After a flap surgery, my sister has a nasty scab from where one of her stitches kept bleeding. She had several heparin shots while in the ICU and is currently on aspirin so that likely contributed to this spot's inability to clot. A scab finally formed a few days ago but then when she visited her surgeon for a post-op follow up, the nurse scrubbed at all of her bloody stitches and tore this one back open. With the way the scar is healing inward, we're worried it's going to look like a huge lump on her face.
Currently I'm keeping the wound moist by applying vaseline most of the time, and bacitracin at night, then putting a nonstick bandage over it and taping it on her face. The bleeding has stopped but whenever I gently pat the scab with a wet paper towel, it does come away with reddish brown residue.
I'm not sure if I'm doing everything I can. At what point should I stop bandaging it? Has anyone seen this type of scab and has advice on how to heal it? I'm already planning on ordering vitamin E oil for when it seems fully closed.