MOHS RECONTSTRUCTIVE POSTOP INSTRUCTION SHEET

Remember it is very important not to eat or drink after midnight the night before surgery. This includes coffee, juice and water.

On the morning of surgery please report to surgery center/hospital as scheduled.

1. Keep your dressing dry for at least three days. Your doctor will tell you whether or not to change the dressing.



2. Once instructed to remove the dressing, you may wash the incision with a mild soap and water. Following this, gently dab the incision dry and apply a light coat of Vaseline or antibiotic ointment.



3. At any time during the postoperative period, if the dressing gets wet, it is very important that it be removed. Leaving a wet dressing on the wound would promote infection. With skin grafts, the yellow bolster dressing should never get wet. The neck donor site, however, can get wet within three to four days after the procedure. Make sure you take all the antibiotics you were given by your doctor at the preoperative visit.
4. A certain amount of swelling and redness is expected after any reconstructive procedure. If the redness and swelling continue to increase (especially associated with fever), call your doctor, as this may be an indication of infection.



5. Never place ice on a flap or graft following the procedure.



6. A certain amount of drainage may be expected after flap procedures, especially with forehead or cheek flaps. This may take several days to resolve.



7. Mederma and Vitamin E cream are often helpful after facial reconstruction. Your doctor will advise you when to begin these products.