Thousands of children and adults suffer lacerations every year. The vast majority of these are repaired in a pediatrician’s office or by emergency room physicians. These qualified health care providers are well trained and very experienced with lacerations. Deeper and more complex wounds, or those in cosmetically important areas such as the face, may be referred to a plastic surgeon for advanced surgical care.

How Soon Does Skin Laceration Repair Need To Be Done?

Technique not timing is the most important consideration when you or your child suffers a laceration. To have a laceration skillfully and safely repaired is more important than having it repaired immediately. In Connecticut facial lacerations may be repaired up to 24 hours following an injury, allowing you the time to make the best arrangement for you or your child.

Why Should You See A Plastic Surgeon For Your Laceration Repair?

The facial skin is very delicate and can easily scar from cuts or lacerations. Although any emergency room can repair a laceration to the face with stitches or other techniques, reducing scar tissue is rarely a concern. The result of a quickly treated facial skin laceration can be a lasting scar that can alter the appearance of the patient, resulting in much deeper emotional scars.

When it comes to laceration repair Connecticut plastic surgeons at The Aesthetic Center have the highly specialized training to repair lacerations in such a way that they are less likely to develop scars, preventing the need for subsequent surgeries. Having the laceration repaired at our office, at a scheduled time, will lessen the stress on yourself or your child. Also, you will not be exposed to sick patients and will be cared for by our experienced, well trained nurses.

What To Expect After A Skin Laceration Repair

Sutures will be removed 5-10 days after the repair of the laceration. The doctor will advise you as to when.
If steri-strips were applied, you may bathe directly over them.
If exposed sutures were used, you may leave the initial dressing on for 24 hours. For the first postoperative week, remove the dressing twice a day, cleanse with a Q-tip and hydrogen peroxide, and apply a light layer of bacitracin (or polysporin/neosporin).
A small amount of drainage is normal from all lacerations.
The wound may be cleansed with mild soap and water and the patient may bathe.
Keep all lacerations and wounds out of the sun. Sun avoidance and bandages are the most effective method during the first week. Do not apply sunblock at this stage.
Antibiotics are not routinely used for facial lacerations. If a prescription for them was given, fill it as soon as possible and take the medication as directed until gone.
To minimize swelling, apply ice packs for the first 48 hours and sleep with head elevated on two pillows.

Risks Of An Untreated Skin Laceration

It is not common for an untreated skin laceration to become infected but if it does, the infection can produce symptoms such as increased pain, redness, foul discharge, malaise and even fever. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact our Connecticut plastic surgery office immediately.

Schedule a Consultation

If you are considering plastic surgery in Fairfield County or anywhere in Connecticut, contact us to schedule a one-on-one consultation with one of our expert plastic surgeons.

722 Post Road, Suite 202, Darien, CT 06820

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Laceration Repair in Darien

How Soon Does Skin Laceration Repair Need To Be Done?

Why Should You See A Plastic Surgeon For Your Laceration Repair?

What To Expect After A Skin Laceration Repair

Risks Of An Untreated Skin Laceration

Schedule a Consultation

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