Sole’vita Surgery Private Hospital offers Day Surgery for minor surgical procedures, such as skin grafts and flaps to close wounds or remove lesions.
Open the Minor Surgical Procedures PDF to download and print the essential information found on this webpage. You can also find PDF’s to download the information for Wound Closures & Care further down this webpage.
Find out more about our treatments by selecting an option from the drop down menu.
Your wound could be a simple straight line (primary closure) or a combination of lines (skin flap). Open the Primary Closure or Skin Flap Information PDF to download and print.
DRESSINGS
The choice of surgical procedure will also determine the type of dressing applied.
IMMEDIATE WOUND CARE
WOUND CARE FOLLOWING SUTURE REMOVAL
A Skin Graft is performed when a patient does not have enough skin, or stretch in the skin, to repair the defect once the lesion has been removed. Skin must be taken from a ‘donor’ site and grafted onto the defect. This surgery is commonly performed on the nose, ear or scalp. Following your surgery you will have two wounds – the donor site where the skin was taken and the site where the lesion was removed from and the skin graft placed. Open the Skin Graft Information PDF to download and print.
DRESSINGS
The skin graft will be covered with a piece of gauze and foam, stitched on to your wound to put an even pressure on the graft to make sure it ‘takes’. Over the next few days the foam will absorb some blood, become hard and unsightly (see pic 2). Do not remove this foam. The second dressing is placed over the donor site. If this is covered with a plastic dressing (ie. the collar bone) you can get this wet but do not remove it.
IMMEDIATE WOUND CARE
You will be given a tube of chloromycetin ointment. Please place a small amount of this ointment around the edge of the foam twice a day and half an hour before suture removal. This ointment helps to keep the foam moist, limits the risk of infection and allows easier removal. It is important to keep the foam dry until suture removal. You may clean around the edges of the foam with a damp sponge.
WOUND CARE FOLLOWING SUTURE REMOVAL
Fasting
Fasting is not required, as your procedure will be attended under Local Anaesthetic. If your surgery takes place under General Anaesthetic, Fasting may be required. See Preparing for Surgery if you have questions about what fasting may be required.
Your Wound
Our surgeon will choose the most appropriate method of repairing the area where the lesion has been removed. This may be a Primary closure, Skin flap or Skin graft.
Suture Removal
If you are having facial/ head surgery, your suture removal will be 5 to 7 days post surgery.
If you are having body surgery, your suture removal will be 10 to 14 days post surgery.
Your suture removal appointment will be given to you on the day of surgery.
Medications
There may be medications for you to cease, or to start taking, prior to your surgery. These will be explained to you by our admissions nurses. If you take warfarin, unless you have been given other directions by your doctor, our admission nurses will advise of what to do. Unless advised otherwise by your doctors, or our staff:
Post Surgery Pain Relief
Ensure you have suitable oral pain relief, such as paracetamol (Panadol) on hand for your return home. We do not provide pain relief for you to take home on discharge. We do not recommend aspirin, ibuprofen (Nurofen) or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories for 2 days post surgery.
Other Preparations
As your stay with us will be brief, please bring only essential requirements.
Pain Relief
Following your day surgery you may experience mild discomfort and pain. It generally settles within 24 to 48 hours. Your pain is best relieved by an oral pain killer, such as paracetamol (Panadol). We do not recommend aspirin, ibuprofen (Nurofen) or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories for 2 days post surgery.
Rest
It is advisable to rest quietly and not to undertake any form of physical or strenuous activity the evening of your day surgery. Please refrain from participating in any activity such as sports, housework, lifting children, or any activities that may compromise your wound healing. At the time of your suture removal, we will advise you when you may resume normal activities.
Bruising and Swelling
You can expect some bruising and swelling for the first few days following surgery. It is not uncommon following surgery to the scalp, brow, nose and eye areas to have a lot of swelling and bruising around and under the eyes. Do not be alarmed, over the next 5 to 7 days the swelling and bruising will begin to subside and the area will soften and assume a more natural shape.
Chloromycetin
Chloromycetin ointment is an antibiotic ointment used in all areas of the body to keep sutures moist and prevent infection. If you have been given a tube of Chloromycetin, this needs to be applied directly onto the wound, twice a day as instructed.
Resuming Medication
If you have stopped taking any medication prior to the procedure, you will be advised on the day of surgery when you can resume these.
Wound Care and Dressings
Our surgeon will choose the most appropriate method of repairing the area where the lesion has been removed. Please find specific information for wound care below, depending on the type of wound closure and dressing you had attended during your day surgery.
Your dressings should stay intact until your removal of your sutures. Should you feel your dressing start to lift, please resecure with either micropore tape or a larger waterproof dressing (if used). These can be purchased from your nearest pharmacy.
Please call the Sole’vita Surgery on (02) 6282 1153 to talk to a nurse, if you feel that your dressing has been compromised, due to:
Bleeding
If the wound bleeds or seeps, with clean hands and a clean tissue, apply firm pressure to the area and bleeding should stop in ten to twenty minutes. If it does not stop or you are concerned, please contact us.
The results of your surgery may be compromised by complications. Rapid intervention may reduce the chance of complications becoming a real issue. Please do not hesitate to contact us if:
If these symptoms occur please contact us immediately. Call Sole’vita Surgery on (02) 6282 1153 Our nurses are happy to talk to you about your concerns.
Should you have any concerns outside of clinic hours, we recommend you go to your local GP, Walk In health centre or Emergency Department.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure our estimates are accurate, additional costs may occur if: