Bandages for how long?

[heynowkc 329]

I am in Virginia (surgery was in Northern Virginia) and had no drain and no bandages. Just surgical glue.

[ProjectMe 909]

I didn't have a drain. And my incisions are covered with dermabond. I was told to just leave them alone and let them fall off by themselves.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

My bandages were removed before discharge. Had no drain. Was advised to use soap & Water. Inaddition to that I cleaned daily with 70% alcohol. Had no issues.

Just a word of caution. You should NEVER use alcohol on open wounds. Yes it will kill germs, and therefore it is used in certain cleaners and hand sanitizers. However, rubbing alcohol is also a drying agent and should never be used on open wounds. Nothing delays healing like parching the membranes of newly exposed skin. You may be killing germs, but you will also be causing a lot of unnecessary pain and delaying the healing process. Ditto for hydrogen peroxide. That's why your doctor instructed plain soap and Water. All you really need to do is keep the wounds clean and let nature run it's course.

[SeptemberSlimmer1960 53]

Missouri Sleever ~ no drains or bandages, just glue. Healing nicely, despite this crazy itching which my doctor said was a s/o healing, and occasional burning sensation.

[tfarr 270]

I never had any dressings on mine. I was instructed not to put anything on them. I had derma-bond. My scars are hard to see. Now that the glue and scabby areas are gone I apply cocoa butter and it seems to be working fine

[roundisashape 712]

Had glue everywhere but the drain hole, and steri-strips on that one - no bandages anywhere but the drain hole. The nurse said I only needed the bandages until it stopped leaking so my clothes wouldn't get messed up

[katanabutterfly 14]

I am 11 days out and most of my incisions are healing fine on their own. I kept them covered the first week with neosporin and bandaids, but now I'm letting them be free. I have been covering up the one in between my boobs with a bandaid, since my bra rubs against it.

I was curious though, I had a drain and that's the only one I've kept covered all this time. The wound still looks open and wet when I change the big bandaid, so I was wondering if I should just let it air dry? It's almost fully closed, but I am scared of getting an infection. But at the same time I'm wondering if keeping it covered this long is prolonging the healing. I'm thinking of going sans bandaid tonight and seeing how it looks in the morning. I'm not used to having a port hole in my side... :-/

~*~Heather~*~

[bhartwig 18]

I had Only steri strips, which came off in about a week. No staples, no bruising. Amazed at how tiny the incisions were. Largest one is in my belly button, so not visible. That was the only one that was a little sore. But was by no means what I had expected. So impressed with my surgeons work. No regrets. Sleeved Dec 9. Down 22lbs and I feel great. Soooo thankful to have been free from any complications!

Edited January 2, 2015 by bhartwig

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

@@katanabutterfly - I had a visiting nurse. She said as long as it wasn't oozing to let it get air because it would help it scab faster. I kept it uncovered whenever I was home and just put on a sports bra. If I had to go out I lightly covered it so it wasn't rubbing on my clothes.

I am using scarfade gel on my incisions. I tend to keloid. I had an extra tube left from when I had the shingles. It's pricey but it helps flatten the scars. I'll probably continue for a least 6 month.

[szrhans 5]

Ohio... cleveland clinic. ... no drain no bandages at any point only glue. My scars r almost completely gone and im only 6 weeks post op

[MyssJones 84]

@@Tauruslady5 I did not have a drain site. I had five incisions all closed with steristrips and then bandages. I changed the bandages for about 2 days and then I just uncovered them. The steristrips started to peel after about 8-9 days. Then I took them off in the shower.

I want to start scar cream soon. I still have some light pain to the touch around my belly area, but that's about it.

[hdd55146 29]

I was curious though, I had a drain and that's the only one I've kept covered all this time. The wound still looks open and wet when I change the big bandaid, so I was wondering if I should just let it air dry? It's almost fully closed, but I am scared of getting an infection. But at the same time I'm wondering if keeping it covered this long is prolonging the healing. I'm thinking of going sans bandaid tonight and seeing how it looks in the morning. I'm not used to having a port hole in my side... :-/

That's what I'm mostly concerned about; the drain site. I keep it covered and part of it has started to scab but there is still a small hole. I want to try letting it air dry/heal but I'm worried about germs getting in if I am only wearing a shirt and nothing to protect it. I am only 5 days post op so I think I will wait a couple more days and then maybe try going w/o a bandage. I've just been using bandaids since Ive been home.

To those that asked about why some surgeons put drains in and others do not, I think it's just a matter of choice. They all seem to have their own reasons and ways of going about doing it. Think about all the variations in the pre-op diets. Ive heard others saying everything from 2 weeks of liquids only all the way to some not having a pre-op diet at all. I didn't mind having a drain. Esp after seeing all the gross stuff in it. Glad it was caught in the drain instead of floating around in my body lol. I'm just happy it was removed before I came home from the hospital.

[hdd55146 29]

Ok so the first paragraph in my post above was supposed to be quoted but it didn't show up that way. I quoted it from the post by @katanabutterfly. LOL

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

@@hdd55146 _ I just wore a sports bra when I was home. The only time I covered it was when I had to go out or if company came over. It scabbed pretty quickly once it was exposed to the air.

[GoGirl2014 2]

I still have the "glue" on my skin and it's been 2 1/2 weeks. Most of it has fallen off. They said to let it come off on it's own in the shower etc. I didn't have a drain either, 5 incisions and internal stitches because there is nothing on my skin. It is healing nicely. I am hoping for minimal scaring.