• Reference Number: HEY-1333/2023
• Departments: Plastic Surgery
• Last Updated: 1 March 2023

Introduction

This advice sheet has been produced to give you information and advice following your Day Case Plastic Surgery. It is not meant to replace the discussion between you and your Doctor. If you require further explanation after reading it, please discuss this with the relevant person who has been caring for you.

Pain Relief:  You may experience some mild pain following this procedure.  This is not unusual.  We recommend that for the first 24-48 hours you take regular pain relief such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen (not aspirin). Ibuprofen may not be suitable if you are asthmatic. 

Stitches and dressings:  You may have stitches that dissolve and so do not need removing.  Alternatively, you may have stitches that need to be removed.  Your wound will have a dressing over it.  The types of dressings vary depending on the area of the body.  Please keep the dressing clean and dry until you attend the clinic or GP practice for the removal of stitches and/ or wound check.  Further instructions will be given before you leave the department. 

Chloramphenicol eye ointment:  You may be given this ointment instead of a dressing. This is also used as a topical antibiotic for wounds, not only for the eyes. To use it: please apply a thin layer to the wound twice a day for 5-7 days as per instruction. Please wash the old layer off the wound before re-application.

Activity following surgery:  This varies depending on your operation.  We will advise you on how long you should rest, be off work or avoid exercise.  Here is the general advice about the different areas of surgery: 

• Face or head – Please keep your head up for 48 hours and avoid bending or stooping to avoid bleeding and swelling.

• Lips or mouth – Please avoid hot drinks until the numbness fully subsides. 

• Nose – Do not blow your nose or wipe it vigorously. This is to avoid bleeding or wound breakdown.  You can dab it gently if there are any discharges. 

• Eyelids – Bruising and swelling are common after surgery. Please keep your head elevated for 48 hours after the procedure.

• Ears – Avoid sleeping on the affected ear in order to avoid pressure and discomfort on the operated site.       
• Hand, finger, or arm – Please elevate the hand as much as possible. Use the sling provided for the daytime and pillows for the night time.  Please report if there is pain, bleeding, swelling, or change in colour and if the dressing or plaster becomes too tight. 

• Foot or leg – Please elevate the leg as much as possible, on a bed or sofa ABOVE HIP LEVEL or pillows at night.

• Skin grafts – Please keep the wound clean and dry, with full dressings on until seen in the Plastics dressing clinic. Arrangements will be made for your next appointment before you leave the department.

• Body and longer procedures – Please avoid heavy lifting for a minimum of 2 weeks. This is to avoid bleeding and wound breakdown.

General Anaesthetic:  We advise you not to drive or operate machinery or household appliances. Do not take alcoholic drinks or make important decisions for 24 hours after your procedure. You will need a responsible adult to stay with you for 24 hours after your surgery.

DRIVING AFTER LOCAL ANAESTHETIC: You will be advised not to drive home after your operation. 

THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR AFTER SURGERY: Slight oozing from the wound is normal.  Apply continuous gentle pressure over the dressing for 10 minutes.  If the bleeding does not stop, please contact the Hospital telephone numbers given below or contact your GP or go to your nearest minor injuries/emergency unit.

***If your wound becomes red, more painful, or swollen, it may indicate that there is a problem. Please contact us, your GP, or your Practice Nurse for advice***

Follow-up appointments:  We may ask you to have one or more appointments with the Plastic Surgery Team or at your GP practice.  We may want to check your wound and/or remove your stitches or discuss your biopsy result.  Further instructions will be given before you leave the department.

-Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this advice sheet, please contact the following at Castle Hill Hospital:

General Advice:  Day Surgery Unit 3, Ward 4 – (01482) 623004 / 624132

Wound Advice and appointment queries:  Plastic Surgery Outpatients Department – (01482) 623085 / 622601

Out of Hours:  Ward 16 – (01482) 468616

This advice sheet was produced by the Plastic Surgery Department, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and will be reviewed in March 2026.

Ref: HEY1333/2023

General Advice and Consent

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:

• you must be able to give your consent
• you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
• you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

Information about you

We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.