Skin Surgery Pre- and Post-Care Instructions

SKIN SURGERY PRE-CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, Aleve, Advil, vitamin E, fish oil, and all herbs for two weeks before the procedure. If you are prescribed aspirin or any of these medications for a heart or vascular condition, please call Dr. Hooper or Dr. Jackson before discontinuing use. Dr. Hooper and Dr. Jackson will likely recommend you continue these medications.
Avoid drinking alcohol for 48 hours before your procedure.
On the morning of your procedure, you should eat a light breakfast and take your prescription medications.
If you are having a procedure on the scalp, wash your hair the night before surgery. For facial procedures, please do not have makeup or cosmetics on (even omit moisturizer for that day).
Sometimes you may need to bring a companion with you to drive you home after your procedure, especially if you are having a procedure on the head or neck.
You should not do any strenuous exercise for approximately 24 hours after your procedure.

*Remember: Do not submerge wound in lake, river, or ocean water until healed!

Leave the bandage we have applied in place for 24 hours. (If your procedure was on the head or neck, sleep on a couple extra pillows tonight and avoid strenuous activity and bending over for the rest of today.)
Once a day, clean the area with mild soap and water. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol unless you see crusting between stitches. Avoid soaking in baths until you are healed and all stitches are out. If you exercise or get sweaty, you may need to cleanse and bandage twice a day.
Next, apply Aquaphor healing ointment or Vaseline (or Mupirocin ointment, if prescribed by Dr. Hooper or Dr. Jackson) and cover with a bandage with nonstick gauze and paper tape. Paper tape is usually less irritating than other adhesives.
Do NOT allow the site to “dry out” or scab over. This will increase your risk of scarring.
If your wound becomes red, warm, painful, begins to drain, or you develop a fever of 101 or greater, please call our office. If you have pain, we recommend Tylenol, not aspirin or ibuprofen. Prescription pain pills are usually not required for skin surgery.
If your wound starts to bleed, apply firm pressure for 10-15 continuous minutes before checking it. If it is still bleeding, give another 10-15 minutes of pressure. If it is still bleeding after two sessions of pressure, call our office. If your wound is swollen, you may apply an ice pack in cycles: 20 minutes on, then 20 minutes off.