed.

• Wash your hands before touching the wound or dressing
• Do not put salt water, hot water, herbal mixtures, shea butter, toothpaste, palm oil, or powders on it
• Wear loose clothes that do not rub
• Do not pick at scabs or stitches
• Keep pets and dirty hands away from it

Stitches, clips and dissolving stitches

Some stitches dissolve on their own over a few weeks. Others, and skin clips, are removed, usually between about one and two weeks after surgery depending on where the wound is. You will be told which you have and when and where they come out. Some itching and a firm ridge under the scar are normal as it heals. If you tend to form keloids, tell your surgeon before the operation so they can plan.

Pain, eating and moving

Take pain relief regularly for the first few days, as prescribed, rather than waiting until the pain is bad. Strong painkillers often cause constipation: drink plenty of water, eat soft fruit and vegetables once you are allowed, and ask for a laxative if needed. Walk a little several times a day from the first day, unless told otherwise. Moving helps prevent clots and chest infections.

Your surgeon will tell you when you can lift, drive, return to work and have sex. These differ by operation. As a rough guide, avoid heavy lifting such as buckets of water or bags of rice for several weeks after abdominal surgery.

Call your surgical team if you notice

These are signs of a possible wound infection or other problem. Call the same day:

• Redness spreading around the wound, or the area becoming hotter, more swollen or more painful
• Pus or cloudy, smelly fluid from the wound
• The wound edges opening
• A temperature of 38°C or more, or chills
• Vomiting, or not able to keep fluids down
• Not able to pass urine, or no bowel movement for several days with a swollen belly

Go to an emergency department now for

Do not wait for a clinic appointment if you or your relative has:

• Chest pain or sudden shortness of breath, which can be a clot in the lung
• A swollen, painful, warm calf in one leg, which can be a clot in the leg
• Heavy bleeding that soaks through the dressing and does not stop with firm pressure
• Confusion, very fast breathing, cold or mottled skin, or feeling very unwell: possible sepsis
• Severe tummy pain that keeps getting worse

Help at home

For the first days, someone at home to help with meals, bathing and stairs makes a real difference, especially for older people. After joint, spine or bigger abdominal operations, a programme of physiotherapy helps you get moving again safely. On Mezo, rehabilitation after surgery can be booked, including physiotherapy at home if travel is hard. Keep the number of your surgical team and your care coordinator somewhere the whole household can see.

Common questions