How long should I wait to remove the incision tape around my areolas and the vertical cut for a breast lift?

I place the tape on my patient's incisions and instruct them to let them fall off on their own.  Sometimes this can take upto 3 weeks or more.  There is no harm in having them on as long as the skin is not irritated.  I'm sure your physician's office may have staff that can confirm their protocol.  Check in with them.  Good Luck.

Thank you for your question.  As each surgeon is different and has their own unique set of post op instructions, this is a question you may wish to disucss with your surgeon or his medical staff.  Typically, the tape will fall off on it's own, but often times at the one week follow up appointment or nurses will remove the steri strips from the incision after assessing how well healed the incision is.Best regards,Dr. Lane F. Smith, MDPlastic SurgeonLas Vegas, NV

Thank you for your question.  You should contact your surgeon's office.  I'm sure his nursing staff will be familiar with his routine regarding removing tape from your areolas.Best of luck,

I'm pretty sure your surgeon did not tell you "I'm going to be on vacation for a month so there is no follow-up for you." Plus, there are plenty more patients in various stages of recovery who will need sutures removed, steri-strips replaced, concerns addressed, and questions answered.Every surgeon has a slightly different protocol, and each of us thinks our way is preferable for one or many reasons. Call your surgeon's office and ask his staff or partner or covering plastic surgical colleague what is their recommendation, but do NOT remove these on your own. If there is a concern, then ask your surgeon's staff, partner, or covering plastic surgeon to see you and address these concerns.In the absence of a problem or concern with these strips that are staying in place, it is best to leave them until they fall off on their own, or you may inadvertently disrupt an otherwise perfectly-healing wound and CAUSE a problem! I know you are curious, but resist the urge. Please call your surgeon's office. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

I generally like to leave the stress strips on for as long as possible as it has been my experience that the scars are better if the streris are left on longer.  However, you could check with your plastic surgeon's office.  Even though he's on vacation, I'm sure there will be someone who is familiar with his practice style that could answer your question.  Best of luck with your continued recovery!