YOLANDA D. HEMAN-ACKAH, MD, PC
POSTOPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THYROIDECTOMY
1. No lifting any objects greater than 10 lbs., including pets, children or other objects, for 4
weeks following surgery.
2. No strenuous activity, including exercise for 4 weeks following surgery. Only slow paced
walking is permissible. No running, jogging, bicycling, aerobic activity, Taebo or any
exercise intended to help maintain physical fitness.
3. If you have an incision, it is covered with Dermabond, which is a skin “glue”. It requires
no care at this time. The Dermabond will peel off of your skin 10-14 days following your
surgery. It may also be removed by the doctor following your surgery. Once the
Dermabond is removed, wash the skin lightly with soap and water and apply a
moisturizing cream such as Eucerin Cream or Vaseline Intensive Care lotion. Beginning
at about the third or fourth week after surgery, if you scar is red or slightly thick, you may
apply Mederma to the wound twice daily.
4. Do not expose your incision to sunlight or allow it to get sunburned within the first year
following surgery. If it experiences sunburn within this time period, it will heal red and
become red permanently in fair skinned individuals. In darker skinned individuals, the
scar will darken more so than the surrounding skin. You should always wear sun block
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with an SPF of at least 30 over the incision for the first year following surgery, and cover
the incision if you are going to be outside for extended periods of time.
5. You were given two different pain medications. One pain medication may work better
for you than the other. You may take one or two tablets of either of these pain
medications (but not both at the same time) every four to six hours as needed for pain.
Do not take more than two of either pain medication within a four-hour period.
6. Schedule a follow up appointment with Dr. Heman-Ackah for one week following
surgery.
7. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the office at (610) 660-8071, to speak
with one of the nurses or one of the doctors.
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