Post-Surgery Wound Care At Home
Post-surgical wound care can be a difficult and uncomfortable experience. Thankfully, there are many ways to care for your wound at home, reducing the need for traditional hospital visits and allowing you to return to the things you love as soon as possible.
Healing Time
The amount of time it takes to heal a wound after surgery depends on the type of surgery you had and the condition of your injury. Most fresh wounds will generally heal within two weeks, but some wounds won’t heal completely until three months or even longer. Most wounds can be dressed and kept clean at home, but you may need to see your doctor occasionally to ensure the wound is healing well.
Changing Dressings
Depending on the type of surgery you had, you may be able to change your dressing at home. Cleaning the wound and changing the dressing when it becomes soiled or dirty helps to keep the wound clean and reduces the risk of infection. If your doctor has instructed you to keep the dressing clean and dry, you may want to change your dressing at least once a day.
- Always follow the instructions your doctor gave you about how to care for your wound.
- Always change your dressing with clean hands.
- If you notice any signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, increased pain, or a foul odor or color, see your doctor right away.
- Never reuse a bandage.
- Always throw away used bandages and other medical supplies in a waterproof plastic bag or container before disposing of them.
Getting Help
If you need help caring for your wound, there are a number of services available. Many hospitals offer wound care services, including dressings, wound cleansings, and other services to help make your recovery easier. You may also be able to get help from medical care businesses, like ABC Medical, that specialize in wound care.
