I use a posterior approach. The incision is just back from the side of the hip. You will not sit on your scar. My total hip incision is 3 inches and my resurfacing incision is 4 inches in length in 95% of patients. Patients with BMI >35 or with old hip scars or with more complex anatomy sometimes require longer incisions. We use only internal stiches. This leaves a nicer scar and avoids suture/staple removal. We apply a 10-day antibacterial silver sealed dressing. This should only be removed early if it peels off or there is excessive drainage. You can shower over this dressing, but should not soak it in a tub.

After this initial dressing is removed (10 days after surgery) you may shower with your skin exposed. You should pat it dry and apply a small amount of bactroban (mupirocin) ointment daily until the wound is fully sealed and no scab or drainage occurs. If there is any drainage, the draining area should be kept covered by gauze dressing. You should notify us if there is any drainage after 2 weeks. Bruising and some redness are normal for a few weeks, if you are concerned, call us and e-mail us a picture. In rare cases there is a lot of early drainage. If this occurs, the initial silver dressing may become overwhelmed and require removal.

In this case you should apply bactroban daily, together with a thick gauze dressing. If drainage does not resolve after 3 days please call us for further instructions. Although minor wound problems are common and can be easily managed, serious deep infections are very rare (< 2/1000 cases in our practice). Even with these rare cases, the implant can usually be salvaged with aggressive management. After 6 weeks the wound is usually healed enough to allow soaking in a tub or swimming.

After 6 weeks you may also apply any creams or ointment that you desire. Although there are many advertised wound-healing creams, there is no good evidence to support this practice. Your incision will gradually fade over a period of 1-year, if you apply a special lotion it will not change this natural process. Due to subcutaneous fat atrophy at the incisional site, a small depression is usually present after all swelling has resolved at 6-12 months after surgery. This a cosmetic issue that sometimes bothers women. We have found no way to prevent it. It is not a sign of underlying muscle atrophy. We have done MRI scans in many patients and the gluteus maximus is always similar in size to the opposite side. Massage around the operated hip can be resumed after 6 weeks.