Plastic Surgery

Local Anaesthetic

You may have a (local anaesthetic), it will remain numb for about 2-3 hours following the operation. If the lip or nose has been numbed please be careful, do not drink anything hot or very cold ( ie. Ice lolly from freezer) until the feeling has returned.

Pain Control

You may be given a local anaesthetic injection prior to your surgical procedure to numb the skin. The effect of this will wear off gradually over about an hour.
If you feel any pain or discomfort at the site of the operation after the anaesthetic has worn off you may take your painkillers. Paracetamol is usually adequate.

When can I remove my dressing?

Your dressing should remain in place until you are instructed to remove it by your surgeon or nurse. This is usually 2 days after surgery. During this time, try to keep it undisturbed, clean, and dry.

After you have removed the dressing as instructed, you should check the wound site in case there any signs of infection.
If your wound becomes hot, swollen and very painful or oozes pus, it may be infected.

Have I got stitches which need to be removed?

Types of skin closures

There are various ways to keep the skin edges together following your surgery to allow them to knit together.

These include:

• Non absorbable stitches (these need to be removed
• Absorbable stitches (these dissolve over several weeks and do not need to be removed)
• Paper skin closures or ‘butterfly stitches’ (these need to be removed or are left until they fall off naturally)
• Skin glue (this dissolves over time and does not need to be removed)

You will be informed by your Surgeon or Nurse which type of skin closure you have had and when they need to be removed. Leaving skin closures (which should be removed) in the skin for too long can cause inflammation and infection. Therefore, it is important to keep your appointment for the removal of any skin closures.

Can I have a bath or a shower?

Generally, it is fine to have a bath or shower after 24-48 hours and/or when your dressing has been removed. But please follow the instructions given to you by your surgeon /Nurse.

• Have a shower in preference to a bath
• Try not to use soaps, lotions, creams, powders etc directly on your wound
• Let the clean water wash over the wound gently- do not rub or try to clean it with your hands as this could cause pain and prevent healing
• Dry your wound carefully patting it with a clean towel
• If the lesion was removed from the scalp, you may wash your hair after 48 hours using a mild baby shampoo.

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