I had surgery on August 22nd. My nurse told me to keep bandages on my stitches for 14 days, my doctor said for 7 days. I changed the bandages yesterday and the incisions look good, but stitches have not yet dissolved and I am afraid to uncover them. I'm wondering if keeping them covered is slowing down the healing, because they aren't getting any air, but I also don't want to get infection.

Any advice would be appreciated.

My Dr. had me keep them on untill they fell off on thier own. It took a couple weeks and I kind of helped them along in the end. They were lokking really gross so I knew it was time.

I had mine on for about two weeks too.....I think they fell off earlier than that though in the shower and everything was just fine.

I was sure to keep the areas clean and keep clean clothes on until I could see that they had healed over for sure.

Carol

my doctor gave me (Betadine) and new bandages to change everytime I shower, since its bad to keep it on while its wet after the shower.

I kept cleaning and changing them for about 2 weeks too, that was untill it completly heald

Am I the only one who didn't have stitches?

I had internal (catgut) stitches with steri-strips covering the incision sites. At my 1 week post-op visit, the Nurse Practitioner took the steri-strips off.

My incisions were glued, which I liked so much better. And, I never had any bandages at all.

I took mine off fairly quickly without any problems. I would say you are safe to remove the bandage.

I had internal (catgut) stitches with steri-strips covering the incision sites. At my 1 week post-op visit, the Nurse Practitioner took the steri-strips off.

Tricia,

How are your scars? My surgeon also does internal stitches with steri-strips. I will be banded on 9/12, and was curious how this effected scars.

My doctor said to let them fall off on their own, they fell off after a few days.

I removed the bandages after 1 day, but still have the steristrips on. The doc told me that they will fall off. But, I am going for my post-op appointment tomorrow, so we'll see what happens!

I never really had mine covered, they were just gluedshut with a couple of steri- strips over them