Outline
The below outlines what to expect following neck surgery with Dr Griffin. Patients will all require a post-operative appointment within 5-7 days from their date of surgery. All post-op appointments requested by Dr Griffin are covered by the operation fee. Neck surgery may be commonly performed for:
- Sentinel Lymph Nodal Biopsies (Melanoma)
- Neck tumour or lump
- Salivary tumour
- Cyst
What to expect
When you wake from your surgery
- You will be in the operating theatre recovery room
- You will have a bandage around your face, forehead and chin
- You may have drains in place (small plastic tubes placed under the skin to collect excess fluid/blood) – these are generally not painful
- You will be transferred to the ward once you are recovered or discharged home via the day surgery depending on the individual operation
Wound management
- Do not get your wounds wet for the first two days after your surgery. After two days, you can get your wounds wet in the shower and pat them dry with a clean towel afterwards
- After surgery, apply paraffin, vaseline or chlorsig to the suture lines four times a day to keep them moist. Continue this for the first two weeks.
- Elevate your head as much as possible for the first two days after your surgery to reduce the swelling
Stitches
- Please call us after your surgery to organise for your stitches to be removed by one of our nurses. There are no costs associated with having your stitches removed in our practice.
Pain
- Pain following surgery is expected. Take 1g of paracetamol four times a day. After the first two days you can start reducing how much paracetamol you are taking if your pain is under control.
- If the pain persists despite taking paracetamol, you can take 400mg of ibuprofen up to three times a day (we recommend taking this with food).
- You may also be prescribed additional pain medication so please follow the instructions on the packet if this is the case.
Swelling
- Apply ice to the wound for the first two days after your surgery to reduce swelling – 10 minutes on, 20 minutes off, as many times as possible
Bleeding
- Minor bleeding from the wound site is expected. If this occurs, apply pressure for twenty minutes and elevate the area if possible.
- If bleeding persists then call the nurse contact at the surgery or Dr Griffin
Things to avoid
- Strenuous activity including heavy lifting and exercise for the first three weeks after your surgery. These activities increase your blood pressure which can make the wound bleed and lead to a poor result.
- These activities also put stress on the wound which can lead to the sutures breaking and the scar widening.
- Pools/baths/spas/beach for the first two weeks after your surgery.
- Direct sunlight for the first twelve months as this can make the scar red and more noticeable. If you cannot avoid direct sunlight then wear a dressing or sunscreen over the scar.
Massage
- The scar will become thick, red and lumpy during the first six weeks after your surgery. This is normal. Massage will help to reduce this.
- Start massaging the scar two weeks after your surgery for at least five minutes a day. Scar tenderness is normal but this will reduce with time. If you are taping your wound until the six week mark then you can start massaging your scar then.
- You can use paraffin, vaseline, chlorsig or moisturiser to massage the scar.
- Massage softly at first but gradually increase the pressure every day.
- You should continue massaging the scar until it is soft.
- Scars continue to improve for up to twelve months after surgery and it can take this long for some scars to settle down.
Silicone
- Applying silicone has been shown to improve the appearance of scars.
- You can purchase silicone gel or tape from the chemist without a prescription.
- We have a silicone gel called Strataderm available to purchase in our rooms.
- Silicone needs to be on the scar for at least twelve hours a day to have any benefit.
- Start applying silicone to your scar two weeks after your surgery. If you are taping your wound until the six week mark then you can start applying silicone then.
Antibiotics
- If you have been prescribed antibiotics then continue these until the course is complete.
Follow-up appointment
- You will be booked a post operative appointment between 5-7 days post operatively.
- If you are concerned or feel like you need to be seen prior please contact the surgery in office hours.
