Post-Operative Instructions for Earlobe Surgery
We want your post-operative recovery period to be as pleasant and uneventful as possible. If you have questions that are not addressed by this information sheet, please feel free to call our office.
Wound Care:
There will be sutures on the front and back surface of the earlobe. These may get wet to wash your hair, but not in a swimming pool, lake or hot tub. Sutures on the front surface will be removed at your first post op visit 5 to 7 days after surgery. Sutures behind the ear will then be removed approximately 10 to 14 days after surgery.
Activity:
After surgery it is best to rest in a chair or recliner with your head elevated to minimize the expected post-operative swelling. If you want to sleep in bed, use as many pillows as possible. For the first 48 hours please avoid any kind of straining. Strenuous activities should be avoided for 2 to 3 weeks, especially contact sports in which your ear could be bumped. After that gradually increase your activities so you are back to normal by the end of the fourth week.
Your recovery after treatment is important! We are here to help
Contact us today if you have any questions or are experiencing complications
Diet:
You can start a regular diet the day of surgery if you are not nauseous.
Medications:
You may have been given a prescription for pain medication. Take this as you need it according to the instructions on the bottle. In general this will be minimally uncomfortable. You should not have excessive pain. It is fine to take non-prescription pain relievers as well. You will also be given a prescription for antibiotics to take for a few doses. Resume your pre-op meds unless you have been specifically advised otherwise.
Appointements:
We will plan to see you several days after surgery. If this appointment has not yet been made, please call our office to set it up.
Please Call Our Office If:
- If you have severe pain not relieved by the pain medication, especially if it is much worse on one side than the other.
- You have a fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or more.
- You have redness, warmth, or other signs of an infection.
- You have any questions or concerns.
If you have any questions regarding your condition, it is best to call the office during our regular office hours. A follow-up visit is provided as a courtesy at no charge. If you have a true emergency, Doctor Hammond or his assistant can be reached 24 hours a day 7 days a week. During the day call the office number. At night, call Dr. Hammond on his cell phone. If there is no answer, leave a message and Dr. Hammond will call you back as soon as possible.