Incisions Question - Bandaids On Or Not?

[NJsharon 119]

I had my surgery in Mexico & when I left they cleaned them & put bandaids on them.

My post op instructions say to shower daily & pat the incisions dry. So does that mean I should take the bandaids off then?

Did you have bandaids on your incisions or were they 'open'?

[Katie713 423]

What do you mean by "open"? Are they not stitched or glued shut with the bandaid on top? I would advise remove the bandaid and let the incisions dry out naturally. That's what was recommended to me, but my incisions were glued shut.

[NJsharon 119]

Oh yeah, my incisions have steristrips on them, so they are shut. But wondering if they should be open from the bandaid now?

Thanks!

[NancyJerry 139]

I would think you could take the Bandaids off. I went home with just the steristrips and they came off within about 2 days or so. :-D

[traceyc 89]

I would say leave the steristrips on but take off the bandaids. Those bandaids will just get nasty and keep too much moisture on the incisions. I had just the steristrips which eventually come off on their own.

[LadyIvy 159]

Take off the band aid. Shower, let them dry for a little while and then put the band aid back on. I wish I had that problem. My stupid nurse told me I couldn't shower until my post op appt. (10 days later). I was leaning over the tub and doing spongebaths for a week and a half. Then my surgeon tells me, "I told them to stop telling people that! You could have showered the day after surgery". Congrats on the big life change!

[NJsharon 119]

Okay, thanks all. Bandaids are coming off then!

[BlessedBeyondMeasure2012 296]

Take them off and leave them off. The incisions need to stay open to air heal well. The bandaids keep them too moist and they will have a harder time healing. The steristrips will fall off on their own. Dont pull them off, you can even trim the ends as they start lifting up to keep them on for a little longer if you want to. (Sorry, I don't mean to sound bossy, I just do this for a living lol) Congrats on your surgery!

[kimmy*custis 276]

I had staples with strips over them, they came off in the shower ist time. Take the bandaids off for sure!

[Lissa 2,631]

I was told no bandaids over the steristrips, but I wouldn't put them on anyway due to latex allergies. I was allowed to shower my first day home, which was heavenly! I allowed the steristrips to come off on their own and didn't pay much attention to them even when they came off. I just picked them up out of the shower and threw them away.