Hello everyone,

I had the dressing changed 8 days after the surgery.  When did you no longer need the dressing after your surgery.  Thanks.

 8) A sensation  2 weeks I had both of them off. Cheers K

The original dressing was removed, cleaned, and replaced before I left the hospital, two days after surgery. Since home I change it out twice daily, morning and evening for sixteen days. Then the staples will be removed and no longer any need for dressing.

My wound was covered with a special type of waterproof bandage (it had a name, but I've forgotten). It stayed on until the first post op office visit. Mine was at ten days, but this can vary a bit. At that point Dr. Pritchett's assistant removed it,cleaned it, and attached steristrips to a couple of places that needed them. All stitching was internal and self-dissolving, so nothing to remove.

Did your doctor give you any guidelines?


I went home with a dressing on, was told to keep it on for seven days (I think) then take it off and leave it off. No dressing after that. I put antibiotic cream on the wound until the scabs healed. I was told that if the wound leaked through the dressing, to call and possibly get new instructions.

Thanks everyone.

He said leave it on until it falls off. No leakage, I removed it and it's all scabbed up nice.  Next step is to get off these crutches!