I just got back from the drug store. I was in the band-aid aisle and I have <B>no</B> idea what to buy. Bandages, gauze pads (adhesive and non), gauze rolls, bandage tape, cotton pads, liquid bandages, bandages that grip, bandages that don't, bandages that are sterile, bandages that aren't, silicone pads, big bandaids, little bandaids, incision kits, incision creams, scar creams, realllly cheap creams, realllly expensive creams, and on an on and on.

Help me bandsters! What do I *really* need to care for my incisions and minimize scarring?

I bought Phsioderm and bathed with it until the bottle was gone...nothing else. My incisions were closed with surgical glue and steri-strips, which I thought would NEVER come off.

sleepyjean, You need to find out what type of closure they're going to do on you. I had internal stitches and glue on the outside - no dressings at all. I could shower the next day - just no direct soaking of the incision area. Find out how they plan to close your wounds, then you will have a better understanding of what to buy. If it's glue only or glue and steri strips, you probably won't need anything but a good antibacterial soap. I just use the Dial I have in the shower. Good Luck!

No matter what they are using on the incisions you will need a mild liquid antibiotic soap. (dial or softsoap) the girly bath products can iritate healing skin and cause a really bad reaction. My surgeon does both stitches and glue so he tells his patients to have mild soap at home. That was all I needed, my scars are getting lighter everyday and I am 9 months post-op. I never used anything on them other than good ole soap and water. When I have my gall bladder removed I did neosporin cream and they don't look any different then my band scars. It's up to you, how do you heal? If you are prone to scarring I would look into the generic mederma or similar product, for 2 or 3 weeks after the banding, but nothing right away. ~Mandy

There is a lot of "stuff" out there, huh? The only thing I think you should skip on for sure is any bandage that keeps your incisions moist. These are the waterproof ones (but they are great for showers if you want to do wound care seperately), and "blister" style bandaids that seal around the pad. You want them to be loose-ish so the scabs don't snag or rub on stuff, but aren't kept from the air. If you aren't glued like I wasn't glued, forming healthy scabs is important. Moistness breeds germs and dissolves scabs.

My port incision drained some, so I had some gauze and tape on hand for nighttime especially.

Lots of luck,

after the doctor says his bandages can come off, the wounds should be uncovered so they can dry. creams, neosporin and ointments aren't good until they are completely healed because they make the scab moist and vulnerable to infection. you should really talk to your doctor about what to do about it. I found out I am allergic adhesive after gallbladder surgery and had huge blisters everywhere a steri strip touched and everywhere the bandage was. Doctor knows best!

Am I missing something here? You were banded a long time ago and can take care of you new incisions the same way.

Am I missing something here? You were banded a long time ago and can take care of you new incisions the same way.

Old thread revived.