Q. What should my dermatologist do at a bandage change appointment?
A. Your dermatologist will receive a letter explaining what was done the day of your surgery and what to do with you bandage.
Q. do I use ointment on the sutured wound after I take the bandage off?
A. No, you can use normal soap, water, moisturizers and sunscreen.
Q. How do I apply the ointment? How much?
A. You can apply the ointment with a Q-tip or your clean fingertip. You should use a liberal amount of ointment. You DO NOT want your wound to dry out/scab.
Q. Can I use non-sterile Q-tips?
A. YES
Q. Do I shower with the bandage off or on?
A. You can do either. After a couple days, a mild soap will not hurt your wound.
Q. When can I stop bandaging my open wound?
A. When there is no drainage. The skin will look pink and shiny.
Q. Can I use any other kind of tape besides paper tape?
A. This is not recommended. Paper tape is more gentle on the skin then regular Band-Aid or adhesive tapes. This skin will often break down or get irritated by using regular Band-Aids/adhesives.
Q. Where can I buy flesh colored tape?
A. We sell flesh colored paper tape for patient convenience. It is difficult to find a pharmacy that sells flesh colored paper tape.
Q. How long do I massage?
A. you should massage the wound until the area feels like normal skin. This will vary from two to six months. You should only start massaging the wound 4-6 weeks after the initial surgery.
Q. How long with the scar be visible?
A. Any time you cut the skin there will be a scar. Scars mature over a period ranging from six months to eighteen months. As time goes by the scar will become less noticeable.