Your own instructions come first. This page is general information. The written and verbal instructions your Belaray surgeon gave you are tailored to your wound and always take priority over this page. If anything here is different from the instruction sheet you were given, such as how long to keep your bandage on, follow your sheet. When in doubt, call your Belaray office.

The right wound care after a skin procedure helps your skin heal well and lowers the risk of bleeding, infection, and a noticeable scar. The instructions depend on how your wound was managed, so find the section below that matches what your Belaray surgeon told you. The written and verbal instructions your surgeon gives you are tailored to your wound and always take priority over the general guidance here.

Find your instructions

Follow Your Surgeon’s Instructions First

Every wound and repair is different. Use this page as a reference, but follow the specific instructions your Belaray surgeon gave you. If anything is unclear, call the office and ask.

Cryosurgery (Freezing) Aftercare

Cryosurgery uses liquid nitrogen (about 320 degrees below zero Fahrenheit) to freeze and destroy abnormal or unwanted skin tissue. It causes some stinging and burning when applied, and that feeling may continue for a few days.

  1. Clean the area gently with soap and water. Avoid scrubbing or rubbing the treated areas.
  2. The treated areas will become red and swollen and may blister. Do not remove the blister. A scab then forms after a few days and may take 2 to 3 weeks to fall off.
  3. You may apply petroleum jelly (Vaseline or Aquaphor) to the treated sites if the skin breaks down.
  4. You may cover the area with a bandage if it is prone to rubbing or irritation.
  5. Healing takes 1 to 3 weeks, after which the skin may look normal or slightly lighter in color. Thicker skin growths may need more than one treatment before they are completely removed.

If you have an unusual amount of tenderness, swelling, or discharge from the site, please contact our office to be evaluated.

Maintenance-Free Dressing (Dissolvable Sutures)

You had skin surgery and the wound was repaired by moving the surrounding skin to cover it. The sutures are under some tension but should not pull apart unless more tension is added. It is important that you do not stretch, pull, push, or extend the area that was sutured.

  1. Leave the pressure bandage (white tape over white gauze) on for 24 to 48 hours as directed. Underneath it is a second bandage (clear plastic over a tan pad). This is your maintenance-free dressing.
  2. Leave the maintenance-free dressing on until your next scheduled appointment, when we will remove it and check the site. The sutures are absorbable but must be kept moist under this dressing to dissolve properly. If the dressing falls off or needs to be changed, apply petroleum jelly (Vaseline or Aquaphor) over the sutures under a bandage to keep them moist.
  3. Briefly running water over the dressing in the shower is allowed. A small amount of blood under the dressing is normal. If there is a large amount, call the office and we will have you come in for a bandage change.
  4. Extra-strength acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) can be taken for pain if needed and if not contraindicated by any medical conditions.

See bleeding, pain, and swelling below.

Wound Care After Sutures

You had skin surgery and the wound was repaired by moving the surrounding skin to cover it. The sutures are under some tension but should not pull apart unless more tension is added. It is important that you do not stretch, pull, push, or extend the area that was sutured. Increased swelling, pain with movement, and redness along the suture line can all be signs of increased tension in the area.

  1. After removing the pressure bandage at 24 to 48 hours, clean the site with hydrogen peroxide or soap and water (showering is okay), then place a small coating of petroleum jelly (Vaseline or Aquaphor) on the sutures.
  2. Cover with a light bandage that will not tear the surrounding skin when changed. You may use an antibiotic ointment (Neosporin, triple antibiotic, or Bacitracin) only if you are not allergic to it. Repeat at least once a day until your follow-up appointment.
  3. Extra-strength acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) can be taken for pain if needed and if not contraindicated by any medical conditions.
  4. If there is any thick discharge, foul odor, redness extending well beyond the surgical site, or an abnormal amount of discomfort, call the office promptly to be evaluated.

See bleeding, pain, and swelling below.

Wound Care for Open Wounds

Some wounds are intentionally left open to heal on their own, which often gives an excellent cosmetic result. This type of healing takes a little longer and depends on keeping the wound clean and moist.

  1. Leave the pressure dressing on for 24 to 48 hours. If the site is still bleeding after that, apply another pressure dressing for a day or two until the bleeding stops.
  2. After removing the pressure dressing, clean around the wound with hydrogen peroxide, then place petroleum jelly (Vaseline or Aquaphor) inside the wound. You may use an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin, Neosporin, or triple antibiotic) only if you have not had an allergic reaction to it before.
  3. Cover with a light bandage that does not tear the surrounding skin when removed. If the adhesive irritates the skin, use a non-stick pad secured with paper tape or an elastic wrap.
  4. Clean and apply ointment twice a day until you are told to stop. After 2 to 3 days, instead of cleaning with peroxide, you may wash the area in the shower with soap and water.
  5. Keep the wound moist at all times with petroleum jelly or ointment. Allowing the site to dry out and scab will result in sub-optimal healing.
  6. Extra-strength acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) can be taken for pain if needed and if not contraindicated by any medical conditions.

See bleeding, pain, and swelling below.

After a Skin Biopsy

A biopsy was taken and sent to a laboratory to be examined. Results usually take 1 to 2 weeks. In the meantime, care for the biopsy site as follows.

  1. Keep the biopsy site moist for about 1 to 2 weeks with either petroleum jelly (Vaseline or Aquaphor) or an antibiotic ointment (Neosporin, triple antibiotic, or bacitracin) that you have used before and are not allergic to.
  2. Wash the site once a day with soap and water. After washing, apply petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment to the base of the wound and cover it with a light bandage that will not tear or irritate your skin from daily changes.
  3. A small amount of bleeding is normal for the first few days. If this occurs, place a pressure dressing (a ball of gauze secured with surgical tape) over the biopsy site for 24 hours. Repeat for the next few days if necessary.
  4. If the bleeding does not stop, if there is an unusual amount of redness around the site, or if there is any thick discharge coming from the base of the biopsy site, call your Belaray office to have the site evaluated.

The wound-care supplies our team suggests, including gauze, non-stick pads, and surgical tape, are listed on our recommended products page.

Bleeding, Pain & Swelling

Bleeding

A small amount of bleeding in the first few days is normal. If a wound bleeds, apply a pressure dressing (a ball of gauze secured with tape) over the site, or press firmly and continuously with clean gauze for a full 20 minutes, timed by a clock. Do not lift to check before 20 minutes have passed. If bleeding continues, press again for another 20 minutes with a fresh pad.

If bleeding is profuse, does not slow down, or leaks through the dressing, call your Belaray office or go to your local emergency room while keeping firm pressure on the area. After hours, Belaray patients can reach an on-call surgeon. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Pain

Mild to moderate pain for a day or two is normal and usually responds well to over-the-counter medication such as extra-strength Tylenol or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), if not contraindicated by your medical conditions. If over-the-counter medication does not give enough relief, call the office.

Swelling

Swelling in and around the surgical site is expected, especially around the eyes and forehead. It can get worse before it gets better and may take 24 to 48 hours to appear. Apply ice packs to the area 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off, starting the evening of surgery and continuing for several days, and keep your head elevated.

How Your Wound Will Heal

Some swelling and redness around the wound is normal and gradually fades over 7 to 10 days. You may feel a sensation of tightness across the area, and because skin surgery can involve small nerves, months may pass before normal skin sensation returns. Itching as the skin heals is common. Complete healing of the scar takes place over roughly 12 to 18 months. During the first few months the site may feel swollen or lumpy and look pink or red. Once the wound is fully closed, gentle massage of the area starting about a month after surgery, keeping it lubricated with petroleum jelly, and daily sun protection all help the scar soften and fade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which wound care instructions apply to me?

It depends on how your wound was managed. There are four common situations: cryosurgery (freezing), a maintenance-free dressing over dissolvable sutures, a standard sutured repair, and an open wound left to heal on its own. Follow the section that matches what your Belaray surgeon told you. The written and verbal instructions your surgeon gives you always take priority.

Is some bleeding normal after skin surgery?

Yes. A small amount of bleeding in the first few days is normal. If a wound bleeds, apply firm, constant pressure to the site for a full 20 minutes, timed by a clock, without lifting to check. If it continues, press for another 20 minutes with a fresh gauze pad. If bleeding is profuse, does not slow down, or leaks through the dressing, call your Belaray office or go to your local emergency room while keeping pressure on the area.

Should I use antibiotic ointment like Neosporin?

Plain petroleum jelly (Vaseline or Aquaphor) is the safe default and keeps the wound moist. For sutured repairs and open wounds, over-the-counter antibiotic ointments such as Bacitracin, Neosporin, or triple antibiotic may be used only if you have not had an allergic reaction to them before. Follow the instructions for your specific wound type.

Can I shower with my dressing on?

Keep the pressure dressing clean and dry for the first 24 to 48 hours. With a maintenance-free dressing, briefly running water over the bandage in the shower is allowed after that. For sutured repairs, showering is usually fine once you begin wound care, but keep the area dry for the first day or two and avoid soaking in pools, hot tubs, or the ocean while the skin is open.

Why does keeping the wound moist matter?

Keeping a wound moist with petroleum jelly helps it heal faster and with a better cosmetic result. Allowing the site to dry out and scab leads to slower, sub-optimal healing. This is especially important for open wounds healing on their own.

When should I call the office after surgery?

Call your Belaray office if you notice thick discharge, a foul odor, redness spreading well beyond the surgical site, an unusual amount of tenderness or swelling, or a fever, as these can be signs of infection. Also call for bleeding that will not stop with firm pressure. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Related reading: What is Mohs surgery?, Mohs surgery on Long Island, and the Belaray Skin Cancer Center.

Questions About Your Recovery?

Call the office caring for you, or reach us anytime by text. Belaray patients also have access to an on-call surgeon after hours.

📞 Hicksville: (516) 822-SKIN 📞 Stony Brook: (631) 864-MOHS