Is there an issue with keeping my steri strips on for longer? (photos)

Hi Changes98555, 
I understand your concern. For scars, I close all of my incisions in 5 layers and do not use absorbable sutures because they cause inflammation and worse scarring. I tape all of my incisions in the office visits once a week for six weeks after surgery to improve the appearance. 
After taping, I start my patients on a scar gel therapy for 3 months that they have to put on their incisions twice daily.This way, scarring is minimal and the incisions will heal efficiently. 
I see no issue with keeping the tape on your incisions longer but if they start to exhibit any signs associated with wound infection, you should visit your plastic surgeon right away for assessment and timely intervention. 
Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery

Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery

Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thank you for your questions and your photos. In our practice we instruct patients to not remove tapes their own tapes. Generally, the longer the tapes stay on the better they will help the scars heal. You should contact your surgeon's office to see what they suggest for their patients. Good Luck. 

I am in no hurry to remove steristrips unless they start to look or smell unhealthy,  generally 3-4 weeks is the max they stay on.  if you remove them now , it will not hurt

I try to have my patients keep their breast and body steristrips on for three weeks . This pressure and reducing tension on the incision helps give the best scar. After 3 weeks if the strips are still very adherant I have the patient remove them in the shower with soaking and soap usually a few hours before our 3 week appointment so I can fully evaluate their scars and minimize strip removal discomfort. good luck.