You may take brief showers beginning three days after surgery, but do not actively wash the incision. Generally, sutures or staples are removed seven days after surgery. You may shower with these strips three days after surgery, and in time they will gradually peel off from the ends. You may trim the ends as they pull back, but do not pull the strips off. They will fall off on their own in 10 to 14 days.
Constipation can be a problem in the postoperative period.
It is important to keep bowel movements regular and soft, since straining can hamper the healing process. If necessary, to mitigate this problem we will provide you with the appropriate medications. Difficulty initiating bowel movement or urination, a feeling that you have not completely emptied, or loss of control of urine or stool may be indicators that your nervous system is not properly regulating those parts of your body. These symptoms should be brought to your surgeon's attention as soon as possible. If you had this type of surgery, you will be given specific instructions regarding urine output, and you may be given also specific medications in order to bring excessive urine production under control.