Postoperative Instructions For Scrotal Surgery

24 hours after surgery

Do not drive a car or operate machinery for 24 hours after anesthesia. Do not take alcohol, tranquilizers, sleeping medication or any non-prescription medication for 24 hours after anesthesia or if taking pain medication.

Diet

Begin with clear liquids. Avoid any heavy meals on the day of the procedure. Depending on how you feel the next day, you may resume your normal diet the day of surgery. Follow a healthy diet to promote healing. Drink plenty of water.

Activity

Do not do any strenuous activity for two to three weeks. This includes activity such as running, strenuous exercise, stretching exercises and so forth. Do not lift anything over 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) for the next four to six weeks.

You may walk up and down stairs. You may drive if you are not taking narcotic pain medicine.

Incision care

Remove the dressing 24 hours after surgery.

Put ice or a bag of frozen vegetables on the scrotum for the first day after surgery. Place ice for 20 minutes then take a five-minute break and repeat.

Wear a scrotal support (jock strap or fitted underwear) for two weeks or as directed. It is normal to have discomfort, some swelling and bruising of the skin near the incision that can last up to two weeks.

Stitches in the skin will dissolve on their own over the next two to three weeks. There may be some redness and irritation as they dissolve.

Bathing

Shower 24 hours after surgery. You may then shower daily. Wait to take a bath or submerge in water until the incision has healed completely (about a week) Wait 24 hours to take a bath or shower.

Medication

You can obtain good pain relief by taking two acetaminophen (Tylenol) every four hours for the first several days. You may also get a prescription for pain pills which you may use in addition to acetaminophen (Tylenol) every four hours. Do not take more than 4000 mg acetaminophen (Tylenol) per day. You may take two ibuprofen tabs ever four to six hours in addition to acetaminophen (Tylenol) and the prescription medication. Ibuprofen has been shown to decrease the number of pain pills needed to be comfortable as well as decreases swelling and inflammation.

Avoid constipation

Anesthesia and prescription pain medication can make you constipated. Straining to have a bowel movement can harm the surgery site. Be sure to avoid constipation by taking plenty of fiber and water. You may take over the counter medications such as docusate (Colace), senna (SennaGen or Senokot), bisacodyl (Dulcolax), polyethylene glycol (Miralax), mineral oil, magnesium hydroxide (Milk of Magnesia). You may use over the counter suppositories such as bisacodyl (Dulcolax) or enema such as tap water or sodium phosphate (Fleets).

Postoperative appointment

Call the office to make an appointment in two to four weeks if you do not already have a postoperative appointment.