Ace Bandage

[Midwest Cutie]

Posting this on the lift forum since our postop instructions tend to differ slightly from ladies with just implants. I was wondering if you were wrapped in an ace bandage after surgery and whether or not you took it off at all. My instructions say I can take it off to rewrap if soiled but wanted to get some firsthand stories/opinions. I haven't showered yet and will definitely take it off then. But I have to wait until hubby gets home from work so he can help me wrap myself up. It's soooo tight! Seems like that is where I'm getting most of the pain and discomfort. Thinking about taking it off for a bit to get some relief but leary cause hubby won't be home until 4 or 5 and I don't know if I should keep it off that long. Any thoughts or opinions are welcomed.

[MorningGlory]

Hi Midwest Cutie! After my surgery I looked underneath my hospital gown and much to my surprise there were my boobs! I wasn't wrapped in anything! I had steri-strips on my incisions, covered by gauze and then tegaderm on top of that. That's it! I spent the first week like this and at my first post-op I was instructed to wear a sports bra. Sorry I couldn't be much help to you!

[beckybee]

Yeah...I just had my redo for CC in my right and with that also some work on the left which included a lollipop lift on the left. I just have strips and some extra bandaid-ish covering on it...and of course, the sports bra. I wouldn't know about the ace bandage, but I would definitely call your PS and ask. I think you're right. You shouldn't go too long without something that the PS instructed you to wear. Call and ask.

[Midwest Cutie]

I ended up taking off the bandage to shower. The instructions said I could but I was leary since I was home by myself. Hubby came home and helped me wrap myself up again. The PS office called to see how I was doing and she said that it was okay as long as I had help getting it back on. I posted this on another forum but wanted to share with you that I ended up getting the lollipop lift instead of donut. Hubby said he told me that yesterday - but I didn't remember. LOL

[beckybee]

Originally Posted by Midwest Cutie

I ended up taking off the bandage to shower. The instructions said I could but I was leary since I was home by myself. Hubby came home and helped me wrap myself up again. The PS office called to see how I was doing and she said that it was okay as long as I had help getting it back on. I posted this on another forum but wanted to share with you that I ended up getting the lollipop lift instead of donut. Hubby said he told me that yesterday - but I didn't remember. LOL

Oh...I'm glad you got it figured out. It's so scary doing things like showering for the first time, removing things, putting them back on etc when you know there are some sensitive incisions there. I've taken two showers since my surgery and I was scared for the first. I had to blow dry my incisions (with the cool setting). By the way, although there will be more scarring, I think you will be happy with the results of the lollipop. Did your surgeon decide to do the lollipop while in surgery or did he change his mind before? I wish you the best!

[Midwest Cutie]

Originally Posted by beckybee

Oh...I'm glad you got it figured out. It's so scary doing things like showering for the first time, removing things, putting them back on etc when you know there are some sensitive incisions there. I've taken two showers since my surgery and I was scared for the first. I had to blow dry my incisions (with the cool setting). By the way, although there will be more scarring, I think you will be happy with the results of the lollipop. Did your surgeon decide to do the lollipop while in surgery or did he change his mind before? I wish you the best!

He decided during surgery. Before surgery when he was marking me up he said the left was lower than the right and would require more of a lift. He may have been thinking about it at the time but didn't mention it.
So when you showered you got your incisions wet? I was scared to get them wet thinking the steri strips would come off. I sponged bathed the upper part of my body and showered the lower. Thank goodness for hand held shower wands.

[MorningGlory]

Hi Midwest Cutie! I have steri-strips on both breasts (lollipop lift also) and I shower daily with them and just gently pat them dry with a towel. I also have them on my TT incision (see pics in photo album) They are on just as tight as the day I got them and I have been showering daily since day 2! I would just take my time getting dressed, not that long and by the time I got my clothes on they were dry. It was almost like they were water resistant, lol! I hope this helps!

[Midwest Cutie]

That helps a lot. Thanks a lot MorningGlory. BTW- I can see you are dropping more and more. Probably not as quickly as you would like but I can definitely tell.

[MorningGlory]

Thanks Midwest Cutie! They're trying, lol! Even though I complain I am really greatful for how they even look now! They were soooooooo sad before!!!!! I hope you don't have to wear that ace wrap for long..it would seem that would be a pain in the bottom, lol!!!!

[HavBootyHavBoobs]

Originally Posted by Midwest Cutie

Posting this on the lift forum since our postop instructions tend to differ slightly from ladies with just implants. I was wondering if you were wrapped in an ace bandage after surgery and whether or not you took it off at all. My instructions say I can take it off to rewrap if soiled but wanted to get some firsthand stories/opinions. I haven't showered yet and will definitely take it off then. But I have to wait until hubby gets home from work so he can help me wrap myself up. It's soooo tight! Seems like that is where I'm getting most of the pain and discomfort. Thinking about taking it off for a bit to get some relief but leary cause hubby won't be home until 4 or 5 and I don't know if I should keep it off that long. Any thoughts or opinions are welcomed.

I am right there with you as far as the discomfort. I also think my hydrocodone was wearing off, so I took another dose of that. My back aches. I think most of my discomfort is derived from this ace bandage and I am oh so anxious to see what's underneath tomorrow morning. The constriction is so stifling...I feel like my circulation is being cut off..probably is.

[kinjon]

Originally Posted by Midwest Cutie

So when you showered you got your incisions wet? I was scared to get them wet thinking the steri strips would come off..

Midwest Cutie. I did regular showers with my steri-strips too. They did not come off!!! I patted with towel, then use the blow dryer on cool to remove any lingering moisture. I think it was at the three week appt that my PS finally peeled them off!
(Also, my wrap was removed completely at my first PO appt, 2 days later)

[Midwest Cutie]

Thanks Kinjon. Today I showered like normal and was careful enough that all that was needed afterwards was a pat down with a dry towel. I'm still afraid to soak them completely but know I will have to sooner or later. They don't come off for another week which is when I have my postop appointment.
I'm totaly paranoid about infection.

[Vette80]

I've had steri strips before with Csection and hysterectomy and they seemed like they would never come off. If its the same as then, I guess we can shower away. Thanks for this posting; my ba is Monday so I'm reading frantically!

[LisetteA]

The ace bandage does seem to be what causes the most discomfort. I was in a "strap" for 2 weeks post op, and when that bad boy came off, i was so relieved!! Most of the back pain, muscle soreness, etc.. was from that darned strap!