After surgery, you will have an incision. It is very common for the incision to look pink, swollen, or slightly puffy during the first several days after surgery. This is called inflammation, and it is a normal part of healing.
What Is Inflammation?
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury, surgery, or infection. When surgery is performed, the body recognizes the incision as an injury and immediately begins trying to heal. Your body responds by sending: White blood cells to protect against infection, extra blood flow and oxygen, nutrients, and healing cells to repair tissue.
How Long Does Inflammation Last?
The inflammatory phase of healing usually lasts about 1–4 days, but this can vary depending on:
• The type of surgery
• Your overall health
• Medical conditions such as diabetes
• Smoking status
• Nutrition and hydration
What Is Considered Normal?
During the early healing phase, you may notice:
• Pinkness around the incision
• Mild swelling or puffiness
• Warmth near the surgical site
• Mild tenderness or soreness
• Small amounts of clear, pink, or honey-colored drainage
• These are normal signs that your body is healing.
Over time:
• Swelling should slowly decrease
• Pinkness should gradually fade
• Tenderness should improve
• Drainage should lessen
When Should You Call Your Surgeon?
Although mild inflammation is normal, worsening symptoms may be a sign of infection. Contact your surgeon’s office or seek medical attention if you develop:
• Increasing redness spreading around the incision
• Severe or worsening pain
• Increasing swelling
• Thick, creamy, yellow, or green drainage, bright red blood
• Foul-smelling drainage
• Fever or chills
• Opening of the incision
Helping Your Body Heal
You can support healing by:
• Following your surgeon’s wound care instructions
• Keeping the incision clean and dry (you may shower)
• Washing your hands before touching the area
• Eating a healthy, protein-rich diet
• Staying hydrated
• Avoiding smoking or nicotine products
• Taking medications as prescribed
Healing takes time, and some swelling and tenderness are expected. Monitoring your incision daily
can help you recognize normal healing and identify problems early.
