Thyroid surgery is a major procedure for any patient at any age. Whether having the thyroid repaired or removed, it’s vital for a patient and caregiver to take good care of the resulting wound. Proper wound care can make a major difference in the look of the wound and the discomfort level for the patient.
What to expect after surgery
When a patient has thyroid surgery, the doctors make a sizeable incision into the lower part of the neck, typically 1.5 inches to 3 inches long. This is a sensitive area that will take some time to heal. The doctors will advise the patient on the specifics of their healing process, but most thyroid surgery recoveries are similar in nature.
Standard stitches may be used to close the wound. These will be removed about one week after surgery. If the doctor chooses to use dissolvable stitches, they will dissolve on their own over the course of a week or so.
The doctor will likely put in a drain to help with the removal of liquid after the surgery. This is usually removed within a day after the surgery is complete. Patients may be advised to clean the wound area one day after surgery.
Most patients receive a gauze pressure dressing around their neck after thyroid surgery. This helps keep the wound clean and sanitary as it heals.
Wound dressings for thyroid surgery wounds
Regularly changing the wound dressing on a thyroid surgery wound will aid in the overall healing process. Patients must be sure to change their dressing when necessary, not too often and not too rarely. It’s also important to ensure the dressing stays in place with a skin-sensitive tape such as Hy-Tape.
Doctors may recommend that a patient change their wound dressing daily to keep the wound as clean as possible. Carefully removing the dressing will help ensure continued healing. Hy-Tape is a strong dressing tape that can keep a dressing in place without irritating the skin. It can be easily removed without irritating the skin around a thyroid wound.
Keeping the wound area clean is also important. Doctors suggest lightly cleansing the area with cotton balls soaked in hydrogen peroxide or saline before applying a new dressing.
Moist wound healing can be helpful
When choosing a type of wound dressing, doctors will likely recommend a moist dressing. These dressings do more than just cover the wound and keep it safe from infection. Moist wound dressings interact directly with the skin and wound, helping to rebuild the damaged skin.
Securing a moist wound dressing properly can ensure a faster healing time. Hy-Tape can hold a wound dressing in place tightly without irritating the skin around the wound. When the dressing needs to be replaced, Hy-Tape peels away easily, ensuring that the wound does not get damaged.
Long-term care for thyroid surgery wounds
In total, it may take 12 to 18 months for a scare to fully heal as much as it will. It’s important for patients to take proper care of their wound to ensure the best healing.
Regular massage of the wound area can help the wound repair and look its best by the end of the healing process. Doctors don’t recommend massage immediately after surgery, but after the wound is sufficiently healed.
Studies have shown that silicone-based products can help raised scars flatten over time. Silicone sheets, tape, or gels can be used when massaging the wound. Over time, the silicone material gets into the skin and helps reduce the redness and the size of the scar.
Protecting the wound against the sun is very important. Zinc-oxide-based sunscreens are highly recommended to keep the wound protected. These sunscreens block the sun rather than absorb UV rays like standard sunscreens.
For wounds that stay red and raised, doctors have discovered that laser therapy may help. Pulsed yellow dye laser therapy can help reduce redness and flatten out a thyroid wound over time.
In some cases, doctors may recommend a steroid injection to help repair the wound in the long term. Kenalog is a local steroid that can be injected near the thyroid scar and has been proven to reduce the size of the wound.
Secure any wound with Hy-Tape
One of the most important aspects of wound care is how the wound dressing is secured. Many wound dressing tapes feature ingredients that can irritate the skin when removed or cause allergic reactions when in contact with the skin. These issues can lead to limited wound repair.
Hy-Tape is a highly advanced wound dressing tape that takes care of the skin around a wound. It does not feature any allergens or skin irritants, helping ensure much less of a chance for skin issues. It’s also made to be very flexible to allow comfortable movement by the patient. Hy-Tape holds tightly but also removes easily, helping to avoid unnecessary skin pulling when a wound dressing is changed.
Whether a patient or a caregiver, trust a highly advanced, waterproof, irritant-free wound dressing tape to help your thyroid wound heal properly. Contact Hy-Tape now to discuss your needs for a proper wound dressing tape.
Read Care for Thyroid Surgery Scars
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Hy-Tape for Wound Care and Scar Management