Incision Question: When to stop applying dressings

[AK_Bookworm 116]

Hey guys... I'm 9 days post op and just wondering at what point do I stop covering my incisions? There wasn't anything in my discharge papers about when to stop just post op care instructions and what signs of infection to look for. 3 of them have scabbed (the fourth is the drain incisions which I will be continuing to cover since it's still open) and though I'm getting some discharge from them it's not much and they no longer hurt and seem to be scabbing but I don't know at what point I should stop covering them or should I keep covering them until the scab has fallen off. My doctor is in Mexico but I can email if needed but thought I would check here first and see what others did.

[Joann454 1,329]

I have glue over mine and no dressings. Why'd you have a drain? I didn't have one.
If they are dry and not draining you should be fine not to cover them. Keep them clean with soap and Water and pat dry. If you see one bleeding or oozing cover again.

[AK_Bookworm 116]

I have glue over mine and no dressings. Why'd you have a drain? I didn't have one.
If they are dry and not draining you should be fine not to cover them. Keep them clean with soap and Water and pat dry. If you see one bleeding or oozing cover again.

Thank you!! I think I will remove the dressings today when I change the dressing on my drain incision.
I think the drain is just something some doctors do and some don't. I only have stitches on my incisions but I'm extra cautious about incisions since when I had my last c section the doctor only gave me steri strips and a few fell off prematurely and part of my incision never closed (only a really small portion but enough to notice) so I'm super paranoid about incisions now.

[Joann454 1,329]

Thank you!! I think I will remove the dressings today when I change the dressing on my drain incision.
I think the drain is just something some doctors do and some don't. I only have stitches on my incisions but I'm extra cautious about incisions since when I had my last c section the doctor only gave me steri strips and a few fell off prematurely and part of my incision never closed (only a really small portion but enough to notice) so I'm super paranoid about incisions now.

You're welcome. I literally went to discharge instructions because they cover wound care for stitches and staples in there as well. Keep your eye on them.

[rainyann 118]

I had steri strips over my incisions and was told they would fall off

[MBird 298]

I had glue, was told to keep them dry for a week and now I can soon let Water run down them. They're healing fast, one is nearly gone already.

I would call your doctor and ask.

[Kiwi_N_Rio 36]

I had glue, no dressings. I was allowed to get them wet at 3 days post op. Showered before leaving the hospital.

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[Syaniya 319]

I showered in the hospital the day after surgery. I didnt have stitches outsdie, just glue wirh strips covering them. I was just not allowed to submerge in Water for 6 weeks, no baths or pools. Best bet, is to email or call your doctor as every surgeon is different. Congrats!!!!I

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[klingie84 91]

U can shower with your incisions...gently clean them n pat dry afterwards. Change the drain tube dressing daily if your draining a lot n after showering. U cAn let the Water run over it also just don't accidentally pull on it. My incisions r staples n the are left open to air besides where my drain was which I just use a bandaid now.

[AK_Bookworm 116]

I do shower daily and clean them and then recharge the dressings so I'll keep doing that with the drain incision especially since I'm still getting a lot of drainage from it. It looks like most of my stitches have dissolved at this point. I'm going to take pictures and email my doctor and see what he says. I went yesterday without dressings on the 3 incisions that are scabbed and they feel good today but I'll make sure with my doctor. Thank you all!

[MrsHTX 51]

I stopped applying dressing when there was no more Fluid coming out. One of them wasnt completely scabbed but it seemed to speed up when I quit covering it.

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

My Dr told me at my one week post-op appt what to do.

[AK_Bookworm 116]

20 minutes ago, OutsideMatchInside said:

My Dr told me at my one week post-op appt what to do.

I don't have post op appointments since I went to Mexico but they've been uncovered with the exception of my drain incision since I'm still getting drainage and it's not fully closed and they have been fine. I did email my doctor also and he did agree that if there was no discharge from them then it is fine to uncover them.