Steri Strips, Leave Them Till They Fall Off or No?

I was told to leave my steri strips on until they fall off but 14 days out they are no where near to falling off.

I'm a big chicken and afraid to pull them off. I don't want to do any damage as they are on their pretty good. I also don't want to leave them on forever if that is going to mess anything up.

HELP!
Thanks in advance!
Wynter

My surgeon said to leave them alone until they fall off. At my two weeks visit, about half had come off. I was able to remove the rest of them during that visit. I would not mess with them until you see your surgeon to make sure your incisions are healing as they should be. Are you washing them gently with soap and patting them dry? I think that helped mine.

I've washed them very gently with soap, rinsed well and patted dry.

Just didn't want them to stay forever if they need to go! lol Thanks for the info.

Wynter

 For me I had just gotten out of the shower and was drying off and they were sticking to the towel.  I pulled with the gentlest ease and they came right off. They were completely healed underneath. This was about 10 days out. My drain site is still not healed, as that came out almost two weeks ago. I guess since that is a lot of skin to come together it may take time since no stitches were used.

I just yanked them all off...then my next doctor visit they put them back on.  So I yanked them off again...annoying things.  My incisions were all healed at the first visit, except for the one by the belly button, which had torn and been a big bleeder in the hospital and out.  They kept covering that one up too, but I decided one day to take it really easy and leave it uncovered and I got a nice scab and had no further problems with it.

Not telling you to do as I did...  I take no responsiblity for your actions.  Check with your doc and use common sense!

LOL Dan, trust me, I'm not as brave as you are!!! lol

Wynter

Yes, 14 days is long enough to be healed . I'm a nurse who knows, they may have used an adhesive under them to secure them so they'd stay  . Just use  alcohol or sof tsoap and pick at the edges to loosen them and they should come off easy,                                                               Glad to have you on the Losers Bench. Good Luck with your journey.

my doc told me after seven days to take them off cause they can collect yucky stuff around them and then just wash them and pat them dry,,i actually used alcohol preps on them.