By Mr Gavin Schaller FRCS(Tr&Orth) | Consultant Hand & Wrist Surgeon | Reviewed November 2026
In short: After hand surgery you should keep the dressing clean and dry until your first wound check, usually 10 to 14 days later. You can then wash normally once the wound is sealed, but soaking in a bath or swimming pool should wait until the wound has fully healed, often three to four weeks. Spreading redness, pus, fever or a wound that opens needs prompt attention.
How should you look after your wound after hand surgery?
Keep the dressing clean and dry, keep the hand raised and do not disturb the wound until your surgical team tells you to. A dry, undisturbed dressing protects the wound from bacteria while the skin seals, which takes about two weeks for most hand and wrist operations.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline on surgical site infection advises keeping a surgical wound covered with a dressing for the first 48 hours and handling it as little as possible. Hand surgery wounds are small, but the hand is in constant contact with surfaces and water, so the early rules matter.
Your discharge instructions take priority over any general guide. Different operations need different dressings. A carpal tunnel release in the palm may have a light dressing and a soft bandage. A tendon repair or a fracture fixation may have a bulky dressing with a splint, which should not be removed at all until the clinic says so.
When can you shower after hand surgery?
You can shower from the first day if the hand stays completely dry, and you can wash the wound itself only once it has sealed, usually after the first wound check. Until then the dressing must not get wet.
For the first 10 to 14 days the practical approach is:
cover the dressed hand with a waterproof sleeve,
hold the hand outside the shower stream and well away from the water,
check the dressing afterwards and dry the outside of the cover before taking it off,
wash the hair and body with the other hand.
A waterproof cover is not always watertight. If water reaches the dressing, a damp dressing should be replaced with a clean dry one as soon as you can, because moisture left against the skin allows bacteria to grow. Ask the clinic or your practice nurse if you are unsure.
When can you get your hand wet after surgery?
Most people can wash the hand gently with soap and water once the wound is sealed and the stitches have been removed or have started to dissolve. The timing is typically 10 to 14 days after surgery, although the date varies with the operation and with how well the skin has healed.
Once your surgeon has cleared you:
wash the area gently with mild soap and lukewarm water,
pat the scar dry with a clean towel and do not rub it,
avoid scrubbing at any scab or glue,
leave the wound uncovered or lightly covered, as advised.
Washing the hands is allowed. Sustained soaking is a different matter. Washing up for a long time, soaking in a bath and swimming should wait until the wound is fully closed with no scab or gap, which is often three to four weeks after surgery.
Do you need to change the dressing yourself?
Usually not. Most hand surgery dressings are left in place until the first wound check, where a nurse or the surgical team removes them and inspects the wound. Changing a dressing early opens the wound to bacteria and can disturb the stitches.
There are exceptions. You should change a dressing at home only when:
it has become wet or soiled,
it has loosened and is no longer covering the wound,
your surgeon has given you specific instructions to do so.
If you do change a dressing, wash your hands thoroughly first, use a clean dressing and avoid touching the wound surface. Do not apply creams, ointments, antiseptics or home remedies to the wound unless you have been told to, because many of these irritate the skin or keep it moist.
Splints and bulky bandages should not be adjusted or removed by the patient. Tight bandages can restrict blood flow, so if the fingers become pale, blue, cold or numb, loosen the outer bandage slightly and contact the clinic at once. Raising the hand also helps. The article on swelling after hand surgery explains why swelling matters in the first week and how to control it.
What does a normal healing wound look like?
A normal wound is slightly pink or red along the edge, mildly tender and dry, and it improves from day to day. A thin pink line with minor bruising and tightness around it falls within the expected range of healing for the first two weeks.
Features that suggest normal healing include:
redness limited to a narrow margin along the wound,
discomfort that settles with elevation and simple painkillers,
a dry wound with no discharge,
mild itching as the skin knits together,
no fever and no general feeling of being unwell.
A small amount of clear or pale yellow fluid on the dressing in the first day or two is not unusual. A wound that keeps leaking or a dressing that becomes soaked should be reported.
What are the signs of a wound infection after hand surgery?
Spreading redness, increasing pain, heat, pus and fever are the signs of infection. Wound infection after hand surgery is uncommon, and it is treated more easily the earlier it is found. The NHS lists the same features, including a wound that smells unpleasant or feels increasingly hot.
Contact the clinic or your GP promptly if you notice:
redness that is spreading away from the wound,
pain, throbbing or heat that is increasing after the first few days,
pus or a cloudy discharge,
a temperature above 38 degrees Celsius or feeling feverish,
the wound edges separating,
bleeding that soaks the dressing and does not stop with pressure.
If you cannot reach the clinic, NHS 111 or an urgent treatment centre can assess the wound. Go to an emergency department the same day if a red area is spreading rapidly, the hand is hot and swollen with fever or the fingers lose colour. Early antibiotics treat most simple infections, and a collection of pus sometimes needs a small procedure to drain it.
What raises the risk of a wound problem?
Smoking, poorly controlled diabetes and wounds that get wet or dirty are the main factors that raise the risk of delayed wound healing. Smoking reduces blood flow to the skin, and high blood sugar slows healing and weakens resistance to infection.
Other factors include steroid medication, conditions that affect the immune system and heavy manual work or gardening too soon after surgery. If you have any of these, tell the surgical team before the operation so that the plan can take it into account. Stopping smoking before surgery and for as long as possible afterwards is one of the most helpful changes a patient can make.
When can you swim or soak the hand after surgery?
Swimming and soaking are usually safe once the wound is fully healed, with no scab and no open area, typically three to four weeks after surgery. Pools, hot tubs and the sea carry bacteria that can infect a wound that is not fully sealed.
Your surgeon or hand therapist can confirm when the skin is ready. Gardening, washing up for long periods and contact with soil or raw meat carry the same concern, so protective gloves are sensible for the first few weeks. Sleeping with the hand raised on pillows continues to help in the early days, as covered in the guide to sleeping after wrist surgery.
When does scar care begin?
Scar care begins once the wound is fully sealed and the stitches have been removed, usually two to three weeks after surgery. Gentle scar massage with a plain moisturiser, introduced as advised by your surgeon or hand therapist, helps keep the scar supple and reduces tenderness.
The scar stays pink and slightly raised for several weeks and fades over the following months. Sun exposure can darken a new scar, so covering it or applying sun protection through the first summer is sensible. Hand therapy after surgery often includes advice on scar management as well as on movement. Recovery timelines for particular operations are in the articles on carpal tunnel surgery recovery and trigger finger surgery recovery.
My approach to wound care
Before surgery I explain the wound care plan in plain terms and give it to patients in writing, because small mistakes in the first fortnight are the most avoidable cause of delay in recovery. Most wounds heal without any problem when the dressing is kept dry and the hand is rested and raised.
I see patients at London Sports Orthopaedics, 31 Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1HT and operate at London Bridge Hospital in London and at Spire Bushey and Pinehill Hospital in Hertfordshire. If you have a concern about a wound, please contact the clinic early. A quick check is always preferable to waiting. To discuss a hand or wrist problem, you are welcome to book a consultation.
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Frequently asked questions about wound care after hand surgery
How long do I keep the dressing dry after hand surgery?
Keep the dressing dry until the first wound check, which is usually 10 to 14 days after surgery. A dry dressing protects the wound while the skin seals. Use a waterproof cover when washing, and replace any dressing that gets wet with a clean dry one.
Can I shower after hand surgery?
Yes, provided the dressed hand stays completely dry. Cover it with a waterproof sleeve and hold it outside the water stream. Direct washing of the wound should wait until the wound has sealed, usually after the stitches are out or dissolving.
When can I take a bath after hand surgery?
You can take a bath once the wound has sealed, provided the operated hand stays out of the water. Soaking the hand itself should wait until the wound is fully healed, with no scab or gap, which is often three to four weeks after surgery.
When can I swim after hand surgery?
Swimming is generally safe once the wound is fully healed, around three to four weeks after most operations. Pool and sea water can carry bacteria, so an open or scabbed wound should stay out of the water. Your surgeon can confirm timing for your operation.
Should I put cream on my surgical wound?
No, not until your surgeon says so. Creams and ointments can irritate the skin and keep the wound moist. Once the wound is sealed and the stitches are out, a plain unperfumed moisturiser is usually fine for gentle scar massage.
What does an infected wound look like after hand surgery?
An infected wound has spreading redness, increasing pain, heat, swelling and often pus or an unpleasant smell. A fever above 38 degrees Celsius is another sign. Contact the clinic or your GP promptly, because early treatment with antibiotics usually settles the problem.
What should I do if my dressing gets wet?
Replace it with a clean dry dressing as soon as possible, after washing your hands thoroughly. A damp dressing against the skin allows bacteria to grow. If the dressing is a bulky bandage or splint, call the clinic for advice rather than removing it yourself.
Does smoking affect wound healing after hand surgery?
Yes. Smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and slows healing, and it raises the chance of wound problems. Stopping before surgery and for as long as possible afterwards improves healing, and your GP or the NHS stop smoking service can help.
Mr Gavin Schaller FRCS(Tr&Orth), Consultant Hand & Wrist Surgeon
The Schaller Hand & Wrist Clinic
About Mr Schaller
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for a consultation with a qualified clinician. If you have concerns about your hand or wrist, please seek medical advice.
