Incisions

The incisions are closed with dissolvable sutures – these do not need to be removed.

You will either have surgical glue or a plastic bandage over your wound.

  • If you have glue over the incision, this will fall off on its own 2-3 weeks after surgery. No dressing needs to be applied to this area.
  • If you have a clear plastic bandage over your wound, this should be removed in 48 hours. You do not need to replace this bandage. The steri-strips (tape bandage) underneath should be left on. These will fall off on their own in about 2 weeks or will be removed at your post-op appointment.

    Your incisions may feel hard about 7-10 days after surgery. This is due to scar tissue, and is a normal part of healing. This hardness will eventually soften and smooth out. Bruising and swelling around the surgery site is also normal and will resolve with time.

    Some patients will feel a firm lump in the area where their hernia used to bulge. Most of the time this is fluid in this area – called a “seroma” – this will resolve within a few months.

    Many patients have used Arnica Montana, either as a gel or orally, to reduce swelling and bruising after surgery. Arnica is a safe, homeopathic medicine that works well in many patients. Most natural food stores will carry it.