For most people, the pain goes away after about 2 weeks. You will have a bandage taped over the wound. Your doctor will remove the bandage and examine the wound in about 2 days. It will take about 3 to 4 weeks for your incision to heal completely.
Healing depends on your general health and the type of surgery you had. Large or deep surgery incisions can take 6 to 8 weeks to heal. People with medical problems or prescribed certain medications may take longer.
An average time length that a lot of people say with an abdominal incision is about one to two months or even just six weeks to where you really want to let it heal and you try not to put too much pressure on your abdomen during that time.
It is normal to experience the drainage of fluid from a wound at an incision site after surgery. The drainage, which tends to be thin and slightly pink in color, may last for a few days or longer depending on how deep or extensive the wound is.
Wound Care
Bandage: Leave bandage in place for 24 hours. Then remove your bandage and cleanse the wound with soap and water 1-2 times daily. A small amount of bloody discharge on the dressing is normal. Replace Polysporin antibiotic and dressing over wound daily for 1-2 weeks, or until wound is well healed.
In the days and weeks after surgery your body needs time to repair the incision. During this time, the incision will likely become inflamed and there may be some drainage. A mild amount of drainage from the incision is normal.
Incision and drainage (I&D), also known as clinical lancing, are minor surgical procedures to release pus or pressure built up under the skin, such as from an abscess, boil, or infected paranasal sinus.
Maturation- Maturation is the stage of healing when a scar softens, flattens and fades. You'll notice your wound looking more like the skin that was once there. During this stage, the body is strengthening the area. Depending on the severity of the wound, maturation may take a year or more to fully complete.
Typically I&D is well tolerated with pain being the most common complication. Inadequately drained abscesses can lead to the extension of the infection into adjacent tissues and worsening of clinical status.
Redness. The area may be swollen, sore, and red in color right after you've sustained your injury. This is normal as blood is being sent to the area to supply oxygen and other nutrients for healing. But if the wound is still red and swollen after five days, it's a sign that your body is not healing correctly.
Dehiscence is a partial or total separation of previously approximated wound edges, due to a failure of proper wound healing. This scenario typically occurs 5 to 8 days following surgery when healing is still in the early stages.
Wound healing is classically divided into 4 stages: (A) hemostasis, (B) inflammation, (C) proliferation, and (D) remodeling. Each stage is characterized by key molecular and cellular events and is coordinated by a host of secreted factors that are recognized and released by the cells of the wounding response.
After drain removal, cover the site with a Band-Aid or dressing for one day. After one day, the hole usually is closed. You can use a Band-Aid or other dressing if there is leakage from the hole. Shower and bathe as usual.
A tiny drainage hole will remain, which will close within just a few days and heal completely within a few weeks. Drains can leave behind a small scar, which will fade over time.
Swelling may worsen initially after your procedure. This is normal. Swelling usually reaches its maximum 2 days following surgery. Keep your head elevated with two to three pillows when reclining for the first 2 days.
Continue evaluation every 24 to 48 hours with repacking until the drainage stops. 4. If the patient underwent primary closure, remove sutures if pus has reaccumulated. Otherwise, instruct the patient to keep the wound clean and arrange for suture removal seven days after initial incision and drainage.
As with the incision and drainage procedure for skin abscesses, percutaneous drainage may leave a small scar.
Protein – Protein is essential to wound healing, so try to get plenty of foods like chicken and eggs. Vitamin C – Some research shows that Vitamin C and zinc can help with healing, so eat the recommended amount of fruit each day.
Wounds need to be covered so that they can heal properly. When a wound is left uncovered, the new surface cells that are being created can easily dry out. When these important cells dry out, it tends to slow down the healing process. A wound should be covered using a clean bandage.
You'll see some changes in your scar. It will go from looking thick, red, and raised to thinner, flatter, and more like your usual skin color.
Incision and drainage are minor surgical procedures used to release pus or pressure built up under the skin, such as from an abscess. Clinical lancing can also be performed for infected paranasal sinuses.
Dehiscence. Other complications associated with drains typically result from improper placement and tube size selection. Poor placement can lead to incision infection or dehiscence, which could potentially lead to herniation of abdominal viscera. Suture line dehiscence is a recognized complication of drains.