All - My sugery was Tuesday. My doc said I could take off the gauze and tape after 48 hours. I was told to leave the steri strips alone and just wash the areas thoroughly each day.

Should I leave them on a little longer?

was banded 4/8/08, no not an expert but the steri strips just kinda fall off on their own. I'd just leave them alone and let them come off naturally. Good luck.

I would just leave them there. Call me paranoid but if they aren't hurting anything just let them fall off.

Luckily I had inside stitching and glue on the outside so not guaze or steri strip.

My doctor told me not to mess with them. Like the others said, leave them alone and they'll eventually wear off on their own.

I work on a surgical unit as a nurse and that is what we do and tell people to do post operatively! good luck!

I was banded Monday 5/5 and took a shower today. Dr. said keep my back to the water and just let it run over my incisions. Don't wash with soap, scrub, etc. I took off the bandages and just have the steri strips on now. Dr. said they would fall off on their own.

i was banded on 4/21 and i didn't shower the following day - i know, gross but i was so out of it that i totally didn't care. on the 2nd day post op, i took the bandages off (as told by the doctor) and left the sticky strips on until they fell off.

bottom line ~ if you were told they can come off after 48 hrs - shower away, wash the area with soap and Water and leave the rest to time.

good luck.