Open Wound Care

Please wash your hands thoroughly before caring for the wound.
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PLEASE DO THE FOLLOWING:

  1. Leave the pressure-dressing over the wound and keep it dry for the first 48 hours.

  2. After 2 days pass, remove the dressing carefully.

  3. After the dressing is removed, wash the wound every day with hydrogen peroxide. Please be gentle with the fresh wound. Do not attempt to remove any debris that does not come off easily. Small spots of bleeding are common when cleaning your wound.

  4. Coat with Vaseline using a clean Q-tip and then cover with a Band-Aid or other form of non-adherent dressing.

  5. Do not allow the wound to be left open to dry or become dry enough to form a scab. For your wound to heal properly with the best cosmetic outcome, it is important to keep the wound moist with Vaseline and covered at all times.

  6. If the wound appears to be drying out, apply more Vaseline at each dressing change.

  7. Continue these instructions until brand-new pink skin forms over the wound. This process may take 4-12 weeks, depending on the size of the wound, the location, and how well you heal.

  8. If the site develops increasing redness, pain, or pus/malodorous discharge, these changes may be signs of infection. Please call the office as soon as possible or seek medical care.

  9. If you notice bleeding through the bandage, hold pressure with gauze/cotton/cloth for 15 minutes continuously without releasing. If bleeding continues, repeat and hold pressure for another 15 min. If bleeding persists, please call Dr. Al-Dabagh or go to the nearest emergency room.


NOTE: Do not take any blood thinners (other than those prescribed by your doctor) including Aspirin (or aspirin-containing medications), Ibuprofen, Aleve, Advil, or Naproxen. If you need pain relief, take Extra Strength Tylenol. Postoperative pain should improve considerably after 2 to 3 days.

If you have any concerns please give Dr. Al-Dabagh a call at (704) 230-1302. After clinic hours, our line will have an option for urgent concerns, which will route directly to Dr. Al-Dabagh’s cell phone.

​We will return your calls as soon as possible. If you are experiencing a life-threatening event, please call 911 or seek help at the nearest emergency department.