Skin & Wound Recovery

Hidradenitis Suppurativa Surgery Recovery: An Honest Guide

Based on NHS guidance, the Australasian HS management guidelines, and published surgical literature. General information only: always follow your surgical team's instructions.

Track your wound healing

Take a photo of your wound each day or every few days. The ghost overlay lines up your previous photo so you can see exactly what has changed. The reveal slider lets you drag between before and after. Bring the photos to your next appointment: your GP or surgeon will appreciate the visual record.

All photos stay on your device. Nothing is uploaded. No account needed.

📷 Open wound photo journal →

⚠ Seek urgent medical attention if:

Increasing redness, swelling, or warmth spreading beyond the wound
Fever above 38.5°C / 101.3°F
Foul-smelling or thick pus, especially with increasing pain
Heavy bleeding soaking through dressings
A flap or graft area turning pale, dusky, or unusually cold, this needs urgent review, not a wait-and-see
Severe pain not controlled by prescribed pain relief
A stitched wound suddenly coming apart

Emergency: 000 (AU) · 999 (UK) · 911 (US)

Recovery essentials

Practical items that other patients have found helpful during recovery.

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HS surgery wounds (especially those left open to heal) need regular dressing changes. Having a good supply of sterile dressings at home avoids trips to the pharmacy during recovery. Wound dressings →

Postopcare.info may earn a small commission from Amazon at no cost to you. These are things patients have told us genuinely helped their recovery, nothing else.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does hidradenitis suppurativa surgery take to heal?

It depends heavily on the type of surgery. Deroofing usually heals over several weeks. Excision with stitched closure often heals in 3-6 weeks. Excision left open to heal on its own can take much longer: commonly 6-12 weeks, sometimes several months for large wounds, especially in the armpit.

Will I need daily dressing changes after HS surgery?

Open wounds typically need dressing changes at least once a day, sometimes twice early on. Stitched wounds usually need far less: often just a dressing check at follow-up. Some larger wounds use negative pressure wound therapy, which reduces dressing changes to every few days.

Can I shower after hidradenitis suppurativa surgery?

Most people can shower within a day or two, with warm water only and gentle patting dry — never rubbing. Your surgical team will tell you whether to shower with the dressing on or off.

Does HS surgery cure the condition?

Surgery removes affected tissue in the treated area but HS is a chronic, whole-body inflammatory condition, so new areas can still develop elsewhere. Larger, more complete excisions tend to have lower recurrence in the treated area than smaller procedures.

What's the difference between deroofing and wide excision?

Deroofing removes just the roof of a tunnel or sinus tract, leaving a shallower wound that heals from the inside out. Wide excision removes the affected skin and tissue down to the fat layer, treating a larger area and typically requiring a longer recovery.

When can I return to work after HS surgery?

For smaller procedures, often within a few days. For larger excisions or flap reconstruction, several weeks is common, especially for physical jobs or roles involving a lot of sitting or walking depending on the surgery site.

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Your recovery snapshot

A quick timeline, what to expect, and a checklist you can tick off.

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Day of surgery

Home same day for most, dressing in place

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Days 1-3

Pain usually worst here, first dressing change

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Days 4-7

Dressing routine settles in

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Weeks 2-3

Stitches out if applicable, activity increasing

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Weeks 3-6+

Healing continues at very different speeds by procedure type

Diet: Normal diet. No specific dietary restriction, though smoking cessation and weight management can support healing.

Activity: Loose, breathable clothing over the area. Gentle movement from day 1. Light work possible within days for small procedures, several weeks for larger excisions or flap reconstruction. Avoid tight or rubbing clothing near the wound.

Pain: Often less than a bad HS flare, per patient reports. Managed with paracetamol and anti-inflammatories if approved.

My checklist

ⓘ This is general guidance: individual recovery varies. Your surgical team's instructions always come first.

🚨 When to seek help

Increasing redness, swelling, or warmth spreading beyond the wound
Fever above 38.5C
Foul-smelling or thick pus
Heavy bleeding soaking dressings
Flap or graft turning pale, dusky, or cold, urgent review
Severe pain not controlled
Stitched wound suddenly coming apart

000 (AU) · 999 (UK) · 911 (US) · 112 (EU)
In a life-threatening situation, call your local emergency number immediately. Do not wait.

Your recovery toolkit

Free interactive tools to track your recovery day by day. Everything stays on your device — nothing is uploaded or shared.

Chronic wound trackerFor wounds that take longer to heal Wound checkIs my wound healing normally?Pain trackerSpot the trend, share it with your GP Last-dose tracker“When can I take the next one?”Daily dashboardMeds, vitals & wound photos in one view Medication scheduleLay out dose times, add calendar reminders

These tools support — never replace — the advice of your surgical team. If something feels wrong, contact your doctor or emergency services.