General information only: This guide provides general patient education about surgical wound care at home. It supplements — but does not replace — the specific discharge instructions provided to you after surgery. If you have any concerns about your wound or recovery, contact the rooms on (02) 7906 8312. |
Looking After Your Wound at Home — The Essentials
Going home after surgery is a significant step — and for most patients, wound care at home is straightforward. Dr Kaushal’s standard approach makes home wound care as simple as possible: a waterproof dressing is applied in theatre, dissolvable stitches are used under the skin, and the dressing is removed at home on day 5. No dressing changes, no stitch removal appointments, and no complicated wound care routines are required for most patients.
This guide covers everything you need to know about caring for your surgical wound at home — from the day of surgery through to scar care in the weeks that follow.
Dr Kaushal’s Standard Wound Approach — At a Glance • Waterproof dressing applied in theatre — stays in place for 5 days • Dissolvable stitches under the skin — no stitch removal needed • Shower from day 1 with dressing in place • Remove dressing on day 5 at home • Leave wound open to air after day 5 — no further dressing needed in most cases • Post-operative appointment arranged for wound review |
Week by Week — Your Complete Home Wound Care Guide
Days 1–5: Dressing in place
- Keep the waterproof dressing in place — do not remove it early
- Shower daily from day 1 — water can run over the dressing. Pat dry after
- Check the wound through the transparent dressing each day — look for increasing redness, spreading, discharge or swelling
- Take pain relief as prescribed — regularly, not just when the pain is severe
- Rest and gentle walking only — no lifting, straining or strenuous activity
- If the dressing lifts partially — press edges back gently after drying. If it falls off completely — leave wound uncovered if it looks clean and closed. Contact rooms if unsure.
Day 5: Remove the dressing
- Shower first — warm water loosens the adhesive edges of the dressing
- Peel back slowly and gently — hold the skin taut with one hand
- Look at the wound — edges should be together, skin clean and pink
- Leave the wound open to air from this point — no further dressing required in most cases
- Any adhesive residue on the skin can be gently removed with a little baby oil
Days 5–14: Open wound, continuing to heal
- Shower directly over the wound — let clean water run over it, pat dry with a clean towel
- Do not apply antiseptic, cream or ointment to the wound unless instructed
- Some itching around the wound is normal — a sign of healing. Pat rather than scratch.
- The wound line may appear slightly raised, pink or firm — this is normal
- Continue to avoid heavy lifting, strenuous exercise and activities that strain the wound area
- Watch for signs of infection — see the infection signs section below
Weeks 2–6: Wound healed, scar maturing
- The skin surface is healed — the wound line is closed
- Gradual return to normal activities as advised by Dr Kaushal at your post-operative appointment
- Begin scar care from week 4–6 once the wound is fully healed — see scar care section below
- Continue to protect the scar from sun exposure — UV causes permanent darkening of healing scars
Months 1–12: Scar maturation
- Scar continues to soften, flatten and fade over 12 months
- Final scar appearance is not reached until 12 months after surgery
- Continue sun protection and scar massage as described below
What You Must Not Do — Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Do NOT apply Betadine, Dettol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine or alcohol to the wound — these products damage healing tissue and delay recovery
- Do NOT apply any cream, ointment, honey, tea tree oil or home remedy to the wound unless specifically instructed by Dr Kaushal
- Do NOT soak the wound in a bath, pool, spa or the ocean until fully healed — at least 2 to 4 weeks
- Do NOT pick at the wound edges, suture material or scab
- Do NOT scratch the wound — pat gently if itchy
- Do NOT remove the dressing before day 5 unless it falls off on its own
- Do NOT apply a new dressing at home unless instructed — most wounds after day 5 are left open to air
- Do NOT use tape directly over the wound line
- Do NOT ignore worsening redness, discharge or pain — contact the rooms early
Signs of Wound Infection — Act Early
Most wounds heal without complication. Contact the rooms promptly if you notice any of the following:
Sign
What It Means
Spreading redness
A rim of pink immediately around the wound is normal. Redness spreading outward beyond the wound and getting worse over time — contact the rooms.
Increasing pain after day 3
Pain should improve day by day. Worsening pain after day 2–3 — contact the rooms.
Fever above 38°C
Take temperature if you feel unwell. Fever in the first 2 weeks can indicate wound or other infection.
Discharge — yellow or green
Small amount of clear fluid in the first 48 hours can be normal. Yellow, green or cloudy discharge is not normal.
Wound opening
If wound edges separate — contact rooms immediately. Cover loosely with a clean cloth.
Foul smell
Any unpleasant smell from the wound — contact the rooms.
🔴 Go to ED or call 000 for:
• Wound opening significantly with visible tissue
• Heavy bleeding not stopping with 10 minutes of firm pressure
• Rapid spreading redness with fever, rigors or confusion — signs of serious infection
Scar Care — From 4 to 6 Weeks
Once the wound is fully healed — typically from 4 to 6 weeks after surgery — scar care can begin. Consistent scar care over the following months supports the best possible long-term scar appearance.
- Sun protection: The most important scar care measure. UV exposure causes permanent darkening of healing scars. Keep the scar covered from direct sun or apply SPF 50+ sunscreen over the scar every day for at least 12 months.
- Scar massage: Gentle circular massage over the healed scar for 5 minutes, twice daily, from 6 weeks helps soften the scar and reduce firmness. Use a bland moisturiser or scar gel. The scar may feel tight or slightly uncomfortable during massage initially — this is normal.
- Silicone scar gel or sheets: Silicone products applied to a fully healed scar flatten and reduce scar redness over time. Available at pharmacies without prescription. Apply as directed on the product label.
- Moisturising: Keeping the scar moisturised reduces dryness and itching. A bland, fragrance-free moisturiser is appropriate.
Scar patience: Scars take up to 12 months to reach their final appearance. A scar that looks pink, raised or firm at 6 weeks will look substantially different — softer, flatter and paler — by 12 months. Consistent sun protection and massage make a meaningful difference to the final result.
Activity and Rest After Surgery
Timeframe
✔ Allowed
✘ Avoid
Days 1–5
Rest, gentle walking, light daily activities
Driving, lifting, exercise, heavy housework
Days 5–14
Gentle walking, desk work from day 7–10, light cooking
Lifting >5kg, running, gym, strenuous activity
Weeks 2–4
Desk work, driving when comfortable, light social activities
Manual labour, heavy lifting, contact sport
Weeks 4–6
Gradually increasing activity as advised
Heavy lifting and gym until cleared at post-op appointment
Weeks 6+
Full return to activity as advised by Dr Kaushal
Follow individual guidance — varies by procedure
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Savlon or Betadine on my wound?
No. Do not apply antiseptic products such as Savlon, Betadine, Dettol, iodine or hydrogen peroxide to a surgical wound. These products damage the healing cells in the wound and delay recovery. Clean water is the appropriate cleansing agent for a healing surgical wound. If you are concerned about infection, contact the rooms — the appropriate treatment is medical assessment and antibiotics if indicated, not antiseptic application at home.
There is a hard lump under my scar — is this normal?
A firm lump or ridge under the scar in the first 4 to 8 weeks is usually the normal scar tissue or suture material absorbing beneath the healed skin. It typically softens and reduces over the following weeks to months as the deep dissolvable stitches absorb and the scar matures. If the lump is associated with redness, warmth, discharge or increasing pain, contact the rooms — this may represent a suture abscess or a fluid collection that warrants assessment.
My scar is very itchy — can I use anything for it?
Itching is extremely common during wound healing and scar maturation — it is caused by new nerve endings regenerating in the healing tissue. Gentle patting of the scar (rather than scratching) and keeping the area moisturised with a bland, fragrance-free moisturiser helps reduce itching. Antihistamine creams or oral antihistamines can also provide relief if the itching is significant. Avoid scratching — this can damage the healing skin surface and increase the risk of infection or scarring.
When is my post-operative appointment?
A post-operative appointment is arranged at the time of your surgery. Details are provided at discharge. If you are unsure of your appointment date or need to reschedule, contact the rooms on (02) 7906 8312. Do not miss your post-operative appointment — even if you feel well. It is an important clinical review of the wound, discussion of the operative findings, pathology results if relevant, and planning of any further management.
Specialist General Surgeon | Upper GI and Bariatric Surgery 4 Hyde Parade, Campbelltown NSW 2560 | Phone: (02) 7906 8312 [email protected] | drdeveshkaushal.com.au Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Current hospital appointments and accreditations include: Sydney Southwest Private Hospital Liverpool | Campbelltown Public Hospital | Campbelltown Private Hospital | The George Hospital Medicare rebates and private health insurance benefits may apply depending on the service, referral and individual policy. Please contact the rooms and your insurer regarding fees and potential out-of-pocket costs. |
General information only: This guide provides general patient education about surgical wound care at home. It does not replace specific discharge instructions. Contact the rooms on (02) 7906 8312 with any wound concerns. Read about more Iron Deficiency After Bariatric Surgery: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment |