Basic Scar Information

• ALL cuts and incisions in the skin heal with a scar; scars are PERMANENT

• All scars will mature from red, raised scars to flat lighter pigmented scars. This process takes from 12 to 18 months

• To promote early healing, use an antibiotic ointment. Around the eyes, avoid over the counter antibiotic ointments that may cause irritation and instead use prescribed antibiotics. Avoid vitamin E creams and oral vitamin E during the first three weeks following your cut or incision as it can retard the initial healing process.

• After three weeks, apply a moisturizer to the scar and begin massaging the scar four times daily for five minutes each session. This will help to soften and flatten the scar over time. If desired, Vitamin E creams may be used at this time.

• Avoidance of sun exposure during the healing process will reduce the possibility of increased pigmentation to the scar and will promote healthier skin overall. If you are going to be exposed to the sun’s rays, apply the highest SPF block available to the scar area and wear protective clothing and sun glasses.

General Guidelines for Wound Healing

• Elevation: Keep the affected area above the level of your heart as often as possible. This reduces pain, swelling, and stiffness

• Rest: Sleep and rest enables your body to concentrate energy to healing the wound.

• No Smoking: By you or people around you. Nicotine causes constriction of small blood vessels, preventing oxygen and nutrients from getting to the wound bed and rebuilding the affected cells. Using nicotine can prolong the healing time and contribute to wound breakdown. It takes three weeks to have normal small blood vessels healing across a simple incision and longer for more complicated wounds, such as flaps. Do not smoke for at least three weeks.

• Water: Drinking plenty of water or non-alcoholic fluids helps maintain over all health and promotes healing. Avoid dehydration.

• Nutrition: A well balanced diet with a good amount of protein and carbohydrates vitamins and minerals can help in cell and tissue production and promotes healing. A one a day multi vitamin and mineral supplement is suggested. If your appetite is low, try drinking Ensure to increase your protein and caloric intake. Diabetic patients should try to keep blood sugar levels stable and below 200mg/dl.

Guidelines of Normal reactions To Surgical Wounds

• Redness: in an area approximately ¼” around the incision is a normal reaction.

• Swelling: Expected and typically worsens in the first 48 hours.

• Pain: Gradually diminishes from the first or second post-operative day.

• Heat: The wound will be slightly warm for the first 48 hours.

• Bleeding: Some blood from the wound (or from inside the eye) is expected and should resolve with the application of direct pressure for 20-30 minutes. If bleeding continues, please call fro advice

Signs and symptoms of infection

Signs of infection usually take 36 hours after surgery to become noticeable. If increasing pain, redness, heat, swelling nor wound and surrounding area, and/or a temperature of 101 degrees or greater should occur, please call for advice.