There is no problem taking a shower. Keep the wound covered when bathing and clean it afterwards as directed above. If your wound is on the scalp, it is not necessary to cover it with a bandage. Simply clean the wound as instructed above and apply Polysporin. Shampooing the scalp is not a problem, but be gentle to the wound site.
Studies show that wounds covered with a dressing heal faster than uncovered wounds.
It is an old wives tale that uncovered wounds heal faster. Discomfort, swelling and bruising occurs between 6-20 hours after surgery. If painful, take Tylenol. Also if the pain is persistent, contact the office as soon as possible. Removing stitches is virtually painless and is done 7-14 days after surgery, depending on the location and type of surgery which was performed.