Incision Care: Abdomen

Dressing your incision helps keep it clean, dry, and infection-free. That way, it will heal faster. Follow the steps below, whether dressing the incision yourself or with the help of a family member or other caregiver.

Step 1. Wash your hands and set up

Use liquid soap. Lather and scrub vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Scrub between your fingers and under your nails.
Rinse with clean, running water, keeping fingers pointing down. Use a clean paper towel to dry your hands and turn off the faucet.
It's also acceptable to clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
Put all your supplies on a clean cloth or paper towel. Open a plastic trash bag.
Peel back the edges of the dressing packages. Pour any irrigation solutions into solution cups.
Clean the scissors with soap and water. Cut each piece of tape 4 inches longer than the dressing.

Step 2. Remove the old dressing

Put on new disposable medical gloves.
Loosen the tape by pulling gently toward the incision. Remove the dressing one layer at a time. Put it right into the plastic bag.
Remove your gloves and put them in the plastic bag. Wash your hands again, as described above. Then put on new gloves.