Post-operative Dressing

Our patients need to understand the Importance of Post-operative Care. To do this, we educate them on how a wound undergoes different processes during healing. 
 

• The Inflammatory Phase
  When a wound forms, your body will respond by triggering the release of inflammatory mediators found within the locality of the wound area. The major cell types responsible for producing inflammatory mediators are the mast cells, macrophages, monocytes, neutrophils, and platelets.
  After surgery, your body will trigger the increased blood flow towards the surgical site. Cells, such as platelets found in blood, will release the mediators to combat any bacteria that will enter your wound to prevent infection. This increased blood flow and the formation of mediators are what cause the affected area to become swollen. Likewise, the production of mediators will produce heat, edema, erythema, pain, and decreased function of the wounded part of the body.
   
• The Proliferative Phase
  Your body will then trigger the proliferative phase. New tissues are produced using collagen and the extracellular matrix released within the affected area during this phase. As a result, new tissues are built around the wound, causing the opening to contract as new tissues fill it up. Likewise, any blood vessels that have been damaged are also rebuilt.
  Myofibroblasts, which are web-like cells, grip the wound's edges, causing its opening to close inward. Therefore, if the proliferative phase is done in a healthy environment, the granulation tissue will appear pinkish to red and uneven. However, if the wound environment is not sanitary, the granulation tissue will have a darker color. This dark color is an indication that the wound is not clean and that infection has occurred. Likewise, a proliferative phase that has a lot of complications will result in dark scars.
  At Batemans Bay Medical & Skin Centre, we know how important it is for you to get back to your normal life after your surgery. However, we also understand that most patients do not want to be reminded of medical conditions they had in the past. That is why we will make sure that we give our patients the Best Post-operative Care during this phase of wound healing to ensure you heal quickly and with minimal scarring.
   
• The Remodeling Phase
  During the final stage of Wound Healing, the body will slowly remove collagen used during the proliferative phase. During the previous phase, the urgent need to lay down collagen as building materials for rebuilding tissues resulted in a disorganized and thick clump of cells. During the remodeling phase, the outer layer of cells that are no longer needed are released by apoptosis. The body will then trigger the alignment of collagen along the tension lines to strengthen the skin area of the wound.
  The remodeling phase usually occurs 21 days after an injury or surgery and will continue based on the wound's severity or the surgery's complexity. We at Batemans Bay Medical will ensure that you receive the necessary care until your surgical wounds have healed completely. 

At Batemans Bay Medical & Skin Centre, we believe in the principle that each phase of wound healing must be done under sterile conditions and that Post-operative Care during each phase is crucial to hasten the healing of the wound and to manage the aesthetics of the wound when it heals.