Why is my steri strip bleeding?

Hello and thank you for your recent question! I would recommend you contact your surgeon and notify them of the bleeding area and open wounds.  This is something that needs to be addressed and not let go since there is implants in place.  Best of Luck!  

You may have some stitches or scabs coming loose under the steri strips. You should follow up with your plastic surgeon to ensure that everything is healing ok.

If there is fluid or  bleeding under a steri-strip, it should be remove immediately. The fluid under the steri-strip will macerate and break down the skin like a wet diaper. You should follow up with your surgeon.Yours,Jon M. Grazer, MD,MPH, FACSPlastic SurgeryNewport Beach, CA

Thanks for asking. You should discuss this with your plastic surgeon after an examination to have the best care possible. Without an exam and knowing your precise surgery it is hard to determine for sure. Best wishes

You can have some oozing that far out of surgery but you
should let your surgeon look to see if there is a part of the incision that is
open under those steri strips.

While this may just be some normal healing issues, it would be best to have it looked at by your surgeon ASAP. If there is active bleeding, direct, firm, uninterrupted  pressure for 5 minutes is the right first step. If it doesn't stop with the pressure, you should be seen in the ER right away.

Thanks for your question.  Some bleeding from a surgical incision within a couple of weeks is not uncommon, but the bleeding should stop fairly quickly, so it is concerning that it is not stopping.  One thing I would think about is whether you have taken aspirin or one of the non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's), like ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Aleve, etc.  Any of those drugs can interfere with the systems that cause bleeding to stop.  Tylenol (acetaminophen) does not have that effect.In any case, if you are having persistent bleeding, or really anything you weren't told to expect, you should give your plastic surgeon a call -- they will be able to tell you if there might be a problem, and how to manage it.