Notice
Road and parking lot construction in Madison, Wis. may result in travel delays and route changes to UW Health clinic and hospital locations. Please plan accordingly.Read more
Road and parking lot construction in Madison, Wis. may result in travel delays and route changes to UW Health clinic and hospital locations. Please plan accordingly.Read more
This Health Facts for You will tell you what to expect after a lip biopsy and how to care for your wound.
Your wound site will be red, tender, bruised and swollen for the first few days. This is normal! The suture should absorb in 10-21 days. The knot buried within the wound should also absorb over a longer period of time.
Start icing the outside of your lip right away. Ice for 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off. Place a cloth between ice pack and lip.
Mild pain is normal. If needed, take either ibuprofen 800 mg or naproxen 440 mg with food to relieve pain. Talk to your doctor if you are restricted from taking these medicines.
For the first 48 hours after the biopsy, avoid foods with small seeds (e.g. tomatoes and strawberries).
Increasing redness, swelling, or severe pain around the biopsy site
Fever
White, green or yellow discharge from the site
Call if you have:
Signs of infection
Severe pain or pain that worsens over time
Questions about the care of your biopsy site
608-263-7577