Undoubtedly, all people face various diseases sooner or later. Some of them necessarily require surgical intervention. Such treatment never goes unnoticed. From manipulation, a person always has a postoperative suture. You need to know how to properly care for such a scar, and in what cases to seek help from a specialist.
Types of seams
Depending on the scale of the operation, the size of the suture may vary significantly. From some interventions, for example, after laparoscopy, a person has small centimeter incisions. Sometimes such seams do not require the use of special threads and are simply glued together with a plaster. In this case, you should ask your doctor how to properly care for the damaged area and when you can remove the patch.
Also, the postoperative suture can be of impressive size. In this case, the fabrics are sewn in layers. First, the doctor combines the muscles, tissues of the blood vessels, and only after that he makes an external seam, with the help of which the skin is combined. Suchscars take longer to heal and require careful care and attention.
What you need to know about seams?
A postoperative suture always needs to be processed. From the moment the doctor puts the threads on the skin, the medical staff will wash your stitched tissues daily. In some cases, processing must be carried out several times a day. The doctor will inform you about this after the procedure. If complications occur or microbes enter the wound, it may be necessary to use additional antiseptic and antibacterial agents for treatment.
The suture is removed after the operation in about a week. With slow tissue healing, this period can increase to two weeks or even up to one month. During this time, it is necessary to properly process postoperative sutures. Wound healing is determined by the attending physician. It is he who sets the deadline for removing threads.
In some cases, the removal of the suture after the operation is not required. Sometimes doctors use special absorbable threads. They are superimposed in most cases on soft tissues and mucous membranes. Often this method of tissue bonding is used in gynecology and plastic surgery. Despite the fact that such threads are not removed, it is also necessary to process these postoperative sutures. Wound healing occurs when the tail of the protruding stapling sheet simply falls off.
How to care for stitches?
In some cases, the postoperative suture must be removedmuch later than to discharge the patient from the medical facility. In such a situation, a person needs to be told and shown how to care for stitched fabrics. After removing the threads, the processing of postoperative sutures should be carried out for some more time. So how do you take care of a wound yourself?
Required Materials
First you need to purchase all the necessary materials. You can do this at any pharmacy chain located near your home. If you find it difficult to walk, ask relatives or neighbors to buy everything you need.
Treatment of a postoperative suture requires the presence of conventional brilliant green, hydrogen peroxide 3%, alcohol solution and hypertonic fluid. You will also need sterile bandages, tweezers, appropriately sized post-operative patches and cotton swabs.
In some cases, the processing of postoperative sutures is carried out with cotton wool. When self-care for damaged tissue, it is better to refuse to use this material. When wiping the skin, small pieces of cotton can cling to the superimposed threads and remain on the wound. As a result, inflammation may occur. That is why it is worth giving preference to sterile bandages or special dressings.
Preparation of the treated area
Before treating a wound, it must be opened. Wash your hands with soap and disinfect them with an antiseptic solution. Carefully remove the bandage and examine the skin. There should be no liquid on the scar. If ichor or pus oozes from the wound, then it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible. This means that there is an inflammatory process in the wound.
Treatment of the surface of the scar In the event that the surface of the tissues is completely dry, you can proceed to self-treatment of the seam. To do this, take a comfortable position and prepare all the necessary materials.
First, roll up a small piece of sterile bandage and soak it in an alcohol solution. Gently wipe the scar with a damp cloth. Make sure that all wounds and holes on the body are moistened with liquid. After that, let the skin dry and proceed to the next step.
If you experience pain, throbbing and burning in the area of the seam, you must do the following. Fold the gauze bandage into four layers and soak it in hypertonic saline. Put the fabric on the seam and cover it with a band-aid. Such a compress will help relieve pain and swelling in the wound area. If you are not worried about discomfort, then skip this step and proceed further according to the instructions.
Take a Q-tip and soak it in brilliant green. Gently treat all wounds that were obtained during suturing, as well as the scar itself. After that, apply a sterile dressing to the cleaned area and cover with a plaster.
If the doctor allowed, then you can leave the seam open. In the air, all wounds heal faster. Remember that in this case, you must be careful not to damage the scar.
How to care for the seam after removing the threads?
If youalready removed the stitches, this does not mean that the scar does not need to be looked after. Remember that after water procedures it is necessary to treat the injured surface. Ask your surgeon how long the scar treatment should take. On average, doctors recommend taking care of the damaged surface for about one more week.
After taking a shower, pour hydrogen peroxide on the seam in a thin stream. Wait for the reaction to take place and the liquid to sizzle. After that, blot the seam with a sterile dressing and proceed to the next step.
Dip a cotton swab in brilliant green and treat the seam and existing postoperative wounds. Repeat this procedure after every bath.
Conclusion
Keep a close eye on the condition of your postoperative sutures. You can see photos of properly healing scars in this article. At the time of discharge, ask your doctor for detailed recommendations. Let the doctor tell and show you how to properly care for damaged tissue. Remember that from the moment you are discharged, your he alth is solely in your hands. That is why ask the medical staff about everything that interests you. This will help to avoid various unpleasant consequences.
If you have any complications or questions, please contact your local doctor. In emergency situations, call an ambulance. Remember that still unfused tissue can disperse. That is why be careful, avoid unnecessary stress and rest more. Stay he althy!
