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UW Health SMPH

Preparing for Pediatric Dermatology Surgery



Your child’s surgery will take place on ________________________________________

at _____________________________________________________________________.

 

Please see the recovery time section of this handout before you schedule a visit.  If your child plays sports, you may want to choose a time between sports seasons.  This is because your child will not be able to play sports for about 1 month.  Your child cannot swim or go in a hot tub during the time that the stitches are in place.  Please allow enough time for your child to recover.

 

To schedule or change your surgery time at the

  • Pediatric Dermatology Clinic on One South Park Street, please call 608-287-2450 and ask for Dr. Teng’s nurse.
  • American Family Children’s Hospital (AFCH), please call 608-263-6420 and ask for Dr. Teng’s nurse.

 

You should not schedule a visit in this clinic unless your child has been seen by Dr. Teng who recommends the lesion be removed.  If there is a question about whether a lesion should be removed, your child should first be seen in the general pediatric dermatology clinics.  This allows us to see the lesion and schedule the amount of time needed for the surgery.

 

What to Bring

  • Your child’s favorite music or movie.  Your child can play music on our CD player in the procedure room or bring in a MP-3 or i-Pod.  If the lesion we are removing is near your child’s ear, he or she may not be able to use an ear bud.  Instead, your child may pick the radio station on our radio.  We also have a TV/DVD player.  If your child would like, he or she can watch a movie.
  • Your child’s favorite blanket, small stuffed animal.  We may need to move them at times to prevent contact with blood.
  • A good book or magazine.  When working with children, things may take a little longer than planned if a child is very afraid and anxious at the start.  We do our best to stay on schedule, but we ask for your patience if things run behind.

 

What to Expect

 

Adults (1-2 people) are allowed to be in the room with the patient.  We cannot allow siblings in the room.  You may wish to arrange to have another adult watch any other children you have in the waiting room.  We make every effort to allow you to be right by your child during the procedure.

 

  • Stop aspirin two weeks and ibuprofen 10 days before your child’s surgery.
  • Tylenol® (acetaminophen) may be given before the procedure.
  • Have your child take a bath or shower on the day of surgery.

 

Before your child’s visit, you may be given a prescription for EMLA® cream.  This is a numbing cream.  About 1 hours before surgery, spread the cream over your child’s lesion and the skin around it.  Cover the lesion and skin with plastic wrap such as Saran Wrap®. 

 

If you are not given a prescription for EMLA® cream, you can go to a pharmacy and purchase LMX®.  This is an over-the-counter numbing cream.  You should buy this cream well before your child’s surgery.  Often times, the cream will need to be ordered.  About 1 hour before surgery, spread the cream over your child’s lesion and the skin around it.  Cover the lesion and skin with plastic wrap such as Saran Wrap®.  

 

Note:  If your child has a later visit, it may be a good idea to call and see if the doctor is running on time.  If things are running behind, this may change the time you apply the numbing cream to your child’s lesion and skin around it. 

 

After you check in for your child’s visit, you will be taken to a procedure room.  Your child may be asked to remove some clothing and put on a gown.  It depends on where the lesion is.  Have your child wear comfortable clothes, as he or she may need to lie still for up to 1 hour. 

 

The Procedure

 

Additional numbing medicine will be injected into the skin with a very small needle.  First there is a pinching feeling, followed by burning as the medicine goes in.  This takes from 20 seconds to 2 minutes, depending on the size of the lesion.  After the pain of the injection, your child will not feel any pain.  Your child will still be able to feel touching, tugging, and pressure during the procedure. 

 

The skin will be cleansed with a special soap and sterile towels will be draped around the site.  To keep a “sterile field,” nothing should be moved or touched.  Your child should tell the nurse or doctor if he or she is itchy or uncomfortable.  Your child should never reach up and touch the cleaned area or sterile towels.  We will go over this with your child before we start.

 

Bleeding is controlled with a tool that “buzzes” when it is turned on.  There will be no pain, although you can often smell the burning of the tissue.  When it is over, a sterile dressing will be placed over the wound.  This is to be kept in place for the first 24-48 hours after the procedure.

 

Recovery Time

 

  • Tylenol® may be given every 4-6 hours in the amount advised by the doctor for pain.  For the first 48 hours, the wound may be slightly sore.  Give your child only Tylenol® as Advil® (ibuprofen) can cause bleeding.  After 2 days, your child can use Advil® for pain.
  • You must keep the wound dry for 14 days.
  • Bleeding, infection, bruising, and swelling are rare.
  • If pain or swelling is excessive, call Dr. Teng at (608) 287-2450.
  • Your child will need to return to the office to have the stitches removed.  If the stitches are on the face, your child will be seen in 7 days.  If the stitches are on the body, your child will be seen in 14 days.

 

Your child should refrain from all strenuous activity while the stitches are in place.  This includes no gym or recess, bike-riding, ballet or dance, gymnastics, soccer, basketball, and football.  Your child should refrain from very strenuous activity for 3-4 weeks after surgery to keep the wound from ripping open and the scar from stretching. 

 

Your child will need to protect the scar from direct sunlight for 1 year.  You may cover it with a band-aid or sunscreen to protect it.  This is to promote the best cosmetic outcome.

 

It is your responsibility to tell your insurance company about your child’s surgery.  If prior authorization is needed, please talk with Dr. Teng’s nurse.

 

 

UW Dermatology Department

1 S. Park St 7th Floor

Madison, WI 53715

Clinic: 608 287-2450

American Family Children’s Hospital

Pediatric Dermatology Specialty Clinic

1675 Highland Ave.

Madison, WI  53792

Clinic: 608 263-6420

 

The Spanish version of this Health Facts for You is #7160.

 

 



The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 02/23/2011

Copyright © 09/24/2009 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. UWH #6488

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