How do I care for my operation site?

General Incision Care

Immediately following your procedure, you will receive post-operative incision care instructions from your surgical facility. Please review these, as they are specific to your particular procedure. For most general surgeries your incision site will have a dressing consisting of clear tape, gauze, steri-strips, and/or glue. The top dressing and gauze can be removed after 24 hours, but please leave in-place any steri-strips and/or glue that is present. These usually peel off on their own within 1-2 weeks.

Anal Care

Unless otherwise instructed, you may remove your dressing within 6-8 hours after surgery and have your first shower. To remove the dressing, we recommend submerging in a bathtub and removing the tape and gauze. If there is any internal packing, it will generally come out on its own. You may want to place gauze pads or liners in your underwear until any normal bleeding or discharge subsides. This will lighten and improve daily over the course of 1-2 weeks. Don’t be alarmed if you notice an increase in bleeding towards the end of your first week, as this is generally the time when scabs begin to peel off.