INSTRUCTIONS AFTER UMBILICAL HERNIA SURGERY
DIET: You may advance your diet to regular, as tolerated.
INCISION CARE: Look at your incision at least twice a day. A small amount of drainage is normal. If your
doctor put steri-strips on your incision, they will fall off gradually by themselves, usually about 7-10 days
after surgery. Do not pull them off yourself. You can put gauze over the incisions for the first week to
protect clothing from any drainage. Avoid wearing tight clothing.
ACTIVITY: You may shower after 24 hours, but do not soak in a tub for 2 to 3 weeks. No lifting greater
than 10 pounds (about a gallon of milk) or strenuous activity until seen by the doctor in your follow-up
visit.
PAIN MEDICATION: Do not drive or drink alcohol while taking pain medication. Take your prescribed
pain medication only as needed. You may decrease the amount of pain medication as tolerated, and
take Tylenol or a Motrin product as directed by your surgeon. Pain medication can cause constipation.
To avoid this, you may take an over-the-counter stool softener. Increasing the fiber in your diet with
foods like beans, bran cereal, whole grains, dried fruit, apples, sweet corn, and nuts can also prevent
constipation.
You should have a follow-up appointment 2 to 3 weeks after surgery, as requested by your surgeon.
The Trauma Surgery number is (919)966-4389. For emergencies at night or on the week-end, please
call (919)966-4131 and ask for the surgery resident on call.
You may return to work on
You may not return to work until seen in your follow-up appointment
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WHEN TO CALL THE SURGEON’S OFFICE:
1. Thick, yellow drainage from your incisions, redness at incisions, bleeding, or separation of wounds.
2. Temperature greater than 101.5⁰
3. Uncontrolled nausea or vomiting.
4. Pain that is not controlled by your pain medication.
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