All patients undergoing surgery look for solutions to help them recover faster. This response is quite normal, as which person wants to be sick longer than absolutely necessary. Wounds resulting from small burns, venous stasis or diabetic foot ulcers, skin grafts, IV sites, incisions, or other medical procedures should be treated with surgical wound dressing.
Staples, stitches and glue are often not enough to speed up the healing process. Post-surgical care is much more; it will have to be applied for days or weeks. The duration depends on the wound type and the overall health of a patient. Injuries have to be treated with the upmost precision to prevent infections. The extra care also reduces the risks of complications and significant scarring, which can occur after surgery or an injury. When left untreated, these phenomena can result in another operation.
There are several actions patients can take to speed up the healing of surgical wounds. They include:
- Always ask your surgeon for advice, as treatment options for all patients vary. In a lot of cases, applying an ice pack for fifteen minutes every few hours will reduce swelling and bruising.
- Change the surgical wound dressing as suggested by the physician. The affected area should be cleaned before applying the pads. Ask the doctor if you should use soap and water, or other solutions. Be careful not to pull on stitches. When they are loose, the ends can catch on bandages. Unless badly soiled, the original post-surgery dressing stays on for several days. Call your doctor’s office when the bandage is bloody. It may need to be checked and changed.
- Use the type of surgical wound dressing suggested by the physician. You may even receive a few sample packs to keep you stocked with supplies until you or a caregiver can buy more at a local pharmacy.
- Return to the doctor for regular checkups. Call earlier for an appointment if the wound starts to hurt, you suddenly notice redness around the wound, or you think the area is infected. The aim of premium surgical wound dressings is to agitate the wound as little as possible, and to prevent infections. That is often not enough to guarantee a successful recovery.
- Keep the wound area dry and protected. The less it will be disturbed the quicker the surface will heal.
- Apply ointment to the wound if that is what the doctor prescribed. Always use fresh surgical wound dressing pads to keep the affected surface clean. Infections can occur any time after the surgery. Stop using bandages when advised by the doctor.