I had a mastectomy on 7th August, my dressing, while just across the incision line, are starting to drive me crazy. I did take some off today as they’re very fluffy now. However my BCN told me (1 day post op) to wait until my follow up to have the dresssing removed. However my follow up is 27th August.
How long did people wait to remove theirs following a mastectomy? 3 weeks feels like a long time. Did anyone just remove it themselves? I’m still keeping them dry and washing my hair with my head tipped over. Would just love a regular shower!
They said to keep dry until i went to dressings clinic 2 weeks after surgery to have them removed. Mine was not quite a mastectomy. They re openeded my scar from original mastectomy recon. Probably not much different though.
Its worth a try. Mine is more or less healed. Just still quite red along the scar line and swells up if i overdo it! Im always doing too much and dont know what ‘rest’ is😁
I had a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. My surgeon wanted my wounds covered for 4 weeks. No bath or swimming for 6 weeks. My dressings were waterproof so I could shower.
Hi @_jm I know it seems like a really long time and the dressings are going to get a bit gross, but it’s really important to follow medical advice from your surgeon. If you would like your dressings changed, call your team and ask to pop in- I did this with my first mastectomy surgery, and with the second mastectomy I just about managed to keep the dressing on for the full 3 weeks and it was removed at my follow appointment. It’s uncomfortable! But worth waiting
My dressings were taken off 8 days after mastectomy with Diep flap reconstruction.
The nurse encouraged me to dampen the dressings in the shower first and if any came off go with it.
I wasn’t that brave though and let her take them off with help from a water spray.
