I had surgery a week ago (WLE and sentinel node removal). It feels like I’m healing well and I’m feeling less tired every day. The hospital told me I can remove the dressing after a week.
I’ve removed the sticky pad thing today and underneath is a load of steri strips. They still appear firmly stuck; aren’t starting to lift or peel.
A quick google suggests I can gently peel them off. I’m wondering whether it’s better to do so now or wait a day or 2 and see if they start peeling anyway?
I understand nobody can give me medical advice but I’d like to hear of anyone else’s experiences, to know if this is typical of how the steri strips looked a week after surgery and whether you removed them or left them longer.
I guess I’ve slightly lost my nerve on removing them!
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I was told to leave my dressings for two weeks and keep my wound dry during that time. They were peeling off on their own before that anyway .
There’s no immediate urgency to remove your steristrips - they could be left for at least another three days and now that the dressing is off they may start to gradually work loose . If there’s any sticky residue from the dressing remaining that may be helping to keep them fixed. If they aren’t uncomfortable it might be better to leave them for a day or two - if it was me that’s what I would do. If you aren’t sure then you could call your BCN and explain that there are a lot of steri- strips and that they are well stuck down otherwise you might be able to get a Practice Nurse at your surgery to remove them . Xx
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Thank you! After speaking to my cousin who’s a nurse I decided to try and remove them after my shower today. They came off fairly easily and the incision scar looks so much better and more healed than I expected! 
So that’s a big relief and a lovely surprise
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Glad they came off nice and easily in the end and that you’re healing nicely 
. My scars are barely visible now I’m pleased to say so I hope the same will go for you. Xx
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