best way to clean your surgery site

What is the best way to keep your surgery site clean. (sorry my brain isn't working right must have ) I was by castle instructions to use perioxide. It's not red,swollen, or thankfully infected. I just don't want it to get like that. It's been 6 days scince my surgery. Or should I call my ?

Jane

Jane, To be positively sure, you should call your doctor. But basically, I would just wash it gently with a mild soap and water and make sure it is DRY before you put any clothes on. That should due the trick. Peroxide is usually used when an infection is present. This tends to dry your skin alot so be careful if you do use it. Good luck with your healing.


Emily s

I was told to just stand in the shower and let the water run down on it. Then dry it very very well.

My DR told me to also stand in shower and let water run on it. He also said if it started to look a little bit funky I could use a little bit of Liquid Dial on it. Not to rub it in but just squirt some on it in the shower and let in rinse off from the water.

Nicole

I was told as well to just let water run over it in the shower and blot dry carefully. It got rather gooey a few days before the staples came out, so I got the okay to wash it VERY gently with my bare hand and a little soap. That took off the tops of the gooey spots and let to a most impressive drainage of serous fluid accumulated under the incision--we're talking multiple maxi pads' worth of drainage here! But the doc assured me that was perfectly normal and actually a good thing. Better it came out than stayed in and made me more uncomfortable, or heaven forbid, provided an opportunity for infection.

My doc recommended standing in the shower and letting water run down on it, as well. He also encouraged me not to scrub the skinny scab that was forming on the incision line, and to let that dry and fall off on it's own. He told a scary story about a patient who scrubbed and scrubbed the scab off, only to have the incision open up again. Said it took weeks to heal properly! I don't know who would WANT to scrub there....ouch! I had no infection, so his directions were just fine. Always call your doc or nurse for recommendations if you are not sure.

Hope you heal well and quickly!
Nan