Edward D. Buckingham, M.D.

Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Postoperative Instruction Sheet for In Office Procedures

Items needed for post-operative care: Hydrogen Peroxide, Polysporin Ointment, Q-tips

Wound Care

1. The suture line should be cleaned 2 to 3 times daily with mild soap and water.  If crusting persists use a q-tip or cotton balls soaked in hydrogen peroxide to remove. (Be careful near the hairline if you have dark hair to avoid bleaching the hair.) Again, care should be taken as the sutures are delicate and can be broken if vigorously cleaned. Blot dry and apply Polysporin, to the wound edges with a clean q-tip so that a scab does not have the chance to form. If you develop a red, itchy, blistery area after you apply the antibiotic ointment, stop applying the ointment.  Try to use a q-tip instead of your fingers when applying ointment, because your fingers may be dirty and cause an infection in your suture line.

2. If you routinely wear make-up, please refrain from doing so for at least the first week after the excision.  Make-up may cause significant irritation to the skin and also adversely affect your wound healing.

3. Avoid any excessive rubbing or scratching of the wound area as this may disrupt the suture line or cause darkening of your skin. If you should have severe itchiness around the wound area, contact us immediately so that we may prescribe a medication to alleviate your symptoms.

4. Your stitches will be removed 1 week after the procedure.  Continue using Polysporin for 2 days after the stitches are removed; after that.  After 2 days you are encouraged to begin using sunscreen SPF 15-30.

Pain Management

If you have significant pain after the excision, you may take plain Tylenol to alleviate your symptoms. You should avoid taking any other pain medications, especially aspirin or aspirin-related products.  If you develop any unexplained pain, you should report this to us immediately.

Bruising and Swelling

It is normal that you have mild bruising and swelling after a procedure for the first week. You will notice every day that the bruising and swelling are diminishing. However, if you develop any new-onset swelling, especially in the first 2 to 3 days, please let us know immediately.

Sun Exposure

Excessive exposure to sun in the first 3 weeks after surgery may result in prolonged facial swelling and injury to the skin. Also, excessive sun exposure to your wound area may cause your wound to darken (hyperpigment) in relation to the surrounding skin. If you must go into the sunlight, wear a wide-brimmed hat and apply one of the SPF 15 sun-block preparations, preferably with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, available at your pharmacy.

Other Things to Avoid

If you should have any questions about your surgery or about any of the instructions written above, please do not hesitate to contact us at 512-401-2500 or 866-451-2500.