The post-operative instructions provided by your doctor will include changing your bandage every day. Bandage changes are usually necessary until the sutures are removed, which can take 1-2 weeks. Expect mild to moderate soreness and a blood-tinged discharge for the first few days. Any fever or signs of infection should be reported to your doctor or the Mohs team. For your comfort, you should keep the bandage sterile for the first week.
One important feature of this bandage is that it is designed to fit the contour of the face. In FIG. 1, the bandage’s straps terminate in hook-and-loop fasteners of substantially identical length and width. These fasteners are about 1 3/4 inches long. The fastener means allow the bandage to be easily adjusted and provide adequate compression and support for the patient’s chin and side of face. It is important to find the right-fitting bandage for your patient.
The head strap on the top of the bandage is two-and-a-half inches wide. It anchors the bandage 10 to the front of the skull below the apex of the skull. This provides an internal force component 20 that is directed upward and away from the oval-shaped facial opening 18.
Dr. Kimberly Riehle, an attending surgeon at Seattle Children’s Hospital, also created custom-fitted bandages for her patients. Surgical teams at Seattle Children’s Hospital perform over 13,000 surgeries a year, twice as many as any other institution in the region. And she cares deeply about each patient. In addition to providing customized bandages, she created customized bandages for children who may find the experience difficult.
A surgical wound may be open or closed for several reasons. The cut is often closed completely at the end of the surgery. The surgeon then covers the wound with an adhesive tape or dressing. The dressing acts as a physical barrier, absorbing exudate, and preventing bacterial contamination. The dressing will be removed from the wound once the sutures and strips are removed. While this may be convenient for the patient, it also adds to the costs of nursing the patient. Further, it can limit the skin’s ability to evaporate moisture and thus reduce the healing process.
Removing the dressing before the surgery is completed may reduce costs. Research has shown that removing the bandage before 48 hours may improve recovery and shorten hospital stay, but there is no conclusive evidence to support the benefits of early dressing removal. However, this recommendation is based on small and low-quality evidence from three randomised controlled trials. Further randomised controlled trials are needed to confirm this finding. So, the time to remove the dressing before 48 hours is a good time for this decision.
After surgery, you should wash your hands thoroughly. Rinse your hands under your nails to remove any soap or other residue, and remove any medical gloves you may have on. You may also wish to apply some topical ointment to the wound to prevent it from drying up and becoming infected. The wound will need to be cleaned twice daily to prevent infection. In the event of infections, it’s best to follow your doctor’s advice.