Pre- and Post-Op Instructions

• Do not stop any medications you are currently taking. This includes blood thinners.
• Sometimes even with a minor procedure, a patient may feel anxious and nervous. We can give you medication to relax you; however, if you do take the medication, someone should come with you to drive you home.
• You may eat your normal breakfast if your surgery is scheduled in the morning. If your surgery is scheduled in the afternoon, please eat your normal lunch. If you are a diabetic, please bring a snack with you.
• If your surgery is for treatment of skin cancer, you should plan to spend time waiting for laboratory results. Sometimes the surgery can be more extensive than expected and may take a good part of the day. Please be patient and bring some reading material with you.
• Please wear comfortable clothing. We ask that you wear a two-piece outfit since it will be necessary for you to remove your blouse or shirt and put on a gown.
• Due to limited waiting room space, please try to limit family or friends to one or two persons. This will ensure your comfort, as well as the comfort of other patients who will also be having surgery the same day.
• Please note: If you have a pacemaker or defibrillator, please notify the surgical nurse with you the day of your surgery.
• If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment for surgery, please contact our office as soon as possible and be sure to specify that you need to reschedule your surgery appointment.

Wound Care

Clean the surgical wound two times daily beginning 48 hours after surgery. To clean the wound, follow these steps:

• 1. Clean the wound with Q-Tips soaked in tap water. Remove all crusted material and any white/yellow material that can come off easily. Do not reuse Q-Tips.
  2. Generously apply Vaseline with a clean Q-Tip.
  3. Cover your wound with either a Telfa dressing cut to the size of the wound and secured with surgical tape or Band-Aids.

Continue to clean your wound daily until the stitches are removed or as your doctor directs. If the surgical site is swelling, you may elevate the site and apply an ice pack as long as the bandage stays dry.

Personal Hygiene

In the first 48 hours, showers or baths are allowed if the bandage remains dry. After 48 hours, the sutures may then get wet, but do not immerse the wound in bath water. Swimming is not allowed until the sutures are removed. Heavy lifting and exercise are not allowed until the sutures are removed.

Prescriptions

Unless the doctor states otherwise, take extra-strength Tylenol for pain as needed. Alcohol should be avoided for two days.

Contact Doctor If Any of the Following Occur:

• Bleeding that saturates your dressing (spotting of dressing is expected). To stop bleeding, hold direct pressure over the dressing for 20 minutes and do not remove the dressing,
• Fever greater than 100 degrees F or 38 C
• Signs of infection (redness, swelling, foul-smelling drainage, pain or heat)
• Severe nausea and vomiting