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The bandage can be removed on the morning following surgery. The puncture wounds will have a stitch or a steristrip tape keeping the wound edges together and will be covered by a small sticky dressing.

Replace the dressing with an elastoplast dressing if necessary but keep the puncture wounds covered and keep the knee dry for 3 days to allow the puncture wounds to seal.

You can remove the steristrip tapes after 7 days and if you have stitches make an appointment with your practice nurse to have them removed at 7 days after your surgery.

You may be given a tubigrip support to wear after you have removed the bandage. Wear this during the day, but take it off at night.
You will probably need to take some painkillers such as paracetamol, or ibuprofen for the first few days. This is encouraged to allow you to start exercising the knee in order to avoid developing stiffness of the joint.
Wearing the tubigrip bandage and applying ice packs will help to reduce the swelling. Ice packs (or a bag of frozen peas) can be applied twice a day for ten minutes – remember to protect the skin with a towel.
Your knee may be swollen for a couple of weeks or even longer after your operation. Should this occur you should avoid any strenuous activity until the swelling has nearly gone.

SEVERE PAIN OR MASSIVE SWELLING SHOULD BE REPORTED TO YOUR GENERAL PRACTITIONER OR TO THE HOSPITAL WARD WHERE YOU HAD SURGERY.