When do I take off my steristrips?

Question

I had my BA last wednesday and I was curious as what to do with my steristrips. When do I take them off. Do they come off on their own when they are ready?

Farah Naz Khan, MD · Answer

Best to leave them in place until they fall off. If they don't come off after 2-3 weeks, you or your operating surgeon can remove them. Best of luck for great results!!

Ali Riza Öreroglu, MD · Answer

This is a very specific question. Every surgeon has his/her own technique and timing for dressings. In my practice for breast surgery and abdominoplasties, I use the strips as a skin closure technique, I use a special type of strips that are water resistant hence, they are kept in place for a month after which I remove then. Meanwhile the patient can shower the day after surgery while the strips keep the wound tension minimal contributing to he best scar possible. Additionally, this technique does not require any special wound dressing which makes life very easy for the patient.
Hope this helps,
Ali Rıza Öreroğlu, MD FEBOPRASEuropean and Turkish Board Certified Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeonIstanbul, Turkey

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

Every surgeon has his own post operative protocol. I usually tell my patients to wait until the steristrips fall off on their own, which can take a couple of weeks. You should ask your surgeon what their instructions are.

Aldo Guerra, MD · Answer

I recommend that steri-strips be removed only in my office by myself or my staff. Your PS might have the same protocol. Call your PS office before doing anything to your strips. Best, Dr. ALDO.

Ira H. Rex III, MD · Answer

You should definitely call your plastic surgeon about the way he wants you to handle this. I prefer to remove the steri strips at 5 days, but we all have different ideas about this.

Gregory A. Buford, MD, FACS · Answer

This really depends on how your Plastic Surgeon uses them.  I personally leave them on for about a week and then trim sutures.  I then replace with new strips which stay on for another week.  But that is how I do things.I would suggest asking your Plastic Surgeon about his specific instructions and going from there.I hope that helps!

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

Although I you Steri-Strips I wonder about the actual benefit. Most of the time the plastic surgeon will remove them at the time of suture removal. Occasionally they'll fall off before that office visit and I tell of patients just to leave things alone.

Shim Ching, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question.  I assume you had a breast augmentation.  In our practice we leave the Steristrips until they fall of on their own or loosen significantly so that they can be removed easily.  We do remove them at two weeks if they are still in place as hyperpigmentation of the skin can develop.  We avoid this problem now by using a skin adhesive instead.  Please contact your surgeon for his or her advice.  Best wishes for your recovery!

Dario Rochira, MD · Answer

Depending on what technique and type of suture your surgeon has used, the streristrips may be taken off at different time. Your surgeon is the only person who can answer to your question as it is very subjective. I change the steristrip after 1 week when the patient returns for her first review. 
After that, I recommend to keep the steristrips for 3 weeks. So at 4 weeks the wound should be open to air and silicon gel or scar treatment cream can be used from this time, up to 3 to 4 months.

Ron Hazani, MD, FACS · Answer

Please check your post operative guide for information regarding the steristrips. Typically 1-2 weeks but your Plastic Surgeon may have his/her own preference.

When do I take off my steristrips?

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