I was banded Monday 3/19 and I am due to visit the Dr on Tuesday 4/3 to have the staples removed and all the other post-op stuff. I was just wondering if it is normal for the skin around my staples to be really red. Just one out of my 5 sites are really gross. It is the place that pulls the most and the biggest opening. I have been putting bandages and antibiotic cream on them. I know that my skin is prone to scar so I don't know if this is just part of the healing process or if they are getting infected. I wish my Dr didn't use staples, but there is nothing I can do now. It is one of those questions I didn't think to ask prior to surgery.

Thanks

Wendy

It is very common for peope to react to staples, the skin gets red and can be quite itchy. The concern is if you have any drainage from the wound that looks purulent (yellow/green/creamy), if you are running a fever, or if the wound is hot to the touch and inflamed . Did the doctor tell you to put antibiotic cream on them? Usually they are best left alone if they are healing well. Covering them in Neosporin and bandages just makes a "soup" out of the bad stuff. But if s/he directed you to do that, then I'm sure it's fine.

Though staples are not my favorite, the surgeon I consulted with this week described to me the surgical technique for skin closure and why staples are preferable to other methods. The center I'm going to has had only one infection, and that was a mild one at the port site that cleared with oral antibiotics. I'm going to have to trust him. But I still dont' want staples...

Wow,

I'm glad my surgeon used glue, that sounds painful. Hope your doing well.