General and Gastrointestinal Surgery
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Care of the Incisions
- Your incisions are covered with Band-Aids or gauze pads. It is not uncommon for them to become saturated with blood during the first 24 hours. Do not become alarmed; simply change the Band-Aids or bandages as needed.
- You can take a shower 24-36 hours after surgery. Be sure to gently dry your incisions and replace the Band-Aids or bandages.
- After 2-3 days, it is not necessary to keep your incisions covered but it will usually make you more comfortable to do so.
- If you do not see metal clips or sutures, the sutures are in the skin itself and will dissolve. This occurs 3-4 weeks after surgery and may be associated with a little drainage from the incision.
- Occasionally patients may see a small string in the incision. That is the suture and nothing needs to be done.
- It is common for patients to notice some black and blue or maroon discoloration around the incision. This represents a small amount of blood and is normal. It should not alarm you. It is also common for this to only become apparent 2-3 days after surgery as blood in the tissues moves to the surface.
- Call the office if your incision is red, hot and tender-you may have an infection.
- You have been given antibiotics in the operating room prior to surgery. Unless instructed otherwise, you do not need them after surgery.
General and Gastrointestinal Surgery
- About Gallstones
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Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Questions and Complications
- About Hiatal Hernia
- Diagnosis and Testing
- Diagnosis Q and A
- Non-Surgical Treatment Options
- Treatment Options: Medication
- Anti-Reflux Surgery
- When Is Surgery Necessary?
- Complications During Surgery
- Surgery
- Surgery Side Effects and Failure Rate
- General Preoperative Instructions
- Postoperative Expectations
- Postoperative Expectations: What to Expect at Home
- What is a Hernia?
- Anti-Reflux Surgery
- Appendectomy
- Gallbladder Removal (Cholecystectomy)
- Ventral Hernia
- About Inguinal Hernias
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Patient Education
- Recovering from Laparoscopic Hernia Repair: Patient Guide
- Recovering from Open Hernia Repair: Patient Guide
- Patient Guide: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Patient Guide: Incisional, Umbilical and Ventral Hernias
- Patient Guide: Inguinal Hernia Repair
- Patient Guide: Achalasia
- Patient Guide: Diseases of the Spleen and Splenectomy
- Dietary Guidelines
- Activity Guidelines
- About Steroids
- Achalasia
- About the Spleen
- When to Contact Us