What Happens If You Don't Care for a Surgical Wound Properly?

While the incision might be small, taking care of it can make a lasting impact. Good surgical incision care definitely helps the healing process, while improper care can lead to infection, longer healing time, or a visible scar. 

If your wound doesn't appear to be healing as well as it should be, there's a chance there's a problem with your wound; perhaps with hygiene, protecting the wound, or with the procedure itself.

Let's take a look at what may go wrong if you do not care for the surgical site properly, and how you can achieve safe and effective surgical wound healing from day one.

How Does a Surgical Wound Heal?

Wound healing occurs in 3 stages:

Check Out: 5 Stages of Surgical Recovery

What Happens When Surgical Wound Care Is Ignored? 

Postoperative care of the wound is very important even after a successful surgery. Simple changes, such as keeping the wound clean, resting properly, and following the surgeon's post-operative advice, can have a significant impact on the recovery process. 

Without proper wound care, the body may not heal as expected, resulting in a setback that prolongs the healing process and makes it more uncomfortable than necessary. 

1. Infection 

Bacteria will enter a wound if it is not kept clean and dressed. If a surgical site infection occurs, the tissue surrounding the incision may become irritated and inflamed.

Common signs of infection:

• Redness
• Warmth
• Swelling
• Yellow/green drainage
• Bad odor
• Fever or fatigue

Prompt treatment can help prevent the infection from spreading deeper into the tissue and delaying recovery. 

Also Read: Is Redness Around a Surgical Incision Normal or a Sign of Infection?

2. Wound Reopening 

After surgery, your wound is held together with stitches, staples, or sometimes even surgical tape. In the early stages of recovery, new tissue begins to form naturally and your body really bonds the edges together. However, that bond is quite weak in the early stages.

Lifting very heavy things, stretching the skin excessively, or removing dressings even a bit aggressively increases the risk of separation. This is called wound dehiscence, and it appears like a gap opening right up along the cut line.

Sometimes it may close itself back up with proper care; sometimes, it will need some professional attention. If not, it will prolong your recovery time for weeks. 

3. A Thick or Raised Scar

Scars are a natural result of surgery, but whether they'll be flat, smooth, or faded really depends on your wound care in the initial weeks.

When a wound becomes infected or it takes much longer to heal than usual, your body creates a lot more scar tissue. That's what gives you a very thick, bumpy, or even itchy scar, and one that will probably take a lot longer to completely disappear and might be quite tight or uncomfortable to touch.

Avoiding direct sunlight on the scar, using silicone-based products, and overall care help improve the appearance of the scar.

4. Fluid Build-Up 

Initially, your body naturally produces fluid to heal. But if you do not properly adhere to your post-operative wound care instructions, or if you exert and move excessively, fluid can accumulate beneath your skin rather than being reabsorbed into your body.

This can cause:

• Seroma: the accumulation of clear fluid below the wound.
• Hematoma: blood collecting under the skin.
  

You might actually see noticeable swelling or a soft, fluid-filled lump near the incision, accompanied by tightness, pressure, or discomfort in that area. 

Some bruises and color changes in the skin are common in severe hematoma cases.

While minor fluid accumulations may heal on their own, untreated large ones will lead to recovery delays.

Learn How to Avoid Seroma After Tummy Tuck?

Surgical Wound Care Tips for Faster Healing

1) Keep the wound clean: The first principle of wound care is cleanliness. Make sure you thoroughly wash your hands every time you're going to dress the wound or touch it. This simple practice can prevent infections.

Always clean with cooled boiled water or salt water solution, and gently clean from the center to the edges of the wound. In the first 48 hours after surgery, doctors recommend using a sterile saline solution for cleansing, as it is gentle on the tissue (1).

Do not scrub excessively hard or press the area. Even strong antiseptics like hydrogen peroxide or spirits shouldn't actually be applied directly to the wound since they could harm the growth of new skin cells and possibly delay wound healing.

2) Change dressings correctly: It is important to have the best dressing routine to maintain a healthy surgical wound. Your surgeon will recommend changing the dressing every 1-2 days, or more frequently if it gets wet or loose.

When applying a fresh dressing, use a new sterile one from a sealed pack. Just lightly pat the wound to dry it. Rubbing may cause damage to healing tissue.

3) Support healing through your diet: Your body needs the right nutrients to support surgical wound healing. Protein is crucial to the formation of new tissue.

Prioritize foods that are rich in:

• Protein 
• Vitamin C 
• Zinc
  

Tip: It can be difficult to get the right balance of nutrients through diet alone, especially when appetite is low or the body is under stress. HealFast offers surgery recovery supplements that are designed with a blend of 25 critical nutrients that support the healing process.

Our supplements include key ingredients like amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are known to:

• Support collagen formation and tissue repair
• Help maintain immune function during recovery
• Reduce inflammation and support overall healing
• Improve energy levels during the post-surgery phase

4) Get plenty of rest and avoid over-exerting yourself: Healing requires a lot of energy, and your body does most of its repair work when you're resting. Overactivity can really hinder the healing of a surgical wound, particularly in the initial stages.

You must adhere to your surgeon's advice concerning movement and your general level of physical activity. Avoid picking up heavy items or stretching out the area. If your wound is located in a rather delicate area such as the abdomen, even little actions like coughing will exert some pressure, so providing support for the area very gently can indeed help minimize strain considerably.

5) Keep the right moisture balance: Wounds actually heal better in a moist environment, which will help facilitate faster and even more effective tissue repair.

Stop submerging the wound in baths, pools, or hot tubs until your physician gives you the all-clear. Having a shower is generally acceptable, though the water should run very gently over the area, instead of hitting it quite hard. Then, simply pat the wound dry to maintain the correct balance necessary for healing the surgical wound.

6) Monitor the wound daily: Regular observation is a key part of effective post-surgical wound care. Take a moment every day to look at your wound; it will really help you catch early signs of any complications that might arise.

A healing wound typically shows gradual improvement, such as reduced redness, less pain, and closure of the incision over time. If you notice symptoms moving in the opposite direction, like more redness, swelling, or discharge, it’s important to seek medical advice promptly. 

Reference: 

1. National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2020). Wound healing. In StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542473/