Author:
Laura McKinney
Date Of Creation:
2 August 2021
Update Date:
22 June 2024
Content
Daily activities in your life can be disruptive and uncomfortable during recovery from surgery, and bathing is no exception. Most incisions need to be kept dry, so you should only clean your body according to the specific instructions of your doctor. Some tips include waiting for the prescribed length of time before showering, carefully sealing the incision, or both. Depending on the type of surgery, normal hygiene habits can now become inconvenient due to limited movement, plus it is not easy to define a safe bathing area. You need to practice safe bathing habits to avoid infection and injury.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Clean the Area Around the Safe Incision
Follow the bath or shower instructions prescribed by your surgeon. The doctor is the one who understands the post-operative process, and the best way to take the next steps in the recovery phase.- Every doctor has clear instructions to do during the first few days after surgery, including instructions for when it is safe to start bathing. Instructions are mainly based on the type of surgery performed and how to seal the incision during surgery.
- Instructions for cleaning your body are provided when you are discharged from the hospital. You can consult your doctor promptly whether this information is given in time or not so you can proactively stop infection, avoid injury, and continue the recovery process.
Learn how to seal your incision. Knowing how to close your incision can assist you in preventing injury and infection.- Four common methods used to seal the incision are: surgical sutures; Staples; gauze bandages (or butterfly patches or tape); and liquid tissue adhesives.
- Most surgeons will also apply a waterproof bandage on the wound so that you can shower normally if it is comfortable.
- The incision sealed with tissue glue exposed to water 24 hours after surgery can be used in most cases.
- The sutures can be removed after the tissues have healed, or are automatically absorbed, and will dissolve into the skin without having to be removed manually.
- Care of a closed wound with a sewing thread needs to be removed by hand, while a stapler, or gauze bandage similar to a butterfly-shaped patch usually requires keeping the skin dry for long periods of time. You can do this by continuing to foam, or cover the incision while bathing.
Clean the incision gently. If the incision does not need to be sealed, take care of it by avoiding rubbing or wiping the area vigorously.- Clean with mild soap and water, but do not allow soap or cleaning products to stick to the incision. Let the water run gently over the incision area.
- Most doctors recommend continuing to use soap and hair care products as usual.
Gently dry the incision. After showering, you need to remove the masking patch from the incision (such as gauze or bandages, but are not thin tape is removed), and allow the incision to dry completely.
- Use a clean towel or gauze to gently touch the incision.
- Do not wipe vigorously nor remove raised sutures, staples, or bandages that are still in place on the incision.
- Avoid touching the incision and leave the scales intact until they fall off automatically, because this layer of scales protects the wound from bleeding.
Apply the indicated cream or ointment. Avoid using topical medication on the incision unless specifically instructed by your surgeon.
- Changing bandages as directed by your doctor usually involves the use of topical medications. Antibiotic creams or ointments are often prescribed to be used during dressing changes, but topical treatments should only be used if directed by your doctor.
Fix the dressing / butterfly patch. After the prescribed time keep the wound absolutely dry. Wet dressing is normal; however, you should not remove them from the incision until they have automatically separated from the skin.
- Gently pat the sensitive skin dry, including the bandages, as long as they are firmly on the surface of the skin.
Part 2 of 4: Keeping the Incision Dry
You should keep the wound completely dry if directed by your doctor. Keeping the incision dry means bathing for 24 to 72 hours after surgery and is often an effective way to prevent the wound from becoming infected and heal more quickly.
- Follow your doctor's instructions. There are many complications associated with surgery, and the risk of infection or wound injury can be overcome by following your doctor's specific instructions.
- Have a gauze pad to dab gently on sensitive skin if needed throughout the day, even if you don't have access to water.
Seal the incision. Depending on the specific instructions of the surgeon, you can bathe if appropriate, if the incision is in a position where you can carefully seal it with waterproof material.
- Most surgeons will give clear instructions on how they prefer to use to cover the incision during bathing.
- Use a clear plastic wrap, plastic bag, or tight-fitting wrap to completely seal the incision. Use medical tape around the edges to prevent water from entering the sensitive area.
- For difficult-to-reach areas, you can have a family member or friend cut the bag or cover it with plastic to cover the incision and apply a tape to the skin.
- For the upper back and shoulders, in addition to sealing the incision, you can use a plastic bag to cover the incision to keep water, soap, and shampoo from flowing into the incision during the shower. If the incision is on your chest, you should use a plastic bag like a bib to cover the sensitive skin.
Wash off with a sponge. Until the instructions say it is possible to clean the body, you can clean it with a sponge, but keep the wound intact.
- Use a sponge or towel soaked in mild soapy water. Dry with a clean towel.
Avoid tub baths. Most doctors recommend taking a shower after the allotted time to keep the incision dry, and when it is convenient for you to clean your body.
- Do not soak the incision, sit in a tub of cold or hot water, or go swimming for at least three weeks or until your doctor says it is.
Take a quick shower. Usually, the surgeon will recommend that you take a bath for only about five minutes until your health has recovered and the wound is showing signs of healing.
Maintain stability. Ask someone else to bathe you for the first few times when you first start cleaning your body.
- Depending on the surgery, you may be able to use a stool, a chair, or an armrest to maintain stability and prevent falls.
- Incisions on knees, legs, ankles, feet and back can interfere with maintaining a safe balance in a small bathroom, so use a stool, chair or armrest for support. body.
Position your body so that the incision is out of the running water. Avoid dripping water on the incision.
- Adjust the water flow before showering to set the right temperature and adjust the water flow to protect the wound.
Part 3 of 4: Prevent Infections
Look for signs of infection. Infection is a common complication caused by surgery.
- Contact your doctor right away if you think the cesarean section is infected.
- Symptoms of infection include high fever of 38.3 ° C or higher, nausea and vomiting, severe pain, and redness around the incision, sensitivity to pain, warm to touch, discharge an odor of either green or yellow color, as well as swelling around the incision.
- Research shows that about 300,000 people who undergo surgery each year in the United States will experience infections. Unfortunately, 10,000 of them died from the infection.
Recognize high risk of infection. Certain properties and situations may cause a person to unfortunately get an infection, or an open incision taller than others.
- Some of the risk factors include obesity, diabetes, or a poor immune system, malnutrition, corticosteroids, or smoking.
Precautions regarding basic hygiene. General steps you can take at home to prevent infection include washing your hands well and often, as well as using clean medical equipment to change bandages and after bathing to pat dry sensitive skin.
- Always wash your hands after going to the toilet, taking out trash, touching pets, handling dirty clothing, touching anything outside, and after handling soiled dressing changing utensils.
- Be careful to advise relatives and visitors to wash hands thoroughly before coming into contact with the person who has just had surgery.
- Stop smoking at least two weeks before surgery if possible, although it is recommended that you do so about four to six weeks. Smoking can take a long time to heal, prevent tissue healing from getting access to oxygen, and risk inflammation.
Part 4 of 4: Knowing When to Call a Doctor
Contact your doctor if you have a fever. The symptom of a mild fever after major surgery is completely common, but if the fever is above 38.3 ° C, the wound may be infected.
- Other signs of infection that warn you to call your doctor right away include redness of the surrounding skin, pus discharge from the incision, an unusual odor or color, sensitivity to pain in the skin, feel warm to the touch, or swelling in the incision area.
Contact your doctor if the wound begins to bleed. Wash your hands well, then gently blot the blood with a clean gauze pad or towel. Call a physician immediately.
- Do not put pressure on the incision. You should only use light pressure and cover the skin with a clean, dry gauze until you see your doctor or go to another medical facility for inspection.
Seek medical attention if you experience unusual symptoms. If you have stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, or jaundice of your skin or eyes, see your doctor as soon as possible.
- Or if you see symptoms of a blood clot: pallor, very cool when touching your extremities, chest pain, difficulty breathing, an unusually swollen arm or leg.
