Question:
4 days post-op, when can you take bandaids off from lap band surgery?

4 days post-op, when can you take bandaids off from lap band surgery? How long does it take for skin to heal? How long for insides to heal? Stacey-Nevada    — stacey1 (posted on January 10, 2006)

January 10, 2006
This is, like so many things regarding lap band surgery, a matter for your doctor to say. Call his office tomorrow morning and ASK. Some let you shower a bit over 24 hours after surgery, others have you wait 5 days, some a week. ... The incisions will be pretty well attached, one side to the other, in 5-7 days, unless you have diabetes or poor healing otherwise. ............ Doctors normally remove stiches in 8 to 10 days, so when you have "glued" incisions, you can expect them to be pretty much permanently attached after that many days. ....... Your PORT placement incision may have some mild redness, some tenderness, for 2 or 3 weeks. This is common, so don't freak out, but DO take ALL the antibiotics he sends you home with, and monitor the site often for signs of increasing inflammation --- for this is a reason to contact your surgeon. ...... Now on the inside (and I presume you mean the healing around your stomach??)... The scar tissue building that will help secure the position of your band will be complete in 6 weeks. This is why the first six weeks have a steadily progression of dietary selections ---- because you do NOT want your stomach churning away, mixing stomach contents for digestion, like typically happens with solid foods. You want things that are already blended, pureed and mixed so your stomach will just kinda sit there quietly. :o) ...... But outside of some carving away of fat on the surface of the stomach chamber (---or hiatal hernia repair ---or gallbladder removal), there is no other actual surgery or cutting on your insides. The stomach cavity is not breached, your intestines are not messed with. ...... Most of the pain you experience post-surgery is secondary to a mighty sore diaphragm from it being disturbed by the inflation with CO2 and the manipulation of the stomach. ............. Welcome to the other side!! Theresa
   — SouthTX LapBand

January 10, 2006
Only your docotr can tell you.
   — Novashannon

January 11, 2006
I dont have band aids on my tummy, I have a bunch of glue holding my wounds together. The only area that hurts is where they put the port. WOW, thats sore!! And the liquid lortab makes me gag, so I have been toughing it out this week. I have only been banded for 3 days, and its been rough, only being able to have broth and juice... YUCK! My daughter was eating a peanut butter and honey sandwich for lunch today, and I had to leave the room, I could literally SMELL the peanut butter! Oh help me Lord! hahaha. I cant wait till I get to eat real food, only a week till I can have my carnation instant breakfast drink!! Here is a fav recipe from a couple of girls in my support group... they craved mexican food, and well, you cant really have a tortilla...... Blend some refried beans, and avacado with fat free sour cream, and some melted cheese, and top with some taco sauce. It tastes just as good as eating the best mexican food, but with out the tortilla. I am counting down the days till I can eat that!
   — jenniestephens

February 16, 2009
Post op 5 days now---bandaids fell off. Just keep the sites clean as possible. As far as the food- we did this for a reason. We need to stop thinking that food is so important. When my kids have food around that i use to eat-I SMELL it. It seems to satisfy my old cravings without the calories. Sense of smell and taste are combined. Good luck. This is a great chance for you to be healthy.
   — janeen4947