How long did you keep your stitches covered?

Thread Starter  

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.

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Banded 1/24/06 Dr. Mark Fusco
Melbourne Florida
Starting weight 299
Weight loss so far 113 lbs.:)

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

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Don't eat it Carol, just smear it on your ass cause that's where its going anyhow!


Banding date: June 8/6
Dr. Joffe & Dr. Yau - TLBC

7th fill: Nov 27 T 9.5cc

....if you are concerned about signs of infection, call your surgeon....

My own first follow-up was 3 weeks postOp.......only had a few in the biggest incision...I had no problem, no infection, nearly no itching during healing. After 10 days I didn't keep them covered either. Primarily they had used butterfly tape, which eventually fell off.

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373/258
"Carpe mañana"
*Oldtimers posse: surgery 12/21/04*

My Quest is Victory over the Dragons of Habit, Gluttony, Sloth, Desperation...

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

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Dr. Frering - Lyon France
02/22/06
:hippie:
Start weight :130 kg -- 286 Lbs
Currently : 105 kg -- 230 Lbs
Goal :60 kg -- 132 Lbs

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

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Banded May 1, 2006
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

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.

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Banded: 4/28/06-Dr. Herrera-Jacksonville FL

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

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Julie
banded 6/6/06
Dr. McKeen, San Jose CA

320/213/goal 199. Almost there!

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.

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Banded 9/12/06
2day Pre-op -3
Week 1: -9
Week 2: -4
Week 3: -3
Week 4: -2
Week 5: -1
Week 6: -1
Week 7: -1
Week 8: +4 (vacation)
Week 9: -4 (first fill 1.5cc / 4cc band)
Week 10: -1
Week 11: +2 (Thanksgiving)
Week 12: -3
Week 13: -2 (second fill .5cc)
Week 14: -0
Week 15: +2 (Christmas)

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

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Betty

Surgery/Oct. 18, 2004
-92 pounds!




I believe there are Angels among us!

"Life is about creating yourself"

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!

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Jillian;)

Surgery Date: August 28, 2006
Height: 5'10"
Weight at initial seminar: 258
Weight on Surgery date: 249
Current Weight: 205
Goal Weight: 160
First Fill: 1cc 10/13/2006
Second Fill: 1cc 3/1/2007


;) :kiss2: ;) :kiss2: ;) :kiss2: ;) :kiss2: ;) :kiss2: ;) :kiss2: ;)

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