skip to Main Content

Surgery Post Operative Care

Dedicated to helping you look your best

Get Started Today
Biopsy Post Operative Care

Dedicated to helping you look your best.

NO STITCHES

Information for a Biopsy

1. Do not use aspirin or alcoholic beverages for 24 hours. You may use Tylenol, extra strength Tylenol, or Ibuprofen.

2. Keep band-aid on till next shower or bath. Then apply Polysporin Antibiotic Ointment.

(This is an over the counter product) to site one to two times daily until area is healed and no longer open. We do not recommend Neosporin or Bacitracin.

3. The wound may be gently cleaned with Cetaphil or fragrance free soap. Do not use anti-bacterial soap. Rinse well. This should be done twice daily. If you have well water, rinse the area well with bottled, distilled water.

4. The wound should not be allowed to dry out at any point. Please cover it with a band-aid to prevent the Polysporin from rubbing on clothing. The band-aid also aids in keeping the wound moist. This promotes optimal healing.

5. Should minor bleeding occur, apply firm, constant pressure for 15-20 minutes. It is not unusual for mild non-bloody drainage to occur up to 48 hours after surgery.

6. If your wound becomes swollen, red, hot, or if you have drainage that looks like pus, or if you suffer from-increased pain to your wound site, please call your doctor. Do not wait for your regularly scheduled appointment to report these symptoms to your doctor. You may have an infection and require an antibiotic. If you have these symptoms, your doctor may ask you to come to the office for an evaluation of the wound.

7. To help your shave site look its best, it’s recommended you use silicone tape to your biopsy site 2-4 times a day. You should start this as soon as the site is closed and healed.

8. Eat pineapple. If possible eat pineapple the day before the procedure and for 5 days after the procedure as it helps reduce bruising and aids in healing.

9. Sunscreens should be applied to any surgical site exposed to the sun for a month after the procedure.

10. Some people get itchy bumps or blisters around the site. This is usually due to an allergy to the antibiotic ointment. Stop the antibiotic ointment, use cool compresses, and Vaseline.

11. If needed you may use 1% Hydrocortisone twice daily. This is OTC at the drug store.

12. Should your biopsy require further surgery, we recommend that you stop herbal medication 2 weeks before the surgery and 2 weeks after the surgery. These should include: Vitamin E, Echinacea, Ecphedra, Garlic, Ginko, Ginseng, Kava, St. John’s Wort, Green Tea, and NSAIDS (Aspirin, Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen.)

13. Should you need surgery, there are instructions that we will review with you in regards to care of site, restriction of exercise to area, and potential side effects.

14. If you have any concerns or questions, please call our office at 937-436-1117.

* Remember all scars are at risk to spread. It’s recommended you follow the postoperative instructions.

What Affects They Way My Skin Heals After Surgery?

  • There are different factors that affect the skin and how it heals after surgery. They include care of the skin following surgery, your general state of health, genetics, other medications you might be taking, and the location on the body where the surgery was performed.
  • It takes the skin about a year to regain its full strength after surgery. You must care for the surgical site carefully. Leave the pressure dressing on for the recommended amount of time. Stretching- especially rapid stretching, lifting, and even coughing can increase the amount of scarring and in extreme cases cause separation.
  • Each patient has a different genetic makeup. Some people heal with keloids (a raised, spreading scar), hypertrophic scars (a raised scar), and some genetic diseases tend to heal with widened scars. The thickness of your skin and amount of normal bacteria on your skin can also play a role in how well you heal.
  • Good health is vital to proper healing of the skin. It is important to maintain a healthy diet, including vitamins (a multi-vitamin with minerals) and protein. Oxygen speeds healing so exercising is good so long as you don’t involve the surgical site. In general, younger patients heal better than older patients and patients with diseases like diabetes will not heal as well as others. The legs of older patients and those with varicose veins do not heal as well. *Stress can slow down wound healing.
  • Avoid swimming pools for at least one week and hot tubs for 3 weeks following your surgery due to the risk of infection. An infection could cause the surgical site to open up, delaying your return to full health.
Contact Us Today

Have questions or concerns? Please call us at 937.436.1117

Back To Top