Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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This is a generic information page on caring for wounds within the Plastic Surgery Department.
There are several types of wounds, and each will have various ways of treating them; some wounds are very superficial and can easily be managed by you at home with guidance from your pharmacy and GP (General Practitioner).
Basic management of any type of simple surgical wound
- Keep all dressings clean and dry.
- Wash gently around the affected area with soap and water unless otherwise instructed.
- Pat dry and do not rub the area.
- Do not use anything strongly scented or perfumed, as this may irritate the area around the wound site and cause sensitivity
- If you have had surgery on your face or head, we advise you to sit upright, and sleep with extra pillows for the first few days; this will help drain any fluid and reduce swelling around the site.
- If you have had lower limb surgery, rest and elevate leg on a couple of pillows in bed, or a stool (above knee level) if in a chair.
- You may also experience some bruising which should subside in 2-3 weeks.
- We advise you not to remove any scabs or dry skin as this is a sign that the wound is healing. If you make your wound bleed there is likely to be more scarring and delayed healing
- We advise you to use simple cream like Nivea, Aqueous cream, E45, Bio oil, or simple Vaseline to soften the scabs; these will fall off when ready.
Wound closure
You may have one of the following after your surgery:
- Stitches - these may be dissolvable or removable
- Clips to hold the skin together
- Glue to close the wound
Clips and stitches are removed for 7-14 days following surgery or as instructed, we can give you an appointment to have these removed at the dressing clinic or alternatively you can go to your Stitches from the face are removed 5-7 days after the operation. This is because the skin on the face is thinner than the rest of the body and helps prevent deep scarring.
If glue is used to close the wound, we advise you not to wash your hair or get the area wet for 7 days as the wound heals and scabs over
You will have some superficial breakthrough blood-stained discharge, this is normal.
Pain management on discharge
- Every patient will have a different pain threshold.
- Some mild to moderate pain can be expected for the first 24-72 hrs.
- Paracetamol is normally sufficient to manage this; if this is not the case then please ask the nurse on the ward so that we can send you home with some stronger painkillers. We advise you to read the instructions carefully before taking any medication.
- For any undue pain and swelling, please contact your GP or ring the Plastic Surgery Dressing Clinic, Monday – Friday 03006153031 the Plastic Surgery Dressing Clinic. Plastic surgery urgent care clinic 03006153031
- You can send photos to the fhft.plasticsurgentcare@
nhs.net where the doctors will triage and advise you accordingly. - Any hand surgery is accompanied by a Bradford sling to keep your arm elevated this will help reduce any pain or swelling you may experience.
Bleeding
- Some minor bleeding or oozing is to be expected from the wound site and should not cause any major problems.
- However, if the bleeding persists apply pressure with extra padding for about 5-15 minutes.
- Call the nhs111 service if bleeding persists
Healing
Most Simple wounds normally heal between 10-14 days.
Any non-healing areas accompanied by increased pain must be followed up by the Practice Nurses at your G.P (General Practitioner). surgery, as there may be an underlying reason for this – please make an appointment directly.
Some factors associated with delayed wound healing are:
- Smoking
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Medication
- Diabetes
Please contact your GP for further advice and help on the factors which may be associated with these.
Massage
Once the wound is completely healed, you can massage the area with some simple cream such as Nivea, Aqueous cream, or Bio oil; this will soften the scar and aid further healing by increasing the blood flow to the area.
Scars
All wounds lead to permanent scars, but these fade with time, these can present in diverse ways.
Scars can take from 6 months to a couple of years to fill out and mature, these will change in colour and texture.
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Plastic surgery service.
About this information
Service:
Plastic surgery
Reference:
T/022
Approval date:
25 February 2026
Review date:
1 February 2029
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.